Lurleen B. Wallace Community College (LBWCC) will enter an articulation agreement with United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA) that will grant entry of students who complete four semesters of technical training in welding into UA’s apprenticeship program with a one-year credit, provided they meet the UA requirements for entry.

This program provides new entries with a good starting pay grade while continuing their education in the welding field as a UA apprentice. This articulation partnership is a vital link to ensuring that Alabama and America continue to have the best trained workforce.

Welding is ranked as a high-demand occupation for the state by the Alabama Department of Labor. LBWCC’s enrollment in the welding certificate and short-certificate program was 124 for the 2015-2016 academic year.

UA represents approximately 340,000 plumbers, pipefitters, sprinkler fitters, service technicians, and welders in unions across North America, and honors a federation agreement with both the Australian Plumbing Trades Employees Union (PTEU) and Irish Technical Engineering Electrical Union (TEEU).

On Sept. 1, 2016, UA will present LBWCC a certificate of agreement and banner to be displayed in the welding shop.