Program Overview
Get the intensive, hands-on training you need to begin a career in welding through the New England Institute of Technology’s Welding Engineering Technology associate degree program. You will not only hone your welding skills, but you’ll also learn about computer-aided design (CAD), building design, how to read blueprints and other theories and best practices preparing you for various welding-related jobs.
The welding associate degree program teaches the fundamentals of welding techniques, welding technology, welding tools, welding design, welding materials, various testing methods and robotic welding.
You also take technical math, communication, and other standard education programs to help you perform better in a workshop setting. Graduates should be able to weld utilizing various procedures, check and test welding jobs, and apply welding safety requirements.
You require high school graduation or GED for these programs, and previous training in technical math, geometry, drafting, and metalworking benefits applicants. These courses may interest high school students who want to become skilled welders.
Read MoreFull Description
The New England Institute of Technology is one of the few elite technical colleges in the United States to offer a Welding Engineering associate degree program. You will enjoy a blended curriculum of hands-on training and welding engineering principles.
This welding technology program provides intensive training in oxy-acetylene and air carbon arc cutting, metal arc welding, brazing, Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), Pipe Welding, and Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW).
In addition to welding and pipefitting, you will also take courses in industrial Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety procedures and policy, metallurgy, structural design, blueprint reading, computer-aided design and drafting (CAD), nondestructive testing, precision measurement and robotic welding. Internships are available to qualified students.
The curriculum has been approved by the American Welding Society (AWS) to provide students with a SENSE certification (Level One). Students also have the opportunity to achieve Six Sigma (Yellow Belt) quality certification, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) certifications, and the Solid Works welding certificate.
The associate of science in welding engineering technology will equip you to:
- Understand the industry standards on adjusting, operating, and troubleshooting gas welding, shielded metal arc welding, oxyfuel welding, gas tungsten arc welding, and cutting apparatus.
- Select the proper joint prep procedure for the weld metal joints and finish it according to industry guidelines with our state-of-the-art equipment in our sophisticated lab.
- Use SMAW, GTAW, and OFW to weld grooves, laps, fillets, and seams.
- Read and draft blueprints to complete projects from start to end.
During the first term of your associate degree, you will receive roughly 60 hours of formal CAD training. We provide the tools and materials, but students must purchase protective clothing to be safe in the lab.
You should pursue the courses listed in the required curriculum to finish your degree requirements as quickly as feasible. A student can complete the prerequisites for a conventional six-term program in as little as 18 months. You should attend classes in one liberal arts course each term to meet all of your degree requirements in the shortest amount of time.
The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) has granted the New England Institute of Technology accreditation, allowing us to participate in federal financial aid programs.
In addition to NECHE accreditation, certain academic departments have specific professional accreditations. Maintaining at least 12 credits per academic term qualifies students for the maximum financial aid grant.
These technical standards set forth by the Welding Engineering Department establish the essential qualities considered necessary for students admitted to this program to achieve the knowledge, skills and competencies to enter these fields. The student must possess:
Cognitive Ability
- Ability to focus over long periods and recall information on technical intricacies of component theory, engineering design, and computer and equipment functioning.
- Ability to apply concepts in real-life situations.
- The ability to deconstruct information into its constituent elements.
- Understanding of spatial relationships.
Adaptive Ability
- Ability to retain emotional stability and the maturity required to deal responsibly with other faculty members and students.
Communication Skills
- Proficiency in communicating with instructors and students.
- Ability to demonstrate and apply knowledge gained in the classroom and the lab.
Physical Ability
- Must be able to work in a standing, sitting, crouching, kneeling, or lying position.
- Both arms and legs must be able to lift, lower, push, and pull.
- Ability to stand for 4-6 hours.
- Ability to independently perform learnt skills with correctness and completeness within realistic time frames while adhering to procedures.
Manual Ability
- Ability to work with screwdrivers, wrenches, and other tools.
- Sufficient motor coordination and manual dexterity.
Sensory Ability
- The visual ability to distinguish between tools and instruments, wires, and components.
- Acute enough to read measurement and industrial equipment control settings.
- Can hear and interpret words uttered by others in the presence of a lot of background noise.
Job Availability In Rhode Island
Despite its small size, Rhode Island is expected to have the largest requirement of welders over the next 10 years.
With around 250 new positions added each year, the need for welders will only increase. This figure is significantly higher than the national average. Rhode Island is a fantastic place to work for entry-level and experienced welders.
Graduates of the welding associates degree program are prepared for several types of industry positions including welding engineering technician, industrial engineering technician, production welder, CADD designer, CADD technician, quality control engineering technician, welding industry salesman, and materials testing technician.
The NEIT Campus That Offers Associate Degree in Welding Technology
The NEIT campus that offers the Associate Degree in Welding is the Access Road Campus located in 110 Access Rd #65, Warwick, RI 02886.
Welding License Requirements For Rhode Island
There are no laws in Rhode Island that call for a specific welding license. Welders are urged to obtain certifications, nevertheless, as most businesses will demand them based on the sort of work involved, just like the rest of the United States. Though there are no recognized testing centers for welders in Rhode Island, after certification, a lot of career opportunities will become available.
Welders having the only nationally recognized certification – the Certified Welding Educator Program – will be given preference over those without it.
To enhance your chances of getting work as a welder in Rhode Island, it would help if you had a certification in the three major welding types:
- Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG)
- Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW
Salary Data for Welding Engineers In Rhode Island
Rhode Island is leading the way in terms of job growth in the welding industry. According to the US Department of Labor, welding job opportunities in Rhode Island will grow by 31.8 percent over the next five years.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, welders in Rhode Island earn in the top half of all welders in the country. In 2021, the average annual salary for Rhode Island welders was $48,290, with an hourly rate of $27.65.
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Potential Career Opportunities
With the right education and certificate qualifications from NEIT, professional welders have a wide-ranging selection of prospects to choose from in verticals, including inspection, manufacturing, and test processes. Here’s a look at some of the types of openings that are available:
Aluminum Welder
Fabrication Welder
Fitter/Welder
Maintenance Welder
Sub Arc Operator
Structural Steel Fitter
FAQ
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What can you do with a welding technology degree?
Individuals with a welding technology degree can pursue work as welding technicians, inspectors, supervisors, or estimators.
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Is a degree in Welding Engineering Technology worth it?
Earning an associate degree in Welding Engineering Technology is worth the effort. Graduates tend to enjoy higher starting salaries and higher career prospects.
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How long does it take to become a welding engineer?
Individuals can work as welding technicians with an associate degree. However, to sit for the AWS Certified Welding Engineer exam, you must have a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and a minimum of one year of professional welding experience. This process can take up to five years.
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What is the highest paid welding job?
The most lucrative welding positions revolve around industrial pipe & pipeline welding, underwater welding, and inspecting.