GRAND RAPIDS, MI - When industries or construction are booming as they are in West Michigan, the need for welders increases greatly.
Grand Rapids Community College is launching a new Welding Skills Certificate program fall semester designed to help students gain the necessary skills quickly, so they can enter the workforce and help meet demand.
GRCC Associate Professor John Doneth crafted the new program with student feedback. Typically, he said their students are working and going to school but because most students are not full time, everything takes longer.
“This new certificate was created because our students come to GRCC to quickly get some skills and go to work,'' he said.
The demand for welders in the regions reflects what’s going on nationally. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the need for welders is expected to grow by 26 percent by 2020.
The median pay for welders in 2018 was $41,380 per year or $19.89 per hour, according to the Bureau.
GRCC’s existing Welding Technology Certificate program teaches the fundamentals over two semesters.
The new Welding Skills Certificate program is designed to teach the basics of these skills in a semester, although part-time students might need two, so they can enter jobs in the manufacturing, petroleum, aerospace, automation and medical fields.
“Over the next decade, 20 percent of workers in metal fabrication are expected to retire,” said Doneth, about designing a program to meet the demand.
“The new program will prepare students for good, entry-level positions and stack well with our one- and two-year welding programs if those students decide to add to their training.”
GRCC charges $115 per credit hour.
Doneth could not be reached regarding additional information about the new program prior to publication.
Those who are interested in the Welding Skills Certificate program, can email the college at manufacturing@grcc.edu.