Westminster, MD, Thursday, July 29, 2021 – The Carroll County Business/Employment Resource Center (BERC) is offering a new welding training program to help meet local demand for welders. A four-hour Welding Basics course will be held on September 15^th and again on September 18^th. The training will provide introductory welder instruction in a mobile trailer onsite at 224 N. Center Street in Westminster. Regional training experts  Earlbeck Gases and Technologies will provide instruction on weld safety, welding equipment set up, basic welding, and operation of MIG, TIG, and Stick Equipment.

Students who complete the Welding Basics course successfully may be eligible for further training in an eight-week Fundamentals of Welding course to be held beginning September 27^th from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Friday. This class is designed to provide necessary knowledge and skills for an entry-level welder. Oxy-Fuel, Gas Tungsten Arc (TIG), Gas Metal Arc (MIG) and Shielded Metal Arc (Stick) processes are taught with 40% theory and 60% hands-on practice. Additional instruction on basic metallurgy, welding codes, nondestructive examination, and welding symbols will be presented. Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive an Earlbeck Certificate of Completion.

The Earlbeck Mobile Welder Training and Testing Facility is a custom-designed 40-foot trailer containing eight welding booths. It is fully self-contained with inverter welding machines, a 70KW generator, cylinder gases, ventilation, and heat.

Individuals interested in the training should call BERC at 410-386-2820 to sign up before August 27^th. Space is limited to first come first served. Registration information will be taken prior to the beginning of the course to determine tuition eligibility.

Businesses interested in hiring welding trainees should contact Business Consultant Scott Singleton at 410-386-2521 or ssingleton@carrollcountymd.gov.