Welding Program

The welding program at Lake Area Technical Institute 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 South Dakota colleges that offer welding program.

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Lake Area Technical Institute

Also known as LATI/Lake Area Tech

333 Omaha St. Suite 6 & 7, Rapid City, SD

Lake Area Technical Institute, located in Watertown, South Dakota, was founded in 1965 and was South Dakota's first technical school. The school enrolls over 1,500 students a year and has had over 16,000 graduates. LATI maintains small class sizes and cutting edge facilities. LA Technical Institute is a higher education institution that believes in offering students a solid foundation upon which they may construct their success.

Academics

LATI offers 27 programs of study, 7 of which are available through online distance learning. The programs provide students with the education necessary to immediately begin a career or to transfer to a four year institution. 98% of graduates find placement in jobs or transfer to a four year university.

Programs offered include:

• Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Cosmetology
• Nursing
• Financial Services
• Robotics
• Business Associate

Admissions and Financial Aid

Students interested in enrolling at Lake Area Technical Institute must be at least 16 years of age and have a high school diploma or GED. Students lacking a high school diploma or GED may take an examination demonstrating that they will benefit from the education offered; students enrolled in this manner must complete their GED within the year.

LATI offers a variety of financial aid options to eligible students. Eligibility for federal programs is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which must be completed and submitted.

Students Enrolled in the Welding Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. Lake Area Technical Institute has offered the following programs for students:

• 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

• Rapid City, SD
  • Total Employment: 160
  • Average Hourly Rate: $15.78
  • Average Annual Salary: $32820

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

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