Chippewa Valley Technical College — Manufacturing & Engineering Campus

This 33-credit, one-year technical diploma combines theory, demonstrations and hands-on work to take projects from welding prints through final inspection. Students train in oxyacetylene welding and cutting, Stick, MIG, Flux-Core and TIG, robotic welding, CNC plasma cutting, fabrication, blueprint reading, metallurgy and shop safety. The face-to-face program begins in August or January in Eau Claire and forms the first year of the two-year Welding Fabrication diploma.

This 64-credit, two-year technical diploma includes the full Welding diploma curriculum and adds CAD, advanced welding processes, pipe welding, advanced fabrication, robotic welding and programming, welding applications, nondestructive testing, welding codes and quality-control preparation. Students receive extensive hands-on instruction in print reading, layout, metallurgy, CNC equipment and fabrication. Completion of the first-year Welding coursework is required before entering the second year.

This nine-credit pathway certificate provides basic production-welding preparation through welding safety, welding print reading, applied welding math and job skills, and Gas Metal Arc Welding. The hands-on MIG course develops solid-wire short-circuit transfer skills in multiple positions and joint designs for entry-level production work.