West-MEC’s Southwest Campus will soon offer an adult welding technology program, providing students with training from industry experts in various aspects of welding. The new session will begin on Monday at the campus located at 500 N. Verrado Way in Buckeye. Enrollees will have the opportunity to learn and practice thermal cutting, shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, flux-core arc welding, and gas tungsten arc welding. Upon completion of the 900-hour program, students can also take a welding certification test.
The welding technology course is offered through daytime classes that span 60 weeks or a nighttime schedule that extends to 81 weeks. The total cost, including tuition and other fees, is $14,160. Superintendent Scott Spurgeon emphasized the support for adult students with flexible schooling hours to help set them up for success in pursuing a new trade. West-MEC offers a total of 33 programs at 49 Valley high schools that provide students with certifications and credits for high school and college.
Apart from welding, West-MEC offers various other adult programs such as aviation maintenance technology, dental assisting, HVAC, IT security, pharmacy technician, and precision manufacturing. These programs are aimed at providing Arizonans with pathways to higher-paying jobs as technical education public school district recognizes the importance of developing a skilled workforce. Only 31% of Arizona adults over the age of 25 hold a degree beyond a high school diploma, highlighting the need for programs like those offered by West-MEC.
Spurgeon highlighted the significance of adult education programs in equipping the West Valley workforce with new skills or enhancing existing skill sets to meet the demands of businesses and industries. By developing these skills, students are better prepared to secure higher-paying jobs. If you have a story idea or tip, you can reach out to the KTAR News team for more information.
West-MEC’s Southwest Campus is set to launch an adult welding technology program that aims to provide students with training from industry experts in various aspects of welding before they enter the industry. The new session will start on Monday at the campus located at 500 N. Verrado Way in Buckeye.
Enrollees will have access to hands-on training in thermal cutting
