Welder Foundation

The Welder Foundation program prepares students to enter the Welder Apprenticeship program. Students who successfully complete the foundation program and are active registered apprentices with the ITA can go into Level 3 of the Welder Apprenticeship program and then write the inter-provincial exam for Red Seal certification at the end of the course:

• Welder Apprenticeship Level 3 - this option is for registered apprentices
• Welder B Level - this modular training option is for welders who cannot register as an apprentice

Applicants who have not satisfied the Math admission requirement within the last seven years, and/or do not meet the English admission requirement, must write the TEA Math and/or English test. Both of the assessments are online, multiple-choice and timed. Applicants are allotted 1 hour to complete each section (2 hours for both). A practice assessment and study resources are offered to all applicants who register to write the TEA.  Calculators are not allowed while completing the Math section; applicants who are observed to use a calculator of any sort, will receive a grade of zero.  Applicants who do not achieve the minimum passing requirement on their initial attempt, are offered a second attempt, at no additional cost, after a two-week study period.

Please ensure you write the assessment, and any required re-writes, prior to the deadline for admissions requirements, provided by the Registrar’s office. For more information or to register for the Trades Entrance Assessment, click here. Further questions can be directed to the Trades and Apprenticeship office at trades@okanagan.bc.ca.

Please note: Applicants who successfully completed the ABLE test at Okanagan College, within the two years prior to application for admission shall have their results accepted as equivalent to the Trades Entrance Assessment. 

Textbooks

The current total cost of the textbooks is approx. $975.

5% GST is not included in price. Price is subject to change.

Textbooks available online only at the OC Campus Store.

The booklists on OC Campus Store website will be updated 3 times a year (January, April and mid-August).
Please check back with the Campus Store 2 weeks before your program starts under Current Book List for a final, updated list of book titles and prices, and to order!

If you have any questions regarding the booklist, please call OC Campus Store, 250-862-5638 or email campusstores@okanagan.bc.ca.

It takes approximately two to three business days to fill the online orders, please be sure to purchase the necessary items prior to the 1st day of class.

Required supplies

• Clear lens face shield for grinding
• Leather welding gloves
• CSA-approved leather work boots (steel toed)
• Safety glasses
• Tinted face shield for oxy-fuel welding and cutting OR goggles
• Welding helmet
• 3M 6200 respirator + 3M P100 filters
• Long sleeved non-synthetic (cotton) shirt and long pants (jeans)
• Binder
• Paper
• Pencils, pens, erasers

All safety equipment and clothing is required the first day of class.
Government-issued picture ID (driver’s license, photo ID or valid passport) is required to write the provincial and national exams; student ID cards are not acceptable. 

Tools

You can supply the below tools yourself or you can purchase a set from the Welding Department ($445).

• tool box 21” approx. (metal)
• combo square
• awl
• 10R vise grip
• ¾ flat chisel
• 2 x 11R vise clamps
• tip cleaner
• wire brush
• ball peen hammer
• 1-10” crescent wrench
• chipping hammer
• tape measure
• soapstone holder w/ soapstone
• 14” half round bastard with handle
• slip joint pliers
• hack saw and blade
• center punch
• side cutters or mig. pliers
• striker

Important information

You can supply the above tools yourself or you can purchase a set from the Welding Department ($445). If you want to purchase your tools from the Welding Department, this can be done on the first day of class. An invoice will be given to you from the Welding tool room and the payment to be made at the Kelowna Trades and Apprenticeship office or the Admissions Office at other campuses. Should you decide to supply your own tools, the list provided is the minimum requirement. All tools on this list must be present for you to proceed with this program.

Please note these prices are subject to change.

The textbook list above was current at the time it was posted and may be used for initial planning purposes. Please check back with the bookstore 2 weeks before your program starts under Current Book List for a final, updated list of book titles and prices, and to order!

Textbooks available online only at OC Campus Store. If you have any questions, call 250-862-5638 or email campusstores@okanagan.bc.ca.

It takes approximately two to three business days to fill the online orders, please be sure to purchase the necessary items prior to the 1st day of class.