Lincoln Electric partners with NC3 to help raise welding education standards

Cleveland-based Lincoln Electric® is embarking on a multifaceted plan to help raise welding education standards through a newly approved partnership with the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3).

NC3 is a nonprofit network of education providers and corporations focused on bridging the gap between education and industry workforce needs. The partnership gives NC3 the authorization to administer Lincoln Electric’s Education Partnerships Schools (LEEPS) program and offer new certifications to provide community colleges, technical schools, and other postsecondary trade schools with portable, stackable national welding certifications.

As part of the agreement, NC3 will develop and issue the LEEPS program’s industry certifications to help ensure strong national standards for welding instructor training, classroom curriculum, competency labs, qualification exams, and digital certification issuance. Lincoln Electric will ensure the certifications are in alignment with standards set by the American Welding Society.

The plan also calls for establishing a series of national-standard Lincoln Electric training centers across the country as extensions of Lincoln Electric’s Welding Technology & Training Center located in Cleveland.