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. This three year program consists of eight weeks each year of classroom instruction, and a minimum of 1,560 hours of on-the-job training per period of classroom instruction. You will learn welding processes such as: Electric Arc, Metal Inert Gas (MIG), Tungsten Inert Gas/ Arc Welding (TIG) and Gas Welding (Oxy-Acetylene).
This is a designated trade with restricted activities.
View 2026-2027 Classroom Instruction dates through Apprenticeship and Industry Training’s Class Catalogue
View 2026-2027 Classroom Instruction Registration Opening Dates
When you graduate from your apprenticeship education program, you will earn an Diploma. A credential in a designated trade also qualifies you for an Alberta Journeyperson Certificate, which authorizes you to work unsupervised in your trade. You'll receive both at the same time.
This is a Red Seal trade. Apprentices who have obtained Journeyperson certification are encouraged to write the national standard exam. The Red Seal, when affixed to a provincial or territorial trade certificate, indicates that a tradesperson has demonstrated the knowledge required for the national standard in that trade. The Red Seal endorsement promotes excellence to employers, instills pride in skilled workers, and facilitates labour mobility.
Please visit Alberta’s Apprenticeship & Industry Training website to Begin an Apprenticeship.
There are several pathways to begin a career in the skilled trades, depending on your experience, education and career goals. Whether you're a high school student exploring dual credit opportunities, looking to enter the workforce through pre-employment training, pursuing an apprenticeship, or interested in a full-time certificate or diploma, Olds College offers flexible training routes to help you get started and advance your career. Explore the Trades Training Routes guide to find the option that's right for you.
Workplace safety and tools; oxyacetylene cutting; plasma arc cutting and gouging; welding technology fundamentals and properties of metals; wire feed welding, gas metal arc welding (GMAW), flux cored arc welding (FCAW), metal-cored arc welding (MCAW), and submerged arc welding (SAW); and trade math.
Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) I and II; gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW); and pattern development and estimating.
SMAW III; welds on mild steel plate and pipe; drawing interpretation; and trade science (testing, metallurgy, codes).
Review the Apprenticeship Registration Information page for important details about the enrolment process, registration requirements, tuition and fees, payment options and other information to help you prepare for apprenticeship training at Olds College.
Welders are employed in a variety of industries including vessel or structural steel assembly, pipeline construction, commercial construction, industrial construction, steel fabrication and heavy equipment repair. Employment prospects for welders change with seasonal and economic climates and can vary greatly with geographic location.
Visit ALIS to find Occupational Profiles with current wages, industry trends and more!
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.
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.
It is strongly recommended that you come to Olds College of Agriculture & Technology with the following technology:
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:
This will give you access to the full Office suite on your computer, for both Windows and Mac based platforms.
The following items are required:
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 classroom instruction period.
Employment Insurance: Information on applying for Employment Insurance benefits is provided in your MyTradesecrets account
Connect directly with the recruitment team at Olds College to get personalized support as you explore your pathway to post-secondary study. Whether you have questions about programs, admission requirements, campus life or next steps in your application journey, our recruitment specialists are here to help you make informed decisions and plan with confidence.
Review the Apprenticeship Registration Information page to help you prepare for your time at Olds College.
