Student Success & The Northern Experience
“I thoroughly enjoyed my two years studying in the Welding Engineering Technician program and living in Kirkland Lake. The college, while small, had a vibrant community and always lots of activities put on by the student association. We had a really small department and few students, so we got to know our teachers well. It felt as though they were invested in both challenging us as individuals and our eventual success. There are so many directions one could go with the Welding Engineering Technician diploma, it has certainly paid off for me.”
Kareem P.
Welding Engineering Technician Graduate
Does this program sound like a good fit for you? Connect with us to learn more.
Course Information
2024-2025 Academic Year
Semester 1
In this course, students will learn essential skills for success in college and the workplace. This course focuses on developing and strengthening oral and written communication skills, and critical thinking ability. During this course, students will engage in a variety of forms of communication with a focus on upholding the principles of academic integrity. Students will develop the skills necessary to create discipline-specific documents, practice business etiquette and professionalism, and apply critical thinking strategies to practical scenarios. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to plan and draft concise, coherent and well-organized writing assignments that are tailored to specific audiences and purposes.
42 Hours
This course introduces the student to health and safety in their home, in society and within an occupational setting. Students learn about the social and personal benefits of safe work practices and the methods to best prevent accidents or injuries. Students will review the role, right and responsibilities of an individual in today’s health and safety conscious world. Students also learn how to read and interpret the Occupational Act and Regulations.
In this course, students will gain practical experience with the essential features of Microsoft Office – MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint to enhance their communication and analytical skills. Basic computer skills are required as prerequisite. Students will gain hands-on experience with file management, software settings, system security, Word Reports (APA Functions), tables, advanced presentation functions, summarizing and analyzing data in Excel through a series of learning activities, projects, and exercises that focus on real world examples. Students gain practical knowledge that can be applied directly to the workplace setting.
42 Hours
This course covers basic algebra properties, graphing the straight line, basic geometry and trigonometry, and solving a system of equations graphically and algebraically. It also covers vector addition by components and by the cosine and sine laws.
56 Hours
The principle objective of this course is to provide students with an understanding of code philosophy and rationale along with a working knowledge and application of welding related codes and standards. Codes and standards discussed include ISO9000, CSA W47.1, CSA W59, ASME Section IX and ASME Section VIII.
30 Hours
This introductory course is assignment-based with the objective of solving elementary drafting problems for machine shop and welded fabrication consistent with industrial practice. Topics include: basic drafting skills, theory of shape description, auxiliary views, dimensioning, sections, detail and assembly drawings, pictorial drawings, structural drafting, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, and welding symbols.
60 Hours
This is an introductory course in electrical fundamentals covering the basic electrical components used in welding equipment, and use of a multimeter. It also includes the analysis of series and parallel circuits. Students will be introduced to solid state electronics and will also study half and full wave rectifier circuits.
30 Hours
This course begins with an overview of all joining methods including: mechanical, adhesive and welding. The major emphasis of the course is on the SMAW process. Students will practice welding techniques and will acquire data in order to submit neat comprehensive technical lab reports including welding procedure specification sheets. In addition, students will develop an understanding of the basic factors controlling the cost of welding and will be required to use lab and reference data to calculate welding costs. Students are introduced to welding defects as designated by the International Institute for Welding along with causes and possible remedies. Students will also be introduced to various welding codes and their areas of application.
60 Hours
General Education Courses are selected online each semester by the student from a list provided and exposes students to a related area of study outside of their immediate academic discipline. Certain programs have predetermined electives.
42 Hours
Semester 2
In this course, students will develop professional communication skills required for success in the workplace. Students will continue to develop and strengthen their oral and written communication skills and critical thinking abilities. During this course, students will use various modes of communication to complete assignments designed to meet program and professional expectations. Students will utilize a variety of technologies for the purpose of creating a professional presence in a digital environment. Students will develop the necessary skills to create polished workplace documents such as letters, resumes, cover letters and reports tailored to specific audiences. Students will learn to conduct themselves with professionalism in both workplace interviews and job searches. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to create clear, concise and coherent workplace and employment documents that are error-free and designed for specific audiences and purposes.
42 Hours
Improving your knowledge and understanding of the history of the Indigenous peoples of what we now call Canada is an important step to enable Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, organizations, and communities to work together more respectfully. Throughout this course you will have the opportunity to learn, discuss and reflect about many topics that are relevant in the learning journey towards reconciliation.
42 Hours
This course is intended to raise the awareness of the importance of experiential learning through the co-operative education process. The student is encouraged to actively identify and discuss the merits of a three-way partnership between the college, the employer, and the student. Various skills are introduced to help the student prepare himself/herself using self-assessment, career planning, and job search tools.
30 Hours
MA2104 is the second course in the math stream for students in an Engineering Technician / Technology program. The emphasis of this course is on solving equations relating to quadratics, logarithms, exponentials, with sections on factoring, fractional equations, manipulating exponent and radical expressions, and complex numbers, and for some programs studying systems of linear equations and determinants. Applications of the basic concepts, to particular fields of study, will be covered.
The second semester Mathematics course is designed to give the student the mathematical tools required to function in his/her special field of study.
Students are encouraged to seek help after class hours if problems are encountered in the course. Every effort will be made to identify problem areas to the student, but in the final analysis, it is the responsibility of the student to ask for help.
Prerequisite: MA1100 – Mathematics I (with 60%)
56 Hours
This is an introduction to the chemical and physical principles underlying the nature and behaviour of engineering materials. After an elementary examination of the common units of which all materials consist, the course discusses how different arrangements of these units bring forth specific types of materials with unique properties (metals, polymers, ceramics and composites). The main aim of the course is to stimulate the student’s interest in this field and establish an understanding of the basic principles that will be explore more extensively in numerous subsequent courses. Topics include: the structure of materials, imperfections in solids, diffusion, properties and selection, dislocations and strengthening mechanisms, failure of materials, solidification and phase diagrams.
60 Hours
Mechanics is the study of forces acting on objects (statics and dynamics). This course focuses on statics, the study of objects in equilibrium. Applied mechanics deals with the basic concepts of forces and is the origin for all calculations in areas such as stress analysis, structural design and weldment design. This course begins with a review of basic trigonometry, laws of triangles and unit conversion. Major topics include introduction to forces and moments, forces acting on truss and frame members, friction, centroids, moments of inertia, and radius of gyration. Both SI and Imperial System units are used.
60 Hours
This course consists of two parts. The first part of the course is an introduction to computer-aided design using AutoCAD drawing and editing commands. The second portion of the course revolves around the design of welding fixtures. Topics include: locating and clamping principles, basic construction principles, economics, introductory discussion of distortion and residual stresses, positioners, manipulators, power work holding, and modular work holding. A significant portion of the course involves the design of a welding fixture and implementing the use of (computer aided design) CAD drawings.
60 Hours
This course introduces the student to the common edge preparation processes used in the welding industry. Practical application of oxy-fuel, plasma and mechanical edge preparations are compared on the basis of application and economics. Successful students will be able to select the most appropriate process in a given application. An overview of manufacturing processes including casting, forging, stamping, hot/cold forming, powder metallurgy etc. are emphasized in this course.
60 Hours
Semester 3
MA3033 focuses on additional topics in algebra, geometry and trigonometry. Applications from many fields of technology are explored to show where and how mathematical techniques are used in the real world. Emphasis is placed on doing mathematics.
The learner is expected to apply time and effort to understanding the basic concepts. The learner is also expected to apply time and effort in demonstrating acquired knowledge by solving basic word problems involving technical applications. Using mathematics effectively in everyday situations requires the ability to apply a wide variety of mathematical skills accurately.
Students who successfully complete this course will have demonstrated their ability to apply the concepts of number and space to situations which include quantities, magnitudes, measurements, and ratios. They will have developed their ability to identify the need for mathematics, to apply mathematical techniques (concepts, conventions, strategies, and operations) and to check the results of their analyses. This will require flexibility, creativity and confidence which can only be gained through practice.
Elements of the Performance include:
- Recognize real-life problems that require mathematics to solve
- Assess potential mathematical strategies (including models, geometric representations or formulae, elementary algebraic equations, descriptive statistical methods, and mathematical reasoning) for suitability and effectiveness
- Decide on the degree of accuracy required for answers
- Estimate probable answers
- Execute mathematical operations necessary to implement selected strategies
- Use calculators or appropriate technological tools to perform mathematical operations accurately
- Check for errors in numerical answers and the appropriate fit between problems and answers
- Express answers clearly
- Transfer the use of mathematical strategies from one situation to another
45 Hours
This course examines the behaviour of engineering materials under various loading conditions. The concepts of stress and strain are critically examined with emphasis on the application of those concepts to practical design and analysis problems. Topics include direct normal and shear stresses; axial deformation and thermal stress; torsional shear stress and torsional deformation; shearing forces and bending moments in beams; pressure vessel stresses; welded and bolted (riveted) connections.
56 Hours
This is a continuation of Engineering Materials I. This course studies a vast complement of common industrial materials, describing their respective micro-structures and properties based on fundamentals of atomic bonding, phase transformation and strengthening mechanisms. Processes such as heat treatment and mechanical working are dealt with from the theoretical as well as the practical aspect. Course topics include: Fe-Fe3C phase diagram, IT and CT diagrams, phase transformations, micro-structural and property changes of Fe-C alloys, Heat Treating, precipitation hardening, micro-structural and mechanical properties of ferrous and nonferrous metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, and corrosion.
60 Hours
This course provides students with an introduction to Non Destructive Testing (NDT), an overview of the relevant materials science, as well as an understanding of the various industrial manufacturing processes used in Canada today. Defects associated with these processes are discussed as well as the human factors associated with NDT. The codes and standards that apply in North America are also reviewed with special attention to Natural Resource Canada’s NDT personnel certification scheme.
32 Hours
This course is designed to give the student a basis for the evaluation of varied materials using the magnetic particle inspection method. Upon completion of the course the student will be able to explain the principles of magnetic particle inspection, and describe the equipment and procedures commonly used. The student will describe the merits and limitations of this inspection method and select the appropriate method for the type of component inspected and the discontinuities anticipated.
40 Hours
This course is designed to give the student a basis for the evaluation of varied materials using the liquid penetrant inspection method. Upon completion of the course the student will be able to explain the principles of liquid penetrant inspection, and describe the equipment and procedures commonly used. The student will describe the merits and limitations of this inspection method and select the appropriate method for the type of component inspected and the discontinuities anticipated.
40 Hours
In this course, students are introduced to the various types of welding power sources, wire feeders and welding guns. Extensive use of a data acquisition system allows students to understand and apply static and dynamic power source characteristics for the short circuit GMAW process. This course also deals with the flux cored and gas metal arc welding processes. Students are expected to set up and demonstrate the safe use of FCAW and GMAW equipment. Data collected during lab sessions is used to complete comprehensive technical lab reports.
60 Hours
General Education Courses are selected online each semester by the student from a list provided and exposes students to a related area of study outside of their immediate academic discipline. Certain programs have predetermined electives.
42 Hours
Semester 4
In this course, students will be introduced to business in Canada, focusing on introductory topics for those interested in employment in a business management role. Topics of study will include the relationships between the areas of finance, human resources, marketing, and operations within an organization, business ethics and social responsibility, management concepts and practices, and an exploration of the entrepreneurial spirit.
42 Hours
This course introduces students to the submerged arc and gas tungsten arc welding processes. Electric resistance welding is also included with emphasis on spot welding. Students are expected to demonstrate the proper set up and safe use of SAW, GTAW and ERW equipment. Students will learn how to document welding procedure specifications and qualification records.
60 Hours
The metallurgical aspects of the welding processes are studied. The interaction between heat source, structure and properties of welds is studied in greater depth. Weld ability of different materials (steel, stainless steel, cast iron, aluminum, polymers) is also discussed.
60 Hours
This course is designed to give the student a basis for the evaluation of varied materials using the radiographic testing method. Upon completion of the course the student will be able to explain the principles of radiographic inspection, and describe the equipment and procedures commonly used. The student will describe the merits and limitations of this inspection method and select the appropriate method for the type of component inspected and the discontinuities anticipated.
48 Hours
This course is designed to give the student a basis for the evaluation of varied materials using the ultrasonic testing method. Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to explain the principles of ultrasonic testing, and describe the equipment and procedures commonly used. The student will describe the merits and limitations of this inspection method and select the appropriate method for the type of component inspected and the discontinuities anticipated.
60 Hours
Co-Op Work Terms
Students completing the co-op program for Welding Engineering Technology Advanced Diploma will complete work terms during each of the three years of the program. Co-operative education is a proven, realistic and practical method of career education. Co-op will assist students in relating theory to practice, bringing more meaning to academic studies. Co-op helps orient students to their chosen field, enables them to learn and results in a well-developed career plan before graduation.
520 Hours
Students completing the co-op program for Welding Engineering Technology Advanced Diploma will complete work terms during each of the three years of the program. Co-operative education is a proven, realistic and practical method of career education. Co-op will assist students in relating theory to practice, bringing more meaning to academic studies. Co-op helps orient students to their chosen field, enables them to learn and results in a well-developed career plan before graduation.
520 Hours
Career Ready Graduates
Work Integrated Learning Opportunities
The co-operative education option allows students to ‘earn while they learn’ and is a fantastic way to gain real-life experience. The curriculum includes a heavy emphasis on labs, which simulate the on-the-job problems that a welding engineering technician would encounter.
Articulation Agreements
A number of articulation agreements have been negotiated with universities and other institutions across Canada, North America and internationally. These agreements are assessed, revised and updated on a regular basis. Please contact the program coordinator for specific details if you are interested in pursuing such an option.
Canadian Field of Study/CIP Code List
CIP Code: 15.0614
International students: check the Canadian Field of Study/CIP Code List to see if your program is eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
- Perform safe work practices in the welding shop in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and Regulations for Industrial Establishments.
- Interpret drawings that would typically be used in a manufacturing and/or fabricating environment.
- Perform trade related mathematical calculations including volume, area, estimation, geometry, ratio, measurement, weights, loads, and centering of various lifts.
- Use the main cutting, gouging, and welding processes of the fabrication industry to complete practical projects.
- Perform hands on all position shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, flux core arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding utilizing mild steel and structural shapes with various consumables.
- Perform open root welding on plate and pipe in all positions using the shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) process.
- Describe and identify the common weld defects and faults using destructive and non destructive examination and testing methods.
- Identify and troubleshoot mechanical problems; recommend solutions for repairing and maintaining equipment to industry standard.
- Identify the applicable code(s) or standards to be used in conjunction with each specific fabrication activity.
- Describe and perform distortion control and correction techniques as they apply to expansion and contraction forces.
- Identify appropriate lifting devices and equipment according to weight calculations.
Pathways to Success
Graduates of the Welding Engineering Technician – Inspection program may choose to continue their studies and complete an additional year in order to obtain a diploma in Welding Engineering Technology.
Career Opportunities
Technicians can select components, create and/or interpret drawings and supervise welding personnel. Graduates may find employment in the following fields/positions: Quality Control/Assurance, Inspection, Education, Consulting, First-level management, and/or Technical Sales.
- Welding visual inspection technician
- Weld tester
- Employed by quality control, maintenance and safety departments of manufacturing, processing, transportation, energy and other companies and by private industrial inspection establishments
Admissions Information & Requirements
Admission Requirements
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
- Grade 12 English (C, U)
- Grade 12 Math (C, U) (MCT4C preferred; MAP4C is accepted with a minimum GPA of 60%)
- Grade 12 Physics (C, U) strongly recommended
Or equivalent
Academic prerequisites for this program may be obtained free of charge through Academic Upgrading.
Applicants who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent and will have reached the age of 19 years on or before the start of the program must undergo academic testing and may be required to complete Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR) process to demonstrate equivalency of admission requirements prior to admission into a program.
For more details, please contact the Admissions Office at 705-235-7222 or admissions@northern.on.ca.
Additional Requirements for International Students
In addition to the admission requirements, international students must have proof of English Proficiency and meet the requirements below.
1. Proof of Senior High School Diploma/Certificate
2. English Proficiency (we will require one of the following):
- IELTS Academic International English Language Testing System a minimum overall score of 6.0 must be achieved with no individual band score under 6.0; however, we will accept one band at 5.5.
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) – Internet Based Test (iBT) overall minimum score of 79
- PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic – Graduate Diploma: 58+
If your country of citizenship has English as its official language, we may accept alternate proof of English Proficiency.
All educational documents must be submitted in English and will be dependent on the country of citizenship.
For more information, please contact admissions@northern.on.ca.
Program Specific Requirements & Additional Information
Tuition, Fees & Payments
The tuition and fees information is typically updated yearly for the upcoming Academic Year in May. The amounts are for the full academic year.
Amounts may be based on last years tuition and fees and are subject to change.
If you are a current student, please refer to your Student Account or see a Student Services Clerk for the most up-to-date information.
Tuition
Domestic: $2,720.56
International: $14,813.46
Program Specific Fees
Fee for Co-Op Semester: $300 (W138 Only)Ancillary Fees
Ancillary fees are paid in full for the entire academic year in the first semester.
The Convocation and Official Documentation Fee (GRA) of $100.00 only applies for the first year of each program.
Please see Detailed Ancillary Fees for more information.
| Ancillary Fees by Campus | Domestic | International |
| Kirkland Lake (KL) | $909.50 | $1,522.00 |
Find Your True North.
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