Welding

The Lincoln Electric Education Partner Schools Start (LEEPStart™) Program partners educational institutions’ welding technology programs with the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) to offer best-in-class foundational-level welding certifications to prepare students for a career in the modern welding industry. LEEPStart programs provide an introduction to welding skills and concepts combined with core foundational-level welding certifications. LEEPStart, designed for instructors and students at high schools, career, technical, and other educational institutions, offers introductory programs, providing the instructional resources needed as a starting point to promote deeper career exploration.

The first year of this two-year program is focused on industry standards based on the NC3/Lincoln Electric curriculum. Topics covered include Welding Safety, Principles of Welding, Basic Welding Blueprint Reading, Thermal Cutting Processes, SMAW, and GMAW, which will involve shop and safety practices, equipment and tool handling operations, and a basic introduction to fabrication. Classroom lessons correlate with active “hands-on” lab activities. Students have the opportunity to take welding tests and will receive a certificate with a passing grade.

During the second year of the welding program, we will follow the same guidelines as year one, with review in Safety, Thermal Cutting, and Blueprint. Specific areas covered are: FCAW and GTAW. Students will have the ability to earn American Welding Society (AWS) Qualifications on each welding process. All materials covered from the previous year are continually reinforced.

College Credit: Students have the opportunity to earn college credit, upon completion of career-tech coursework and/or industry-recognized credentials, provided all program and grade requirements are met, at no cost to the students and families.

Industry-Recognized Credentials: NC3 Welding Safety, NC3 Principles of Welding, NC3 Thermal Cutting Oxy-Fuel Cutting (OFC), NC3 Thermal Cutting Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), American Welding Society (AWS) Qualifications in all four welding processes

Work-Based Learning: Juniors participate in simulated work activities within their career tech program, gaining real-world experience in their chosen field.  Seniors in good standing (strong grades, good attendance, professional skills, and on track to graduate) will be eligible to participate in an internship or job site placement aligned with their course of study, in lieu of attending their career-tech program. Approval from the WS Work-Based Learning (WBL) Specialist and Coordinator is required.

West Shore Career-Tech programs support student graduation requirements through Career Readiness Options and/or the Industry-Recognized Credential Seal. 

Career-Technical Student Organization: SkillsUSA  

Future Career Opportunities: 

• Welder

• Welding Technician

• Fabricator

• Pipeliner

• Welding Engineer

• Weld Robotics

• Welding Inspector

• Manufacturing

• Iron Worker

• Pipe Fitter

• Welding Entrepreneur 

• Welding Sculpture/Artist