The southwest campus of the Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC) will be offering an adult welding technology program soon. This hands-on program will provide students with training from industry experts in various aspects of welding before they enter the industry. The new session is set to start on Monday at the West-MEC campus located at 500 N. Verrado Way in Buckeye. Enrollees will have the opportunity to learn and practice thermal cutting, shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, flux-core arc welding, and gas tungsten arc welding. Upon completion of the 900-hour program, students can also take a welding certification test.
The welding technology course at West-MEC is offered through daytime classes that span 60 weeks or a nighttime schedule that extends to 81 weeks. The total cost, including tuition and other fees, is $14,160. Superintendent Scott Spurgeon emphasized the support for adult students with flexible schooling hours to help set them up for success in pursuing a new trade. In addition to welding, West-MEC offers a total of 33 programs at 49 Valley high schools that provide students with certifications and credits for high school and college.
Other adult programs available through West-MEC include aviation maintenance technology, dental assisting, HVAC, IT security, pharmacy technician, and precision manufacturing. With the aim of providing Arizonans with pathways to higher-paying jobs, the technical education public school district recognizes the importance of developing a skilled workforce. Only 31% of Arizona adults over the age of 25 hold a degree beyond a high school diploma, highlighting the need for programs like those offered by West-MEC.
Spurgeon highlighted the significance of adult education programs in equipping the West Valley workforce with new skills or enhancing existing skill sets to meet the demands of businesses and industries. By developing these skills, students are better prepared to secure higher-paying jobs. If you have a story idea or tip, you can reach out to the KTAR News team for more information.