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 26, 2022 - December 16, 2022 *APPLICATIONS OPEN*
- Winter Intake: January 30, 2023 - April 21, 2023 *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 an Olds College 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.
Admission Requirements:
Meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement
18 years of age or older upon completion of the program.
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 (e.g.: 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 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.
Tuition & Fees
- Tuition: $6,438 / Fees: $475 / Books & Supplies: $290
There is an Apprenticeship and Industry Training fee to write the exam, in addition to tuition, books and supplies.
* 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 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 - $1500 for students applying for the 2022-2023 academic year and have a paid tuition deposit by June 15, 2022.
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.
Course Details
For course descriptions and requisites, view the Academic Calendar.
Academic Calendar: Pre-Employment Welder
Career Opportunities
Olds College 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!
Admitted Student Information
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 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:
Safety Regulations: Wearing safety equipment and abiding by industry safety standards is mandatory within our program.
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.
AIT Technical Training Exams: Students who meet the minimum GPA requirement of 2.3 will be permitted to challenge their technical training exam. The exam challenge fee is $150.00 CAD and payable directly to Alberta's Apprenticeship & Industry Training Board (AIT).
For More Information
Our Admissions office can help navigate you through the admissions process and answer any questions you have about your program of study.
