Welder at Kentucky Welding Institute
at Kentucky Welding Institute in Flemingsburg, KY
About This Program
Kentucky Welding Institute sponsors a Welder apprenticeship in Flemingsburg, KY. This employer-sponsored, time-based program offers paid training in professional welding skills, combining real-world field and shop experience with structured classroom instruction for individuals launching a welding career in northeastern Kentucky.
The program lasts three years and includes 6,000 hours of on-the-job training alongside 432 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices learn welding processes including MIG, TIG, flux-core, and shielded metal arc welding, as well as metal cutting, fitting, and inspection techniques. Coursework covers welding theory, blueprint and symbol reading, weld quality standards, metallurgy fundamentals, and safety practices.
Graduates complete the program as skilled Welders prepared for employment in manufacturing, construction, and industrial settings throughout Kentucky and beyond. Apprentices earn wages throughout training, with pay typically advancing as skills progress. A registered apprenticeship credential from an established training institute adds recognized value to the graduate's professional qualifications.
Wage & Training
Journeyman Wage
$24
OJT Hours
6,000
RTI Hours
432
Duration
3 years
Wage data is the national median for this occupation (BLS, May 2023), not specific to this program.
Welder Career Outlook
National Median
$23.81/hr
~$49,524.8/yr
Apprentice Start
$15.5/hr
Earn while you learn
Job Outlook
Employment for welders is projected to remain steady with consistent demand driven by infrastructure spending, manufacturing, and energy sector projects. Aging infrastructure across the U.S. requires ongoing repair and replacement, creating sustained need for skilled welders. Retirements in the current workforce are expected to generate additional openings over the next decade.
What to Expect as a Welder Apprentice
Duration
3 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom instruction
On-the-Job Training
~40 hours/week of hands-on work under journeyman supervision (6,000 total hours)
Classroom Instruction
432 hours of related technical instruction (~144 hours/year)
Paid Training
You earn a wage from day one, starting at a percentage of the journeyman rate and increasing as you progress
Time-based program: You'll progress through the program based on completing a set number of hours in both on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
Trade School vs. Apprenticeship for Welder
Apprenticeship
Trade School
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