Designation by the American Welding Society will provide local industry with a vital resource      

The Clark College welding technologies program is proud to announce its accreditation as an American Welding Society (AWS) testing center. This accreditation makes national certifications available to both students and professional welders in the region who are seeking to advance their careers.

Beginning May 1, Clarkwill make a number of certifications available for testing. The most common isthe Certified Welder (CW), which tests welders on procedures used in thestructural steel, petroleum pipelines, sheet metal, and chemical refinerywelding industries. Certifications available include Steel, Stainless steel andAluminum. In conjunction with the AWS certification, Clark College also offersthe Washington Association Building Officials (WABO) welding certification atthe Clark facilities.

Fees for certificationswill start at $300, with more-complex testing requiring up to $600. All testingwill be completed at the Clark welding lab located on the main campus, at 1933Ft. Vancouver Way in Building AA2. The college will provide all the neededsteel, stainless steel, and aluminum materials required for completing thecertification examination.

Professionalsinterested in testing for either AWS or WABO certifications at Clark Collegemay contact welding faculty member Brian McVay at 360-992-2359 or bmcvay@clark.eduto discuss their certification requirements, the costs, and testing schedules. Formore information about Clark College’s welding technologies program visit www.clark.edu/cc/welding.

“We are excited to beable to serve our community by providing this unique testing, which will helpexpand the opportunities for career advancement in the industry and supportthis region’s economy,” said McVay, noting that the next-closest AWS AccreditedTesting Facility is in Tacoma, Washington.

Photo: Clark College/Jenny Shadley