About WELDING.....

The Welding Program in BC is currently under review and subject to changes in the near future regarding curriculum and work based hours .

Presently at Thompson Rivers University - School of Trades & Technology, Welding courses are available in three different areas - Apprenticeship - Modular - Continuing Studies. Although the Apprenticeship and Modular training have the same end result - "Welding Certificate Level A", the delivery and class time will vary ... discover which suits your needs:

Welding - Apprenticeship (Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4)

The traditional Welding - Apprenticeship Program is for those students currently working in the industry, and are indentured into a formal agreement between their employer and the Industry Training Authority. Students must have a valid Trade Worker identification number and registration number (obtained from the Industry Training Authority ).

Students will work through Welding Levels, 1, 2, 3 and 4. Each level is 6 weeks of technical training at TRU - School of Trades and Technology. Apprentices are required to obtain one year's work experience for each level.

Welding Apprenticeship Level 1 and Level 2 (Year 1)
Technical training sessions will be 6 weeks in duration

Level 1 and 2 technical training and work experience should be completed within year one

(Equivalent to Level "C" Modular)

Welding Apprenticeship Level 3

Technical training session will be 6 weeks in duration
Level 3 technical training and work experience should be completed within year two
(Equivalent to Level "B" Modular)

Welding Apprenticeship Level 4

Technical training session will be 6 weeks in duration
Level 4 technical training and work experience should be completed within year three
(Equivalent to Level "A" Modular)

Welding - Modular Training

Welding Modular Training is for those students who are not indentured into an apprenticeship agreement with an employer. Welding Levels C, B, and A, and Welder/Fitter are offered in the Modular format.

Welding Level "C"

28 weeks of technical training at TRU and 1,000 hours required work experience (Equivalent to Welding Apprenticeship Level 1 & 2)

Welding Level "B"

16 weeks of technical training at TRU and 1,800 hours required work experience (Equivalent to Welding Apprenticeship Level 3) Welders are eligible to register into Level B if they have completed Level C Technical Training successfully and can demonstrate "some" workplace hours. These hourse will be found in their Log book.

Welding Level "A"

8 weeks of technical training at TRU and 900 hours required work experience (Equivalent to Welding Apprenticeship Level 4)

Welding - Continuing Studies

Night classes are offered to students who want to learn to weld. These are non-credit courses that are usually around 24 hours in total. At TRU we offer the following:

SMAW - Shielded Metal Arc Welding (stick )
GMAW - Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG)
GTAW - Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG)

Watch the local Kamloops Daily News and online for courses that become available throughout the year.