Welding & Metal Fabrication
Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
Certificate of Applied Science (CAS)
The City College Welding & Metal Fabrication program provides highly skilled graduates for a variety of employers in the industry. Whether it be structural steel fabrication and erection, refinery piping fabrication and repair, overland pipeline construction, ornamental steel work, or the welding and fabrication of any of the more specialized materials, our graduates continue to succeed in the field. The Welding & Metal Fabrication program, ranging from a nine-month certificate to a two-year degree, gives students the skills they need for a career in welding by combining theory with extensive hands-on experience in such welding disciplines as TIG, arc and MIG. In this program, students get vast practice in individual welding booths, utilizing grinders, learning how to read/design plans, how to cut metal and work with CNC plasma table/CAD.
Cost of Attendance
City College - Associate Degrees & Certificates
- Additional program fees are listed at bottom of the COA page
Welder, Cutter, Welder Fitter*
| Median Wage (MT) | $38,300 yearly $18.41 per hour |
| Median Wage (US) | $40,240 yearly $19.35 per hour |
| Expected growth (MT)** | 11% |
| Expected growth (US)** | 6% |
**Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Employment Projections; MT Dept. of Labor and Industry, Research and Analysis Bureau; (projections through 2024)
As a graduate of our Welding & Metal Fabrication program, you will find employment in a variety of positions, such as:
- Welder
- Cutter
- Welder Fitter
Employment opportunities can be found in:
- Metal fabrication shops
- Steel companies
- Construction companies
- Manufacturing
- Automotive/ Diesel repair companies
Examples of where recent City College graduates are working:
- Lessman Ironworks, Billings, MT
- Mack LPT, Billings, MT
- MSU Billings, Billings, MT
- American Steel, Billings, MT
- True North Steel, Billings, MT
- Shepherd Stainless, Billings, MT
- WMK & Co., Billings, MT
- RHP Mechanical, Reno, NV
- Prime Machine, Salt Lake City, UT
- Job Site Inc., Boulder, CO
ADMISSION TO CITY COLLEGE
- First-time college students must have high school diplomas from an accredited high school, a GED/HiSET, or passed the MSUB Readiness Exam offered through our university.
- Transfer students will need to submit records from all regionally accredited institutions.
Montana State University Billings is accredited by the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
| CERTIFICATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE (CAS) » » | ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE (AAS) |
A student may exit this program after completing two semesters and receive a Certificate of Applied Science (CAS) in Welding & Metal Fabrication Technology. If you are looking to further develop your skills and increase your familiarity with different types of welds, City College offers an Associate of Applied Science degree (AAS) in Welding & Metal Fabrication.
| ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE (AAS) » » | BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE (BAS) |
Students who earn an AAS degree and want to further their education and thus, career, are able to go on for a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) Degree through MSU Billings. Students can focus on various thematic concentrations to earn a BAS degree. Contact the MSU Billings Advising Center at 406-657-2240 for further details.
Q: Is this program hands-on?
A: Yes, this program is designed to give students hands-on practice, just like they
would experience in the workforce.
Q: Can I take any classes online?
A: The core welding classes are not offered online but students do have the option
of completing some of the general education requirements in an online format.
Q: When can I start the program?
A: The core Welding classes begin in the fall semester of each year. However, for
a student looking to get a head start on the program, the general education courses
are available in the spring and summer.
