Program Description: 

Start your path in Bristol's Workforce Welder Training program.  Welding is a growing field with opportunities in clean energy and skilled trades. 

Bristol’s FREE, 18-week, 300-hour welding training program focuses on fundamental welding skills and will incorporate extensive hands-on practice, simulation-based learning, and industry-specific scenarios to ensure graduates are job-ready.  

Schedule:

• September 14, 2026- May 24, 2027  
• In-Person: Lab Days every Tuesday and Thursdays from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM 
• In- Person: Testing Days in the Lab Saturday, December 19, 2026, and May 8, 2027, All Day. 
• 5+ hours of Online work per week 

Curriculum modules could include but not limited to: 

• OSHA job site safety 
• Hot Works training  
• Fabricating Equipment Safety 
• Light Fabrication Techniques  
• Tool Safety 
• Power Equipment Use 
•  Oxy-Fuel welding and cutting (OFW/OFC) 
• Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC) 
• Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) 
• Flux cored Arc Welding (FCAW) 
• Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) 
• Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) 

 Industry Certifications & Next Steps: 

• OSHA 10-hour construction 
• Massachusetts Hot Work certification 
• American Welding Society (AWS)  

Trainees leave the program with industry recognized certifications and valuable hands-on skills for entry level positions in this trades sector. 

Program Highlights: 

• Access to GNBVT Computer Lab 
• PPE & Safety Boots 
• Materials and Supplies 
• On-the-Job Training & Job Placement 
• Wrap-Around Student Support Services 

Program Prerequisites: 

• 18 Years of age or older  
• A resident of Massachusetts 
• Hold a United States issued high school diploma or high school equivalency (GED or HiSET) 
• Hold a MA issued valid driver's license or MA issued Photo ID 
• Authorized to work in the US 
• Complete and pass a CORI/SORI background check 
• Have reliable transportation 
• Fully committed to completing all classes 
• Be ready to work directly after program completion 
• Be ready to report job placement, retention, and starting salary 

Program Career Pathways: 

According to Powering the Future: A Massachusetts Clean Energy Workforce Needs Assessment, occupations such as welders, sheet metal workers, and metal fabricators are projected to grow by 28% by 2030.  

This training prepares participants for immediate employment with a local Welding company gaining valuable paid on the job training. 

• Fabricator  
• ironworker 
• Pipeliner 
• Shipfitter 
• Sheet Metal Worker 
• Pipefitter 
• Boilermaker 
• Technician  

CLICK HERE AND COMPLETE THE PROGRAM INTEREST FORM TODAY! 

Spots are limited — first come, first served! 

This grant funded Workforce Welder Training program is designed and delivered to meet industry demand in the growing need for a clean energy workforce. This program is developed through a partnership between Bristol Community College, Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School, area Welding companies and funded by Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). 

The aim of BST-R is to review and build on previously gained knowledge and skills from BST through theoretical and practical training. This BST-R training shall enable participants to support and care for themselves and others working in the industry by possessing the knowledge and skills of first aid, working at heights, manual handling, fire awareness, sea survival and in case of an emergency, to be able to evacuate, rescue and provide appropriate first aid to casualties. 

The aims of Sea Survival Initial Training are to give, by theoretical and practical training, participants the ability to act safely and responsibly and to take the correct preventive actions in all aspects of offshore operations from shore to installation vessel (or WTG) and vice versa. This is both during normal operations and in an offshore wind energy environment emergency.

Free Adult Education Online Classes

Are you ready to strengthen your reading, writing, and math skills or prepare for the GED/HiSET exams, college, job training, or better career opportunities? Bristol Community College offers free Adult Education online classes designed to help you reach your goals.

Flexible Online Learning Options

Choose the learning format that works best for you:

• Live Zoom Classes — Attend instructor-led classes online with your instructor and fellow students.
• Self-Paced Online Program — Learn using online software with support from an online coach. Most of your learning can be completed on your own schedule.

What You’ll Receive

Every student has access to support and resources, including:

• Personalized learning plans
• Educational and career advising
• Instructor/tutor support
• Optional basic computer skills course

Students and graduates may also have the opportunity to take advantage of free college courses through our Transitions to College program.

To participate, you must:

• Complete an in-person placement test
• Be a resident of Massachusetts or Bristol County, or currently receive unemployment benefits from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Ready to Get Started?

Your first step is to register for an upcoming Adult Education TABE Placement Test session. After registering, check your email for additional information and next steps.

Need an accommodation?

If you require an accommodation for the initial intake exam due to a documented disability, please call 774-357-3769 to schedule your test.

For further assistance, please contact:

Nicola Machado, Education and Career Advisor

Phone:774-357-3769

Email: nicola.machado@bristolcc.edu.

The aim of this module is to enable the participant to support and care for themselves and others while working with slinger signaling in the wind industry by possessing the required knowledge, skills, and ability to conduct assigned tasks safely and efficiently. Upon successful completion of GWO’s slinger signaler training course, the participant will be able to work within the wind industry conducting slinging techniques and signaling during simple lifting operations, meaning lifts conducted based on a lifting plan or covering known hazards.

Get Up Safe is a unique heave compensated lifting solution that has been specifically designed to transfer personnel between Crew Transfer Vessels and the main external platform of an offshore wind turbine. 

GUS systems are activated and operated from the CTV via a wireless remote control and use integrated sensors to monitor vessel movement and instruct the hoist to take-in or pay-out line to maintain a safe distance between the person being transferred and the vessel deck.

AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) training is a comprehensive experience for workplace professionals looking to learn critical life-saving skills, including High-quality CPR (adult, child, infant), AED usage, and Team Dynamics. This course prepares you to provide immediate aid to cardiac and breathing emergencies to improve survival rates.

This course includes hands‑on, in‑person training with licensed instructors and an official AHA course completion card.

Get Up Safe is a unique heave compensated lifting solution that has been specifically designed to transfer personnel between Crew Transfer Vessels and the main external platform of an offshore wind turbine. 

GUS systems are activated and operated from the CTV via a wireless remote control and use integrated sensors to monitor vessel movement and instruct the hoist to take-in or pay-out line to maintain a safe distance between the person being transferred and the vessel deck.