Welding I
Welding is required by a wide variety of industries anywhere fusible materials and high heat are needed to manufacture, repair, or alter tools and products. Students in Welding I are taught to use manual welding, cutting, and electrical arc welding processes to fabricate and join metal parts according to diagrams, blueprints, and specifications. Students will also learn all safety-related practices and techniques, including earning the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10 card. Contextual instruction and student participation in co-curricular career and technical student organization (CTSO) activities will develop leadership, interpersonal, and career skills. High-quality work-based learning (HQWBL) will provide experiential learning opportunities related to students' career goals and/or interests, integrated with instruction, and performed in partnership with local businesses and organizations.
Class Size Regulation
The Virginia Administrative Code regulates the class size for this course. For additional information, see 8VAC20-120-150, "Maximum class size," or contact the Virginia Department of Education Office of Career and Technical Education at cte@doe.virginia.gov.
Course Sequences
A combination of this course and those below, equivalent to two 36-week courses, is a concentration sequence. Students wishing to complete a specialization may take additional courses based on their career pathways. A program completer is a student who has met the requirements for a CTE concentration sequence and all other requirements for high school graduation or an approved alternative education program.
Industry Credentials (Only apply to 36-week courses)
- College and Career Readiness Assessment (CCRA+)
- Core: Introduction to Basic Construction Skills Assessment
- Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW) Examination
- Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Examination
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) Examination
- Manufacturing Specialist Certification Examination
- Manufacturing Technician Level 1 (MT1) Certification Examination
- National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)
- Pre-Manufacturing Technician 1 (Pre-MT1) Examination
- Professional Communications Certification Examination
- SENSE Training Program Certification Examination (Level 1, Entry-Level Welder)
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) Examination
- Welding Assessment
- Welding Level One Assessment
- Workplace Readiness Skills for the Commonwealth Examination
Virginia’s High Demand Occupations and Apprenticeable Occupations
Section § 2.2-2472 of the Code of Virginia requires the Virginia Board of Workforce Development (VBWD) to publish a list of jobs, trades, and professions for which a high demand for qualified workers exists or is projected. The Virginia Office of Education Economics (VOEE) collaborated with the VBWD and related stakeholders to develop the high demand occupations list. VOEE’s mission is to leverage data to inform educational programming, policy, and workforce partnerships across the Commonwealth. See also the Virginia 2024 High Demand Occupations Dashboard.
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code, Occupation Description, and Active Apprenticeable Occupation status (Yes/No per the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry).
| SOC Code | Occupation Description | Apprenticeable Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| 195011 | Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | Yes |
| 499044 | Millwrights | Yes |
| 514121 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | Yes |
Career Clusters
| Pathway | Occupation |
|---|---|
| Health, Safety, & Environmental Assurance |
|
| Maintenance, Installation, & Repair |
|
| Production |
|
