Interested in a rewarding career as a welder? If so, Des Moines Area Community College has a new class endorsed by manufacturing employers.
A non-credit Welders for Manufacturing class, designed for persons with no welding experience, will be held in the DMACC Career Academy on the Newton Campus. You will have the opportunity to earn an American Welding Society (AWS) qualification in the flat position. You will also connect with local employers who need welders.
Last year, all 15 students who completed the February class were hired by area manufacturers.
“A career in welding provides tremendous opportunities,” says David Landon, Manager of Welding Engineering at Vermeer Corporation in Pella. “There is an immediate need for skilled welders right now and by the end of the decade there will be a need for almost 240,000 new and replacement welding professionals nationally.”
The 124-hour class begins on March 19 and concludes on May 9 with classes offered Tuesday and Thursday evenings and on Saturday mornings.
Training is provided free to qualified participants. Selection for this training is not based on income, but on meeting the required reading, math and welding skills assessment, as well as an interview with DMACC staff. Priority will be given to students who reside in Jasper or Marion County.
Assessments will be held from 5 to 8:30 p.m., March 4, 5 or 6. Go to cam.dmacc.edu to schedule an assessment.
A Weld Fair will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., Thursday, March 7 at the DMACC Newton Campus. Learn about career opportunities in this field, talk to local employers who hire welders and find out if this is the career for you. The Weld Fair is open to the public, but everyone interested in applying for the class must attend.
Contact Kay Maher at (515) 697-7700 or klmaher@dmacc.edu with questions.