Fortis Institute in Birmingham offers a residential Welding Technician diploma designed for entry-level welding and industrial-repair work. The 48-week, 960-contact-hour curriculum combines applied mathematics, welding principles, symbol interpretation and inspection, cutting, fabrication, certification and career development with hands-on instruction in Stick, MIG, flux-cored, TIG, pipe welding, fit-up and alignment. Morning and evening schedules meet Monday through Thursday. The current campus catalog states that the program prepares students to take welding certification exams, while Fortis's welding page identifies D1.1 structural-steel certification standards.