Pre-Employment Welder
Start your career in welding, by learning entry-level welding of metals in the repair, maintenance, fabricating or manufacturing of equipment and objects in the 12-week Welder Pre-Employment program.
If you are interested in entering the workforce, performing basic welding tasks, or creating works of art – this is the place to start!
Learn how to join or sever metals, make parts used in construction and manufacturing plants and create fabricate parts, tools, machines and equipment. Instructed by licensed Journeyperson faculty and industry experts, you will gain hands-on skills in the industry while earning your education as a Welder.
Program Intakes:
- Fall Intake: September 25, 2023 - December 15, 2023 *APPLICATIONS OPEN*
- Winter Intake: January 29, 2024 - April 19, 2024 *APPLICATIONS OPEN*
Applications Open:
- First Wednesday (9 a.m.) of October for the Fall Intake
- First Wednesday (9 a.m.) of February for the Winter Intake
Length of Program: 12 Weeks
Method of Delivery: On-Campus
Credentials: Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will receive a certificate in Pre-Employment Welding.
Accreditation: Upon successful completion of the Pre-Employment program, students who meet the apprenticeship requirements for the trade are eligible to write the First Period Apprenticeship exam.
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Meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement.
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16 years of age or older upon completion of the program.
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Completion of Grade 10. Please refer to the Alberta Apprenticeship & Industry Training Board Trade Entrance Requirements.
Academic Upgrading and High School Applicants: Applicants currently in high school or who are completing academic upgrading must submit proof of enrollment and any available interim/midterm marks. Final marks must be submitted within one month following the completion of the course(s) and no later than one month prior to the program start date.
Alternate Admission Option: Alternate Admission status may be offered to applicants who have not or will not complete one of the academic admission requirements. To be considered under Alternate Admission Status, applicants will be asked to provide the following:
- (Required) Transcript(s) showing any completed high school and post-secondary courses
- (Required) Letter of Introduction and Intent, outlining the following:
- Introduce yourself
- Indicate why you wish to enrol in the program
- Elaborate on your career goals
- Detail your experience relevant to this program and the industry
- (Required) A resume of your work history, extracurricular activities, volunteer service, etc. for the last 5 years
- (Optional) Include copies of any tickets and/or certificates you currently hold (first aid, safety tickets, etc.)
- (Optional) Letter(s) of reference from current or past employers/coaches/etc. (maximum of two letters)
*Submitting Alternate Admission material does not guarantee admission*
Transfer Options: Olds College of Agriculture & Technology has developed agreements with other educational institutions to allow for transition to Olds College, or to another institution to continue your education. Articulations & Agreements
Out of Province Applicants: Please refer to the Provincial Equivalency Chart for course equivalencies.
International Applicants: Olds College welcomes applications from International Applicants and those who have completed their high school education outside of Canada. Please note, it is still necessary to meet all of the noted admission requirements, including English Language Proficiency.
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- Tuition: $7,265 / Fees: $510 / Books & Supplies: $320
Please refer to the current Fee Schedule for complete details.
*Please note that international students pay 3.5 times the domestic tuition amount. These fees are provided as estimates only for the purposes of budgeting. All students should refer to the Fee Schedule for the most accurate information and all fees are subject to change.*
Scholarships & Student Awards
Olds College of Agriculture & Technology offers over 450 awards, valued at $500,000+ in scholarships, bursaries and prizes. Thanks to our industry partners, alumni, and friends of Olds College we are fortunate to offer a generous student awards program to students.
For additional information on scholarships, bursaries and prizes at Olds College, visit Scholarships & Awards.
Entrance Awards Available!
Entrance awards range from $250 - $1,500 for students applying for the upcoming academic year and have paid the tuition deposit by the deadline.
Awards are selected randomly from those that have applied and qualify based on the criteria.Award will be applied as a tuition credit to the student's account after the add/drop course deadline, confirming full-time attendance. Not all that apply will receive an entrance award.Student Funding
For information on how to apply for government student loans, financial aid or for help with financial planning, visit our Student Funding page.
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For course descriptions and requisites, view the Academic Calendar.
Academic Calendar: Pre-Employment Welder
Term 1 -
Olds College of Agriculture & Technology has a solid reputation working with employers in the industry! This directly translates into jobs for our graduates. Opportunities include, but are not limited to:
- Vessel or structural steel assembly
- Pipeline construction
- Commercial construction
- Industrial construction
- Steel fabrication
- Heavy equipment repair
Visit ALIS to find Occupational Profiles with current wages, industry trends and more!
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Program Dates
Find out when your term start and end dates are, so that you know when you are expected to be in attendance. For more information, please review the Program Dates & Fee Schedule.
Class Registration
You will be registered into your classes automatically. This will happen approximately 1 month prior to the start-date for your program. You will be notified once you have been timetabled into your courses. You will be able to see your class schedule in your My Olds College account. If you need to make any changes to your class registration, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
Technology Recommendation
It is strongly recommended that you come to Olds College of Agriculture & Technology with the following technology:
- A device capable of running Microsoft Office, preferably a laptop
As part of your student accounts, all students have access to Office 365 for the duration of their time with Olds College. To access this you just need to follow these steps:
- Go to portal.office.com
- Enter your Olds College email address and password
- Once logged in, there is a button on the right that says “Install Office Apps”
This will give you access to the full Office suite on your computer, for both Windows and Mac based platforms.
Materials & Supplies
The following items are required:
- CSA approved steel toe boots
- CSA approved safety glasses
- Coveralls (two pairs)
- Welding gloves (available for purchase in the Campus Store).
Other Important Information
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Safety Regulations: Wearing safety equipment and abiding by industry safety standards is mandatory within our program.
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Student Clubs: Ag Mech Club
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Apprenticeship ILMs: We use the Apprenticeship ILMs (Individual Learning Modules) as our reference material. These modules take the place of textbooks and are available at the Olds College Campus Store at 1.800.661.6537 or 403.556.4630. They are packaged by technical training period.
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AIT Technical Training Exams: Students who meet the minimum GPA requirement of 2.3 will be permitted to challenge their technical training exam(s). The exam challenge fee is $150.00 CAD and payable directly to AIT.
Frequently Asked Questions
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After successfully completing the program, you will graduate with a credential (Certificate).
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Students with a GPA of 2.3 or higher will be permitted to write their first period technical training exam with AIT.
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With your graduation certificate and successful Period 1 technical training exam in hand, students will need to find an employer that is willing to indenture them in their respective trade. Please make sure you understand the implications of a compulsory versus optional certification trade when you are approaching employers. Compulsory trades require the employer to have a Journeyperson on staff to supervise your hours.
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Apply to become an apprentice through AIT! You and your employer will enter into a contract with AIT.
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Review the Entrance Requirements for the trade.
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If you have previous on-the-job training hours (time credit) that you may have completed prior to becoming an apprentice with your employer, then please make sure you have your employer contact AIT to complete the process for recognizing these hours.
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Complete your remaining technical training and on-the-job training requirements for each period (year) of your apprenticeship.
- Ensure you review your trade profile on AIT’s website and have read the Course Outline.
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Remember that as you complete each period of your apprenticeship, your employer is legally required to pay you a portion of the starting journeyperson wages in your place of employment. So it is very important to continuously update your AIT Record Book (Blue Book).
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Once AIT has confirmed that you’ve completed all required technical training and on-the-job training hours, then you will obtain your Journeyperson status!
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Journeypersons can also pursue more training opportunities or endorsements:
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Red Seal Endorsement - Interprovincial Designation
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Blue Seal Endorsement - Business Competencies
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Also keep in mind that there may be additional certifications that you can obtain through your trade’s professional regulating organization. For some trades there may be equivalencies with another trade so it may be advantageous to pursue dual certification.
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