Piedmont Technical College Offers Welding Certificate at Clinton High

Piedmont Technical College and Laurens District 56 have formed a partnership to offer the PTC journeyman welding certificate program to students at Clinton High School.

“This will be a great opportunity for the students in Clinton,” said Amanda Richardson, dual enrollment counselor at PTC. “We are excited about the partnership and being able to expand on these opportunities in the future.”

Classes in welding have been offered at Clinton High School for several years, but these classes did not lead to a certificate. They could be applied to the welding diploma program for students who wanted to enroll at Piedmont Tech after they graduated. The new program allows students to complete the entire certificate in one school year.

The program was implemented for the 2012-13 school year and 11 students completed the certificate for the pilot year. The certificate program consists of 7 courses and allows students to continue at Piedmont Tech to pursue a welding diploma or go directly into the workforce.

“The certificate gives the students so many more opportunities once they graduate,” said Richardson. “They can go out now and get a job, they can come to Piedmont Tech and get a diploma or they can apply the courses they have completed toward another degree.”

There is no charge for the students to enter the program, which makes it desirable for students who want to earn the certificate or get a head start on another degree.

Richardson said this certificate program could open doors to other certificate opportunities within the dual enrollment program.

“There is an emphasis on the career and technical education areas and trying to establish more of those in the high schools,” she said. “We’ve had other high schools express an interest in doing something similar.”

For more information or for inquiries about your school’s participation in the dual enrollment program, contact your school’s guidance office or contact the dual enrollment office at (864) 941-8352.

Photo Caption: Piedmont Technical College and Laurens District 56 have formed a partnership to offer the PTC journeyman welding certificate program to students at Clinton High School. The program was implemented for the 2012-13 school year and 11 students completed the certificate for the pilot year. Pictured were, front from left, Amanda Richardson, dual enrollment counselor at Piedmont Tech; Chase Cash; Michael Bolick; A.J. Tollison; Jose' Tovar; Kaitlyn Bradberry; and  William Turner, welding instructor. Back, Jim Fleming, welding program coordinator at Piedmont Tech; Tyler Hall; Montell Smith; Keshawn Mobley; and Justin Smith. Not pictured were Zack Holden and Tray Livingston.