Do You Have What It Takes?
Demand is high for welders in Wisconsin with up-to-date skills, and the rewards are great for program participants.
Steamfitters 601 Accelerated Welding Program
$34.17/hr
*2022 Starting Wage
+Family Health Coverage
+Pension & Retirement
+Education & Training
About the Milwaukee-Madison Accelerated Welding Program:
Free Training
The Accelerated Welding Program is a 16-week / 640-hour curriculum training experienced welders on the most advanced pipe welding procedures and techniques that are in high demand by contractors. It is offered once a year, beginning in February, to prepare graduates for June 1 start dates.
High-Level Certifications
Participants learn and practice welding-to-code in stick, tig, and wire welding applications. They receive the highest level certifications available in the piping industry and can qualify to become a UA Certified Welder.
Elite Status
A very limited number of applicants- less than 10 annually - are accepted into this program. Those who join receive 1-on-1 training from the most respected instructors in the field and will work alongside some of the best welders in Wisconsin. Graduates can take advantage of membership in UA Local 601.
Candidates well-qualified for the program are:
Career Ready
In addition to pre-requisites for starting a standard apprenticeship program (18+, High School Degree, Valid Driver's License, Clean Drug Test, Strong Aptitude in Construction Math) candidates for the Accelerated Welding Program will have three years of recent welding experience.
110% Committed
The Accelerated Welding Program is offered at no cost to the student, but it is also not paid time. Consistent with a semester of college, students will need to be prepared financially to commit to the program.
Prepared to Prove It
The selection process is just as intense as the program. Experienced welders should expect a one-on-one initial interview and a welding evaluation. Finalists will complete a group interview. Only the top candidates will be invited to participate.
The Best Training in the Country
"Normally, it's a 5-year apprenticeship. Being accelerated, if you have the welding skills, the experience and you can prove that you're at a certain level, this really is a great pathway into UA Local 601 to take advantage of everything it has to offer."
A New Program - a Great Fit
“The Accelerated Welding Program is brand new and it's there to take people who may not be a perfect fit for an apprenticeship. They're still going to learn to be a steamfitter, they're going to take a lot of the classes that the apprentices do, and we're going to take you from here to there.”
