Bristol Community College

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 
• Pass a Math Assessment 
• Pass a Physical Exam and ability to lift over 50 lbs. 
• Pass a Drug Test 
• 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).