Students in the Central Lakes College Welding program in Brainerd have additional benefits as a result of a new partnership with the American Welding Society.
Membership in AWS brings national accreditation acknowledged by SENSE – Schools Excelling through National Skill Standards Education. With the start of the spring semester, CLC Welding students begin American Welding Society training that leads to Level I Welder Certification. Students then advance to Level II during a summer session. The process involves testing on industry standards in safety, equipment, welding processes, quality control, testing/inspection, blueprint interpretation, and certification. Along with the written evaluation students will submit several weld samples to determine weld manipulation (skill) attainment.
Upon graduation from Central Lakes College and completion of the SENSE program, the student obtains industry certification as a Level II Advanced Welder.
CLC becomes part of a network of more than 2,000 schools and instructors with recognized credentials for employment and continuing education. Students are assured the training they receive is based on national standards and guidelines. AWS serves more than 66,000 members worldwide. Membership consists of engineers, scientists, educators, researchers, welders, inspectors, welding foremen, company executives and officers, and corporate members including welding manufactures, independent welding shops, distributorship, end-users, and educational institutions.
The affiliation with AWS gives students access to technical resources and a national registry of apprenticeships and career opportunities. Employers profit by knowing CLC graduates have the skills required for success. Less on-the-job training means reduced cost of hiring. For information, contact Michael A. Reeser, instructor, at (218) 330-6971 or mreeser@clcmn.edu.
