Gearing Up for Better Pay: West-MEC Launches New Adult Welding Program to Boost the Skills of Arizonans in High Demand

West-MEC is launching a new adult welding technology program at its southwest campus. The program will offer hands-on training from industry experts and cover various welding techniques such as thermal cutting, shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, flux-core arc welding, and gas tungsten arc welding. Students who complete the 900-hour program can take a welding certification test.

The new session will begin on Monday at the campus located at 500 N. Verrado Way in Buckeye. To accommodate students with flexible schedules, West-MEC offers both daytime classes over 60 weeks and nighttime classes over 81 weeks. The total cost of tuition and other expenses for the program is $14,160. Superintendent Scott Spurgeon emphasized the importance of providing adult students with options for schooling hours to ensure their success in pursuing a new trade.

West-MEC offers a total of 33 programs at 49 high schools in the Valley, giving students the opportunity to earn certifications and credits. In addition to the welding program, West-MEC also offers adult programs in aviation maintenance technology, dental assisting, HVAC, IT security, pharmacy technician, and precision manufacturing. With only 31% of Arizona adults holding a degree beyond a high school diploma, West-MEC aims to provide pathways to higher paying jobs for Arizonans.

According to Spurgeon, the goal of West-MEC’s adult education programs is to equip the West Valley workforce with the necessary skills to meet industry demands and secure better-paying jobs. By developing skills through these programs