Start prepping NOW for your dream job or work-anywhere trade skills!

Hone Your Welding Skills While Preparing for Certification

In our current digital-dominant world, there’s something particularly appealing about someone who still makes a living with their hands. Do you have more of an analog, old-school soul? Do you enjoy working with your hands to build machines that last lifetimes? Are you captivated by welding, fabrication and metalwork? If this sounds like you, then a career in the welding industry could play right into your hands. Take a truly hands-on, deep dive into the time-tested, world-building realms of welding, fabrication and materials joining — with Introduction, Intermediate and Advanced (CAPSTONE) level classes all available. If you want to break into this industry and learn what it takes to earn your living as a certified welder, this program will surely get you fired up.

What You'll Learn

From 9th grade upward, enroll in courses (Advanced Level is A-G approved) to start preparing for your skilled trade career. Classes include:

  • CTE Intro Welding & Fabrication
  • CTE Con Welding & Fabrication
  • CTE Cap Welding & Fabrication

What You’ll Do

Take what you’re learning in the classroom into the real world and experience for yourself all that awaits you in the time-honored and always-needed skilled trade industry. Hands-on, immersive experiences include:

  • Intensive welding work
  • Professional guest speakers

Who You Can Be

Kickstart your career path with top-tier academic instruction and industry-leader insights. The Welding program prepares you for potential careers such as:

  • Certified Welder
  • Certified Union Welder

Industry Average Wages: $47,840-$162,240

Projected Industry Growth: 3%

What You Need to Know

VUSD’s Welding CTE track prepares students for successful careers in the skilled trade industry, with a particular focus on welding and fabrication work. Students (grades 9 and up) learn vital skills such as tool safety, project planning, project construction and project finishing, earning a California state Professional Certification. The program is based at Buena High School and leads directly to VUSD’s Welding pathway. Students learn and sharpen skills with extensive welding experience under high-level direction. Students also benefit from respected guest speakers within the skilled trade industry, as well as partnerships with renowned local businesses like Elite Plating, Syndicated Machine, Royal Hydraulics and C&R Molds. Students emerge from this truly hands-on program with enhanced skills, confidence, direct access to a powerful pathway and a valuable Ventura College credit.

College Credits

Get a jump start on your college future by earning college credits and valuable real-world skills you can use for college and career.

2 Year

AS Engineering Welding - Ventura College

4 Year

BS Industrial Engineer - Cal Poly San Luis Obispo