Apprentice Boilermaker

A single weld on a structural steel beam holds up a building. The boilermaker spends four years learning how to make that weld absolutely sound. The Certificate Three in Engineering Fabrication Trade covers ninety six points of competency. Thirty three core, plus a minimum of forty from a fabrication group and the balance from a welding group. The apprenticeship runs three and a half to four years. TAFE blocks across the first three years cover gas metal arc, gas tungsten arc and shielded metal arc welding, oxy cutting, plasma cutting, plate rolling and blueprint reading. The work itself moves between the bench and the gantry. Reading a fabrication drawing and chalking out a twelve millimetre steel plate for a haul truck tray repair. Oxy cutting along the chalk line and grinding the edge clean. Tacking the new plate into position and running a full root pass.