Overview
Welders are trained in and are capable of welding ferrous and non-ferrous metals in all positions, on both plate and pipe, using various welding processes. Certified welders qualify for testing with CSA, BCSA and for ASME procedures in British Columbia. Certified welders will also qualify for Pressure Welding Procedure (PWP) tests in British Columbia, BCP-100. Pressure procedure tests are administered by Technical Safety BC (TSBC).
As a welding student, most of your time will be spent in our shop. All practical task will be demonstrated first by your instructor then you will practice each weld until it meets industry standards. You’ll use state-of-the-art inverter technology, as well as equipment that would be typically found in most welding shops. The idea is to prepare you for work with job-ready skills, so self-motivation and the ability to work independently will also be emphasized. Once you have reached a certain skill set, you will be performing various tests on your welds to assure they meet the Canadian Welding Code standards.
There are two ways to become a welder apprentice:
- Take the Welder Foundation program. Completion of this program provides basic fabricating knowledge and skills to increase your employment opportunities. This foundation program qualifies for Level 1 and Level 2 of your apprenticeship with the Skilled Trades BC (STBC). After completing the Welder Foundation program, obtaining an apprenticeship through an employer, and completing the work based training (WBT) required by STBC, you will be eligible to take Welding Level 3 in-school training.
- Obtain employment with a welding shop that will sponsor you for apprenticeship. In this option, you are indentured to a company as an apprentice welder, learning basic welding skills while employed. The advantage is that you earn while you learn. There is a total 780 hours in-school training for welder apprenticeship level 1, level 2, and level 3 training.
After you complete Welding Level 3 in-school training and 4,500 hours work-based training, you will be eligible to take the interprovincial Red Seal exam and complete your logbook.
Entrance Requirements
Pathways
There are two ways of beginning your new career as a welder apprentice:
- Take our Welder Foundation program. By working through a series of practical projects and assignments and theory assignments you'll build a solid foundation of knowledge and skills to make you more employable in an entry-level position. By successfully completing the program, you will also receive credit for the in-school portion of Levels 1 and 2 of our Welder Apprenticeship training.
- Find employment under a welder who will register you with SkilledTradesBC. In this option, you are indentured to a company as an apprentice welder, learning basic skills while you are employed. The advantage here is that you earn while you learn.
Entrance requirements
You must be an active apprentice registered with SkilledTradesBC to register for apprenticeship training at BCIT.
Recommended for success
Grade 10 or equivalent.*
*High school graduation preferred.
Apprentices with medical or physical difficulties should contact Accessibility Services to arrange an interview with the Institute’s rehabilitation specialist.
International applicants
BCIT welcomes apprentice training requests from Canadian citizens and permanent residents only. View programs that accept international students
Scheduled Intakes
Multiple start dates each year.
Please refer to the Apprenticeship Training Schedule for availability of upcoming intakes.
Register for Apprentice Training
To register for apprentice training:
- Consult the training schedule to find a date that is suitable to both you and your employer.
- Create your BCIT ID if you don’t already have one.
- Register by phone or email.
- Pay the $200 commitment fee.
Disclosure of personal information & privacy notice
BCIT Apprentice Services reserves the right to communicate with SkilledTradesBC and your active employer sponsor about your registration, progress, and related academic information. BCIT also shares apprentice registration information with Work BC. If you have questions about the protection of your personal information, you may contact the BCIT Information Access and Privacy Office.
myCommunication
Within two business days of submitting your apprentice training request, BCIT will send a message to your personal and myBCIT e-mail addresses. All correspondence regarding your training request will be posted to your online myCommunication account at my.bcit.ca. We'll send you an e-mail when a new message is posted. It's important to watch for these e-mails or regularly check your account online.
You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your training request within four weeks.
Costs & Supplies
Tuition fees
Use our tuition estimator to find tuition and fees for this program.
For more information on tuition and fees, visit Apprenticeship Training Tuition & Fees.
Books & supplies
Please visit the BCIT Bookstore to view the list of required books.
Apprentices are required to bring CSA-approved steel-toed boots and supply their own coveralls. Please see the uniform authorization voucher [PDF] to determine the type of coveralls required for your program.
Welding students will require a respirator. Please see Approved Respirators for Welding Students FAQ for details.
Financial assistance
Income support for apprentices is provided by Human Resource Development Canada (HRDC) through regular Employment Insurance (EI) eligibility. For questions regarding Employment Insurance or Personal Support Payments, please visit the income support overview for current BCIT apprentices.
Courses
Class hours
Please refer to the Apprenticeship Training Schedule for class hours and availability of upcoming intakes.
Program matrix
| Level 1 (8 weeks) | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| AWEL 1GAP | Welder Apprentice Level 1 Final Grade - Harmonized Trade | 16.0 | |
| Level 2 (8 weeks) | Credits | ||
| AWEL 2GAP | Welder Apprentice Level 2 Final Grade - Harmonized Trade | 16.0 | |
| Level 3 (10 weeks) | Credits | ||
| AWEL 3GAP | Welder Apprentice Level 3 Final Grade - Harmonized Trade | 20.0 | |
| Level 4 (5 weeks) | Credits | ||
| AWEL 4GAP | Welder Apprenticeship Specialty Metals Endorsement Level 4 Final Grade - Harmonized Trade | 10.0 | |
| Total Credits: | 62.0 | ||
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
Program Details
Program length
The total amount of in-school, technical training for welder apprenticeship is 780 hours. The three levels of technical training consist of 26 weeks of full-time training.
Welder apprentice training:
- Level 1 - 8 weeks
- Level 2 - 8 weeks
- Level 3 - 10 weeks
After you complete Level 3 in-school training and 4,500 hours of work-based training, you will be eligible to take the interprovincial Red Seal Exam and complete your logbook.
You also have an option to take Multi-Process Alloy Welding (MPAW) endorsement training after you have received C of Q or C of A Welder. MPAW in-school training is 150 hours.
MPAW endorsement training:
- Level 4 - 5 weeks
Grading
The minimum passing grade is 70 percent.
Program delivery
In person: This program is delivered on campus.
Program location
Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC
Graduating & Jobs
Credential
BCIT offers a Diploma of Trades Training for apprentices who have successfully completed their technical training at BCIT and have been granted a British Columbia Trades Qualification (IP/TQ). In trades where there is no requirement to complete a Trades Qualification (TQ), a Certificate of Apprenticeship is acceptable. Please see the BCIT apprenticeship training section of the website for more information.
FAQ
Approved Respirators for Welding FAQ
Q. Why is an approved respirator required for welding students?
In accordance with health and safety regulations/standards and to ensure safety BCIT is required to ensure all welding students wear an approved respirator while welding.
Q. What is considered an approved respirator?
Typically, this is a tight-fitting half-mask respirator with a P100 particulate filter. Students will need a valid fit-test record for their respirator (tested within 365 days of using the respirator), and also need to be clean-shaven when wearing the respirator.
Q. Where can I purchase an approved respirator?
Students proceeding with a fit test and a half-mask respirator will need to purchase the respirator at a cost of approximate $130. Both the fit-test and respirator can be acquired at the beginning of the term through the student’s program instructor or the BCIT Bookstore at the cost of approximate $130. This is your personal respirator to keep.
Q. What if I prefer not to wear a respirator?
BCIT cannot allow staff or students to do welding without appropriate safety gear. However, students who prefer not to wear the half-mask can instead choose a Purified Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) with NIOSH-approved. Please note that the cost for a PAPR is significantly higher than for a half-mask respirator.
Q. What happens if I am unable to wear a half-mask respirator because of medical needs?
In some cases, a student may have a medical condition that can affect a student’s ability to safely use a respirator, some examples are:
- Shortness of breath
- Lung disease
- Hypertension
- Neuromuscular disease
- Temperature sensitivity
- Panic Attacks
- Reduced Sense of Smell
- Unusual Skin Conditions
- Breathing Difficulties
- Chest Pain on Exertion
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Fainting Spells
- Claustrophobia/Height Fears
- Colour Blindness
- Reduced Sense of Taste
- Dentures
- Chronic Bronchitis
- Heart Problems
- Thyroid Problems
- Dizziness/Nausea
- Hearing Impairment
- Asthma
- Back/Neck problems
- Emphysema
- Allergies
- Diabetes
- Seizures
- Pacemaker
- Vision Impairment
- Unusual facial features
- Prescription medications
Contact Us
Mark Flynn
Department Head
Tel: 604-456-8082
Email: Mark_Flynn@bcit.ca
Patrick Narayan
Office Assistant
Tel: 604-432-8203
Email: BCIT_Welding@bcit.ca
BCIT Apprentice Services
For more information on this or other apprenticeship programs, tuition fees and when programs are offered, please contact BCIT Apprentice Services at:
Office Location: Building SW1, First Floor
Burnaby campusPhone: 604-456-8100
1-800-667-0676 (BC)Fax: 604-435-1197 On the web: bcit.ca/apprenticeship
BCIT Apprentice Services can assist apprentices with their registration, tuition fee payments, and other details.
Anyone interested in registering as an apprentice can contact SkilledTradesBC at 778-328-8700 or 1-866-660-6011 (BC). BCIT's Apprentice Services can also assist individuals interested in entering apprentice training.
Questions or comments?
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