| Skill | What it means | Level needed |
|---|
| Safety | Understands welding area safety requirements; uses appropriate PPE (auto-darkening helmet, gloves, leathers); identifies fire, fume, and electrical hazards; and follows safe practices around hot materials and compressed gases. | |
| Materials | Identifies common base metals (mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum, cast iron) by type, grade, and weldability characteristics, and selects appropriate filler and process for each. | |
| Measurement | Uses measuring tools (tape measures, squares, protractors, weld gauges) to lay out, verify dimensions, and inspect weldments and fabricated assemblies. | |
| Metallurgy | Understands basic metallurgical principles including grain structure, heat-affected zones, distortion control, and how heat input affects weld quality and material properties. | |
| Blueprint Reading | Reads and interprets weld symbols, joint designs, dimensions, tolerances, and assembly drawings from engineering blueprints per AWS and ASME conventions. | |
| Math | Applies math skills (fractions, angles, geometry) to calculate joint dimensions, material quantities, angle cuts, and layout measurements for fabrication. | |
| Layout | Uses layout tools (steel squares, scribers, chalk lines, center punches) to transfer dimensions from drawings to metal and establish weld joint geometry. | |
| Hand Tools | Selects and safely uses common hand tools (chipping hammers, wire brushes, angle grinders, clamps, vise grips) for weld preparation, joint fit-up, and post-weld finishing. | |
| SMAW | Sets up and performs Shielded Metal Arc Welding (stick welding) on mild steel in flat and horizontal positions to AWS or applicable industry standard, achieving acceptable bead profile and fusion. | |
| GMAW / MIG | Sets up and performs Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG/GMAW) on mild steel in flat and horizontal positions, adjusting wire feed speed, voltage, and shielding gas for sound welds. | |
| FCAW | Sets up and performs Flux-Cored Arc Welding on mild steel, selecting appropriate wire type and polarity for gas-shielded (FCAW-G) or self-shielded (FCAW-S) applications. | |
| GTAW / TIG | Sets up and performs Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG) on mild steel or stainless steel, demonstrating proper tungsten preparation, filler addition technique, and shielding gas selection. | |
| Cutting: Flame | Sets up and operates oxy-fuel equipment for manual and guided cutting, heating, and brazing operations safely and to specified dimensions. | |
| Cutting: Air Arc | Operates air carbon arc gouging equipment to remove weld metal, prepare joints, and remove defects from weld areas safely and effectively. | |
| Drilling | Operates drill press and portable drill equipment to drill, tap, and ream holes in metal fabrication workpieces to specified size and location. | |
| Milling | Operates manual milling equipment to machine flat surfaces, slots, and profiles on metal fabrication components to required dimensions. | |
| Turning | Operates manual lathe to produce cylindrical components such as pins, bushings, and shafts for use in fabrication assemblies. | |
| Metal Fab: Bending | Sets up and operates press brakes and manual bending equipment to form sheet and plate metal to specified bend angles and radii. | |
| Metal Fab: Rolling | Operates plate and section rolling equipment to form curved, cylindrical, and conical shapes from flat bar or plate stock. | |
| Metal Fab: Shearing | Operates mechanical or hydraulic shears to cut sheet and plate metal to specified dimensions safely and accurately. | |
| Metal Fab: Forming | Uses forming tools, dies, and presses to shape metal parts to specific contours, angles, and configurations for fabrication assemblies. | |
| CAD | Creates and interprets 2D drawings and 3D models of weldments and fabrication assemblies using computer-aided design software, including weld symbol notation. | |
| CAM | Generates and edits toolpaths or nesting programs for CNC plasma, laser, or waterjet cutting equipment using computer-aided manufacturing software. | |
| Quality Assurance & Control | Inspects weldments using visual examination, measuring tools, and basic NDE methods; identifies and documents defects relative to applicable codes, drawings, or specifications. | |
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