Weld-Ed to offer accreditation for associate degree welding technology programs

The National Center for Welding Education and Training (Weld-Ed), located at Lorain County Community College in Ohio, will begin offering a specialized accreditation program in 2018 to associate degree welding technology and welding engineering technology programs at community and technical colleges and universities nationwide.

As a national accrediting body, Weld-Ed—with the support of AWS—will offer its accreditation program in a manner that will reduce the amount of time traditionally required to complete accreditation paperwork and assist institutions in self-evaluation and self-improvement to fill in missing areas of study within their programs. Further, Weld-Ed has developed methods through its program that reduce the standard cost of accreditation.

Accreditation of associate degree welding technology and welding engineering technology programs involves an intense, on-site self-evaluation process at the school level that reviews the respective program and evaluates corresponding reference materials. Additionally, the Weld-Ed-selected evaluation team will inspect facilities, equipment, safety standards, curriculum, instructional faculty, and outside advisory committees.