Welding technology is a highly desired degree program where the graduates are typically employed in manufacturing as certified welders in this high demand field. The associate degree assists the welder in being a well-rounded employee who desires advancement in their career whether it be in management, sales, purchasing, or procurement.
The curriculum includes coursework in welding that is designed to prepare the student for various welding certifications. In addition, the degree offers coursework in some of the soft skills and tangible areas of liberal arts. The laboratory approach provides the student with ample opportunity to develop welding skill sets that are marketable in the workforce.
The program in now housed in our State of the Art New Welding and Metal Fab shop located on the main campus in the C-Annex. The 4500 sq. ft. modern facility was dedicated/opened January 23rd 2024, that features small class sizes for the lab portions of 10 students to 1 faculty member for more individual experience.
Program Goals and Objectives
- Graduates will become certified welders.
- Provide students with the basic knowledge required for entry level in manufacturing welding.
AWS Certification and Accredited Testing Facility
The SUNUY Niagara welding technology program proudly received designation from thew American Welding Society (AWS) as an Accredited Testing Facility (ATF) site.
Certification is highly encouraged with the students and follows AWS along with D1.1 Structural Steel Welding codes. There is an additional fee for the student to earn their certification card and listing on the AWS official site. This fee comes from their application form, that they must fill out with AWS. Completion of our class does not guarantee anyone AWS certification unless the welding procedures/qualification test are passed.
Seth Metz ’25
When I entered the welding program at SUNY Niagara, I had recently graduated from BOCES for welding. Although I had learned incredible skills at BOCES, I was not fully confident in my ability to weld and felt that I needed more education. This program allowed me to grow my welding skills tremendously as well as my confidence. The instructors are experienced and great to work with, and they have many connections with people in the industry and the American Welding Society (AWS). The shop is well equipped, containing plenty of welders, machines, and material to work with. There is a tremendous sense of community in the program thanks to the multiple AWS events that are hosted. One example is a field trip we took to repair statues at Griffis Sculpture Park. These events also give us students a chance to network and expand our connections to others in the welding industry. One of the greatest things that I will take away from this program is the relationship I built with my instructors. I encourage you to give the program a try, whether you are brand new to welding or went to BOCES like me.
Restoration Efforts at Griffis Sculpture Park
September 28th, at Griffis Sculpture Park in East Otto, where students and staff worked alongside other volunteers and professionals in collaboration with AWS, of which we are proud members. This marks our third year supporting this important event, aimed at restoring and stabilizing the artworks created under the vision of Larry Griffis. With over 60 volunteers joining us, it was a truly impactful day of community service and preservation. I am honored to serve as the Niagara Section 6 Chairman of the AWS organization.
Gallery
Professional Licensure Disclosure
Effective July 1, 2024, federal regulation requires institutions of higher education to make a determination whether a Title IV eligible academic program that leads to professional licensure or certification meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the U.S. State where the institution is located and the U.S. States where “distance education” students are located at the time of initial enrollment in the program, as well as U.S. States where the program is advertised as meeting such requirements, and if applicable, the U.S. State where students attest they intend to be licensed/certified.
The Welding Technology A.A.S. program at SUNY Niagara is registered by the New York State Education Department and thus meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification for New York State.
Through a good faith effort, and for the purpose of complying with the federal regulation, we have determined that Welding Technology A.A.S. program at SUNY Niagara, if successfully completed, is sufficient to meet the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the following U.S. States:
New York – https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/structures/engineering/approved-field-welder-list
It is important to note that SUNY Niagara is not the licensure/certification authority in these U.S. States and cannot assess whether an individual candidate will be issued a license/certificate in these U.S. States and instead it is incumbent on each individual candidate to contact the licensure/certification authority in the applicable U.S. State for any further guidance on the requirements for licensure/certification requirements and application processes.