Welding Program

The welding program at Columbia Basin College prepares students for careers as welding engineers, manufacturing engineers, application engineers, sales engineers, and project engineer or manager. The program focuses on applying technical knowledge and skills to join or cut metal surfaces. Program course include: arc welding, resistance welding, brazing and soldering, cutting, high-energy beam welding and cutting, solid state welding, ferrous and non-ferrous materials, oxidation-reduction reactions, welding metallurgy, welding process and heat treating, structural design, safety, and codes and standards. Get more details below including other Washington colleges that offer welding program.

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Columbia Basin College (CBC)

4500 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Lakewood, WA

Columbia Basin College is a 2 year college located in Pasco, Washington. The college was founded in 1965 to serve the Benton and Franklin counties. The college services over 13,000 students a year and has grown over the decade, expanding its offerings and building new facilities. CBC provides a safe learning environment and believes in equality in its dealings with students, providing the skills necessary for residents of its service area to succeed. The school is continually reviewing and revising its offerings, ensuring that the programs remain relevant and provide the best possible education. Class sizes are relatively small, typically having between 22-50 students.

Academics

Columbia Basin College offers a diverse number of programs to help prepare its students for transfer into four year institutions or to prepare them for a career of their choosing. Students wishing to transfer will complete the first two year of a four year education at CBC. Students may transfer to four year institutions upon completion assuming certain general education courses are taken and an acceptable GPA is maintained. Career and technical programs provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to enter the workforce immediately as professions once the program is completed. CBC also offers a single Baccalaureate program in applied management.

Programs offered include:

• Accounting
• Criminal Justice and Forensics
• Early Childhood Education
• Medical Assistant
• Phlebotomy

Admissions and Financial Aid

Students interested in enrolling at Columbia Basin College must complete and submit the application along with the application fee and take the COMPASS placement exam. As a two year institution the school maintains an open enrollment program, allowing those individuals who demonstrate that they may benefit from the education offered to enroll. Some programs may have limited admittance, and as such it is wise to apply early. Students applying for financial aid should complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and visit the financial aid office to discuss options. Financial aid is available in the form of loans and grants, the resulting Student Aid Report (SAR) from the FAFSA will be used to determine eligibility and awards.

Athletics

Intercollegiate athletics are available at Columbia Basin College. The CBC Hawks participate in a number of sports through the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWACC). Intercollegiate athletics allow students to participate in structure competition which fosters an atmosphere of school pride. Additionally, students are encouraged to develop important skills that are useful for their academic and professional careers. These include teamwork, discipline, and good health. Students who participate in athletics often find the experience rewarding, as it allows for travel, bonding with peers, and the possibility of success.

Athletic programs offered include:

• Baseball (Men Only)
• Basketball
• Golf
• Soccer
• Softball (Women Only)
• Volleyball (Women Only)

Students Enrolled in the Welding Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. Columbia Basin College has offered the following degree levels for students:

• Less Than One Year Certificate
• Less Than Two-Year Award
• Associate's Degree

Students by Academic Level (2019)

Students by Gender (2019)

Students by Race (2019)

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters

Description

Use hand-welding or flame-cutting equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, welders, cutters, and welder fitters employment is expected to grow at a rate of 3.6% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 3
  • Average Hourly Rate: $23.84
  • Average Annual Salary: $49580
• Tacoma-Lakewood, WA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 400
  • Average Hourly Rate: $22.65
  • Average Annual Salary: $47120

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Description

Set up, operate, or tend welding, soldering, or brazing machines or robots that weld, braze, solder, or heat treat metal products, components, or assemblies. Includes workers who operate laser cutters or laser-beam machines.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders employment is expected to shrink at a rate of -18.0% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 170
  • Average Hourly Rate: $23.22
  • Average Annual Salary: $48300
• Tacoma-Lakewood, WA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 50
  • Average Hourly Rate: $20.46
  • Average Annual Salary: $42560

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).