Bay College is proud to recognize recent welding certificate graduate Olivia Trulock for successfully completing all five of the program’s base welding qualification tests in accordance with the American Welding Society Structural Welding Code D1.1.
Truelock successfully qualified in Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), and Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW). These qualification tests provide broad cross-qualification opportunities, allowing welders to perform dozens of structural welding applications under AWS standards.
To further prepare students for employment in industry, Bay College welding students complete their final qualification testing through third-party testing with WeldALL Industrial, a company specializing in welder qualification testing to various welding codes for manufacturers and contractors throughout Michigan and Wisconsin.
“These qualifications represent a significant accomplishment and demonstrate the level of skill and dedication our students develop throughout the program,” said Bay College’s Lead welding faculty – Nick DuPont. “Having students complete testing through an independent industry partner helps ensure they are better prepared to enter the workforce with confidence.”
In addition to earning industry-recognized welding qualifications, students in the Bay College welding certificate program complete coursework in blueprint reading, technical mathematics, material science, basic machine tool operations, and multiple welding and cutting processes. The program is designed to provide students with both practical hands-on training and the technical knowledge required in modern manufacturing and fabrication industries.
Students who complete the certificate program also earn college credits that can be applied toward Bay College’s new Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Welding Technology that is being launched on the Escanaba campus for fall 2026. The degree pathway is being constructed to further transfer to four-year institutions such as Ferris State University, allowing students to continue toward a bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering Technology.
Bay College continues to expand opportunities for students seeking careers in welding, manufacturing, and skilled trades by combining academic instruction, hands-on training, and industry-recognized credentials.
For questions about Bay College’s welding program, contact Welding Instructor Nick Dupont at [email protected] or (906) 217-4173.
About Bay College
Bay College is the community’s college with a mission of: Student Success, Community Success, and Culture of Success. Bay is devoted to each individual’s achievement in the classroom, on-campus, online, in the community and into the workforce by providing career certificates, associate degrees, transferable university credits, industry certifications, trainings, and professional development programs which develop skillsets, enrich individuals, and advance careers. #BayIsTheWay