Welding Course Offered
Through the joint partnership between Texas State Technical College and Temple College, an Introduction to Shielded Metal Arc Welding course will be offered to the public next month through the Taylor Welding School on Ninth Street.

The course is the first available under the marketing banner of the East Williamson County Higher Education Center, according to Tyler Smith, director of workforce development for TC, and is the measuring stick for other courses to come.

“Depending upon the response we get, we will assemble additional courses in different welding areas,” Smith said.

This course is different from the program offered last summer to qualified applicants looking for the rapid on-the-job equivalency training. Students will learn a basic knowledge of welding, safety and equipment, Smith said. They can use that in their own endeavors or to help get a job.

“The program is designed for someone who wants to take these type of skills and apply them at home, on the farm or as a continuing education note on their resume,” Smith said. “If (they) wanted to be able to work on the tractor, and (they) needed that skill, this is the course.”

The course is set up under the corporate training portion of the EWCHEC partnership agreements established between TC and TSTC. Other EWCHEC courses will go toward earning a college degree.

Community and corporate training programs provide certificates of completion rather than college credit hours, Smith said.

The course will cost $395 plus $137 for personal protective equipment. The course will be held Tuesday and Thursday for eight weeks, beginning Feb. 17, and only 12 seats are available.

Contact Temple College at Taylor at (512) 365-7242 for more information.