Program Description

The Welding Technical Diploma program provides learners with the basic knowledge and skills needed to meet the needs of the welding industry. Learners demonstrate safe operation of work site equipment and tools. Skill development in the shielded metal arc, gas metal arc/pulse arc, gas tungsten arc and flux cored arc welding processes is emphasized, along with manual and mechanized thermal cutting and gouging. Learners apply welding and print reading skills to fabrication projects and assess weld quality conformance to common codes. Learners are introduced to CNC cutting and forming and robotic welding.

Found in These Career Fields:

Approximate Program Cost

$7,718
Tuition & Fees: $7,444
Books & Supplies: $274

Starting Salary

$28,080–$54,080
Average, based on the NTC Graduate Outcomes Report

Financial Aid

Available
Total financial aid offered may not exceed the estimated Cost of Attendance (COA).
An aerial view of NTC's Wausau Campus main entrance on a sunny summer day. Trees and greenery frame the spacious side walks that lead up to the light-brown brick building.

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Availability

Courses for this program may be available at a variety of campus locations through multiple modes of delivery if you meet the admission requirements and prerequisites.

100%
at Wausau
90+%
at Antigo
100%
at Phillips

* Campus and online availability of courses and programs may be subject to change.

Outcomes

Graduates will be able to…

  • Perform cutting operations
  • Produce Gas Tungsten Arc Welds (GTAW)
  • Produce Flux Core Arc Welds (FCAW)
  • Produce Shielded Metal Arc Welds (SMAW)
  • Produce Gas Metal Arc Welds (GMAW)
  • Interpret welding drawings
  • Demonstrate industry-recognized safety practices

Careers

Some of the potential careers graduates can pursue are:

  • Combination Welder
  • Welding Sales and Service
  • Layout/Welder
  • Job Shop
  • Maintenance Welder
  • Production Welder

Courses

The Welding Technical Diploma is a 35 Credit program. The following is a typical semester breakdown of the courses within the program.

First Term

Gas Metal Arc Welding 6: Sheet Metal 1.00
Gas Metal Arc Welding 5: Stainless Steel And Aluminum 1.00
College 101 1.00
Welding Career Exploration 1.00
Introduction To Welding 1.00
Weld Print Reading 1: Basic Views And Dimensions 1.00
Gas Metal Arc Welding 1: Short Circuit Transfer (Horizontal) 1.00
College Mathematics 3.00
Weld Inspection & Testing 1.00
Flux Cored Arc Welding 1: Theory, Maintenance And Set-up 1.00
Welding Safety 1.00
Thermal Cutting 1.00
Gas Metal Arc Welding 4: Pulsed Spray Transfer 1.00
Weld Print Reading 2: Other Views And Symbols 1.00
Gas Metal Arc Welding 3: Spray Transfer 1.00
Gas Metal Arc Welding 2: Short Circuit Transfer (Vertical And Overhead) 1.00

Second Term

Shielded Metal Arc Welding 1: E7018 1.00
Intro To Welding CNC Applications 1.00
Welding Fabrication Techniques 1: International Weld Symbols 1.00
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding 1: Carbon Steel, Flat And Horizontal Positions 1.00
Written Communication 3.00
English Composition 1 3.00
Welding Fabrication Techniques 3: Production Welding 1.00
Welding Fabrication Techniques 2: GD&T And Pipe Prints 1.00
Shielded Metal Arc Welding 2: E6010, E7018 1.00
Flux Cored Arc Welding 3: Submerged Arc Welding & 1/16 Diameter Wire 1.00
Flux Cored Arc Welding 2: .045 Diameter Wire 1.00
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding 5: Pipe And Tubing 1.00
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding 4: Aluminum 1.00
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding 3: Stainless Steel 1.00
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding 2: Carbon Steel, Vertical And Overhead Positions 1.00
Welding Metallurgy 1.00

Credit for Prior Learning Available

View All Detailed Course Information

Pathways

Pathways are a series of connected programs that enable you to advance over time to better jobs and higher levels of education and training. By earning one degree, you could also be completing several courses of a related program in a pathway, bringing you one step closer to an advanced degree.

If you begin with one of the following programs, you will earn significant credit towards this Welding Technical Diploma:

Cost of Attendance

2024–2025 Estimated Academic Year Budgeted Cost of Attendance

The estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) is a budget that includes categories of expenses that a student can expect to incur while attending college. The COA does not reflect actual charges. It is an average based on the estimated living costs typical of our region. In determining the cost of attendance, Northcentral Technical College uses the budget established by the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Financial Aid Budget Work Group. This budget is used to determine financial need for all students who apply for financial aid. A student's cost of attendance is composed of all educational expenses that can be included for financial aid purposes that a student may accrue while pursuing their education for the year (or semester, if enrolled less than a year). A student's financial aid cannot exceed their cost of attendance. Schools are required to provide a fuller picture of what it may cost students to pursue their degree, not just what they will owe in tuition/fees and books/supplies.

Please Note: this COA budget estimate assumes full-time attendance for two semesters — Fall 2024 and Spring 2025.
Expenses Student Living With Parents (Home) Student Living on Own (Other)
Full-time Tuition (based on a total of 30 credits, 15 credits fall and 15 credits spring)
In-State Tuition & Fees
$4,844*
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees
$7,127*
In-State Tuition & Fees
$4,844*
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees
$7,127*
Living Expenses (Housing & Food) $3,008 $9,147
Books / Supplies $1,465 $1,465
Transportation $4,017 $4,017
Personal Expenses $3,608 $3,608
Loan Fees $85 $85
Total Estimated Cost Of Attendance
In-State
$17,027
Out-of-State
$19,310
In-State
$23,166
Out-of-State
$25,449

* Tuition listed is based on approved rates for the 2024–2025 academic year. Rates are approved each March by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board and estimated budgets are updated at that time.

For the 2024–2025 academic year, the Wisconsin Resident tuition rate is $149.50 per credit and Out-of-State resident tuition is $224.25 per credit.

For the 2024–2025 academic year, Student Fees include: a minimum $5.00 material fee and a $13.15 per credit activity fee. A $4.00 per semester insurance fee will be assessed to students taking at least one course which has a scheduled session on campus.

Students awarded Federal Direct Loan(s) also have an average of the mandatory loan fees automatically added to their COA.

Students with disability-related expenses may contact the Financial Aid Office to have their additional expenses considered. Disability-related expenses include but are not limited to: personal assistance, equipment, and supplies. The Financial Aid Office may potentially include disability expenses in the COA that are not provided by other assisting agencies.

NTC also offers a Net Price Calculator to help estimate costs.

For more information regarding billed tuition and fees visit https://www.ntc.edu/admissions/tuition-fees

We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about how the financial aid process works. Please feel free to reach out for more information.

NTC Financial Aid Office

715.803.1647
financialaid@ntc.edu

Admissions Process

Our application process takes just a few minutes to complete, but we want to make sure you have the things you’ll need on hand to complete the application. We’re here to help if you have any questions while submitting your application.

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What’s Next?

We’ll review your application and let you know if we need anything else. If you’re all set, your acceptance letter will be emailed to you.