Work Truck Industry Welder Certification Program

What is the Work Truck Industry Welder Certification Program? 
NTEA, in collaboration with The Lincoln Electric Company and National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3), developed the Work Truck Industry Welder Certification Program to provide companies in the work truck industry access to a consistent training curriculum they can utilize to train welders within their organization. The program includes a Train-the-Trainer initiative, which prepares individuals selected by their employers to become welder program instructors in their workplaces. Ultimately, Trainers will be able to conduct the program training, testing and certification of industry employees.

What is Train-the-Trainer?
This training prepares you or your employee (the Trainer) to train others in welding.  Upon completion of this training, the Trainer will be a certified NC3 Certified Trainer who has the ability to provide standardized, world-class welding training at your organization.  You will experience NC3 and Lincoln Electric's curriculum and assessments first-hand by Master Instructors who are experts in the welding industry. 

NTEA member exclusive: A three-day Train-the-Trainer course option covering Safety, Principles of Welding and GMAW Process (MIG) is available.

The three- to five-day training combines classroom, virtual welding, and lab training to prepare attendees for the knowledge-based and performance assessments using Lincoln Electric equipment. Click here to learn more about the NC3 Train-the-Trainer program.

What are the key elements of the program?
All Train-the-Trainer participants can receive the following certifications with successful competition of the Train-the-Trainer event. 

• Welding Safety
• Principles of Welding
• Introduction Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
• Introduction Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
• Introduction Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
• Introduction Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
• Advanced Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
• Advanced Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
• Advanced Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
• Advanced GMAW Aluminum
• Advanced GMAW Stainless Steel
• Advanced Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
• Thermal Cutting: Oxyfuel Cutting (OFC)
• Thermal Cutting: Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC)
• Thermal Cutting: Air Carbon Arc Cutting (CAC-A)
• Welding Math & Measurement
• Basic Welding Print Reading
• Pipe Welding: ASME & API
• Fabrication 1 & 2
• Submerged Arc Welding (SAW)
• Robotics: Teach Pendant
• Robotics: Cooper App

*Certifications of Knowledge 
Each certification has a knowledge-based and performance assessment. Participants of the NC3 LEEPS for NTEA program have the opportunity to earn up to 26 individual welding certifications, and may also pursue over 150 other NC3 certifications ranging in industries including transportation and building trades. All certifications along with their training materials and assessments are standalone, stackable credentials allowing companies to customize their training program with skills relevant to their field.

Do you provide training for welding aluminum or stainless steel?
All welding techniques for the Work Truck Industry Welder Certification Program Train-the-Trainer sessions are taught using Low Carbon Steel (Mild Steel); however, NC3, Lincoln Electric and their master trainers offer optional live virtual training programs — for an additional fee — for GMAW Aluminum & Stainless Steel.

Do you provide training for plasma cutting? 
Yes, Thermal Cutting certification training includes certifications in Plasma Cutting, Oxy Fuel, and Carbon Arc via Zoom. NC3 will deliver the same high-quality training that prepares you for the exams, labs, and performance assessments needed to become an NC3 Certified Trainer. 

Can you tell me more about the program providers?
The Lincoln Electric Education Partner Schools (LEEPS) Welding Certification Program, in partnership with National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3), provides organizations with a complete suite of portable, stackable industry-recognized welding certifications. NC3 is the non-profit certification body that oversees the industry certifications in partnership with Lincoln Electric and 15 other global industry partners.

LEEPS supports welding training programs throughout the nation with the most comprehensive and relevant welding education tools and resources available for advancing skill levels and the preparation needed to succeed in specific fields.

Certifications earned through the NC3 and LEEPS program ensure that welders are gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to become successful in the industry. Employers can be assured that job candidates with these certifications are fully qualified and job-ready according to Lincoln Electric’s required foundational knowledge of the welding industry.  NC3 and The Lincoln Electric Company provides the training in Arizona, Kansas, Wisconsin, Texas, and Ohio. 

How does my company participate in the program? 
Through NC3’s three- to five-day Train-the-Trainer program, your company can establish an internal welding certification program by sending one team member (per company location) to receive expert-led instruction.

NTEA member exclusive: A three-day Train-the-Trainer course option covering Safety, Principles of Welding and GMAW Process (MIG) is available.

Upon successful completion of the training, each participant will be certified as an NC3 Certified Trainer. They’ll be equipped with the knowledge, tools, and resources to conduct the program training, testing and certification of their organization’s employees, creating a sustainable talent pipeline.

Once your company becomes an NC3 Industry Member and your trainer(s) successfully complete the Train-the-Trainer initiative, you will have continual access to the NC3 online learning management system that is regularly updated with training resources, materials, and the certification exams.

For questions, please contact Bill Finn, NC3 Senior Program Manager for Lincoln Electric, at bill.finn@nc3.net.

What are the costs associated with the program?
The cost for NC3 membership starts at $5,000 annually per company. Companies with multiple training facilities will pay an additional $1,000 per training location.

In addition to NC3 Industry Membership, the foundational Four-Process Training is a one-time fee of $1,195 plus travel expenses per attendee for NC3 Industry Members. Non-NC3 Industry Members are $1,295 per attendee plus travel expenses. 

Companies will have the option of adding additional certification training for more than 150 certifications. Visit Certifications by Program to view the full collection of NC3 certifications and visit training for scheduling and costs.

Is this training right for my company?
Do you hire and want to develop and retain certified welders in your organization? Manufacturer and distributor companies in the work truck industry that want to hire and retain certified welders should consider taking advantage of this program to improve the knowledge and skills of their welders using standardized training to produce consistent, equal output. Whether you are using Lincoln Electric welding equipment or another brand, this training program may be right for you.

To help maximize program benefits, The Lincoln Electric Company and NC3 recommend participating companies have at least one trainee successfully complete the program each year, utilize Lincoln Electric welding and cutting equipment exclusively, take advantage of Lincoln Electric’s complimentary on-site expert review of a program participant’s welding and cutting equipment, and incorporate the Lincoln Electric VRTEX® 360 Welding Simulator into the training program.  

Which employee(s) should I send to the training program?
Participating companies should thoughtfully consider who they select as their Trainer(s). The individual selected needs to be a proficient welder, but not necessarily their best welder. Important characteristics to consider when selecting a trainer include employees who are:

• Team players and have the ability to work well with others 
• Open-minded and willing to teach others with patience 
• Comfortable with using a laptop and possess basic computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Excel, PDFs, email) 

It’s important for companies to let individuals know why they have been chosen to attend the Train-the-Trainer program and get their assurance to assist in the development of an internal welder standardized training program upon returning. 

What do training attendees need to bring with them to class?
Individuals attending the Train-the-Trainer program will need to bring the following with them to class:

• A laptop or Chromebook 
• All necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), including but not limited to safety-toed boots, welding helmet, welding hat, welding jacket, and gloves. Eye and ear protection will be provided by Lincoln Electric. Lincoln Electric will provide all other necessary materials including notepads, pens, and books. Breakfast and lunch will be provided during the training period.  

NC3 will communicate with all registered participants leading up to the Train-the-Trainer session to ensure they have necessary information, including the program agenda, list of required materials, program expectations, access to the applicable websites, and details on any online coursework that needs to be completed prior to the start. NC3 will conduct a video call several weeks before to review program details/requirements and answer questions. 

What happens after the training session?
Following the program, NC3 will provide a sample implementation plan companies can use to develop their own workplace training program. Participating companies will need to ensure they have computers (desktops, laptops or Chromebooks) available for trainees to use during their in-house training program. NC3 will continue to follow up with all participants after program completion to provide support and ensure successful program implementation. 

I have an urgent need for training. Are there additional welder certification training opportunities outside of the upcoming sessions?  Yes, NC3 provides additional welder certification training opportunities. To learn more about upcoming training opportunities, please contact NTEA using the information below.

I have a question that hasn’t been answered here. Can you help?  
Absolutely! Contact NTEA at education@ntea.com or 248-489-7090.