Students and instructor welding in classroom
Cochise College obtained a new testing center for welding students in hopes that it will better market their trade to potential employers.
Testing for certification is complex but necessary for welding technology students.
“There are four different positions that students can test from: Flat, horizontal, going uphill, or hanging upside down,” said Randy Fox. “Vertical and overhead are the most challenging positions, but if they pass both then that certifies them to weld in all positions.”
Randy, Department Chair for the Industrial Technology Department and a full-time welding instructor, helped oversee the opening of Cochise College’s brand new accredited testing facility for welding technology students.
The test requires each student to perform two projects in different positions while maintaining the integrity of the material.
“It has to be just right or else you’ll contaminate the weld and make the plate fail,” Randy explained.
Currently, Arizona only offers two other accredited testing locations where students can earn their certifications through the American Welding Society (AWS) Certified Welding Program. Nationally, there are only 137 facilities that offer this type of certification to students.
Welding is an area of employment that deals with the merging of metal through the use of heat as generated by various machines. Individuals in this field must maintain strict safety standards and understand the chemistry of the metal they are using, as well as being proficient in the use of various welding tools to complete complex projects.
The testing center will help students like Alan Aries. Alan is currently a sophomore at Cochise College. He will graduate with a welding technology degree in the fall.
He says, “I like the challenge of welding in general. I started in a couple of classes, and I began to jump in and finish the whole degree.”
Although Alan found a profession that he loves, he says the hardest challenge he encountered was certification.
The welding program averages about 500 students per year. The new, accredited testing center will help each student have easier access to certification compliances needed to succeed in the welding career market.
The accreditation process started in September 2015, with an additional onsite audit in December 2015.
The report from the Accredited Test Facility stated, “Cochise College Welding Lab will be an excellent addition to the growing list of ATFs and on of which AWS can be very proud.”
Cochise College hopes to bring opportunity to the students in this profession and growth to the community. For more information on welding technology, you can contact Randy Fox at foxr@cochise.edu.