American Welding Society (AWS) SENSE Welding Level 1

FACT SHEET

The American Welding Society (AWS) SENSE Welding Level 1 programme was designed for persons aspiring to become
certified welders. This qualification focuses on the practical skills and underpinning knowledge required to work in
fabrication and welding and is therefore an excellent starting point for anyone seeking a career as a welder.

Assessment is undertaken through a combination of practical assignments and written examinations to verify that each
learner has attained a broad range of welding related competencies. Learners are required to successfully complete a
series of written exams to gain the certificates. These written exams cover a wide breadth of welding theory, ranging
from welding safety, welding process fundamentals and even welding inspection. Additionaly, Learners are required to
also complete practical welding assessments relating to the four (4) welding processes for SMAW, MAW, GMAW, GTAW
and FCAW.

What is SENSE?

SENSE – Schools Excelling through National Skills Education - is a set of specifications and guidelines meant to assist
schools in training welders. The program guidelines were originally published in 1995 and 1996 through grants received
from the U.S. Department of Education and Department of Labor. Based on a survey of the welding industry, the SENSE
guidelines define two levels of knowledge and skills required in the welding workplace. Individuals trained in Training
Organizations aligned to the SENSE guidelines may implement SENSE Level I: Entry Welder and/or SENSE Level II:
Advanced Welder.

The SENSE specifications and guidelines were created and continue to be maintained by a committee of expert
volunteers from all corners of the welding industry. These industry representatives work hard to ensure that a trainee
completing a program built on the SENSE specifications and guidelines will have the skills to be both hirable and
productive within the welding industry.

Trainees that complete a SENSE-compliant training program are eligible to receive an AWS SENSE certificate and wallet
card. The SENSE program includes four different certificates that a trainee can earn, one for each welding process
offered (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and FCAW).

Duration
This qualification can be completed in One Year. There are two (2) intakes per year in January and September.

Pre-requisites
There are no pre-requisites for this programme. However, basic knowledge in Mathematics will be an asset.

Mode of Study
Classes for this programme will be on evenings and Saturdays and will be offered at SBCS GLI Champs Fleurs campus.

All financial information provided by SBCS is subject to change

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Programme Structure:

Semester 1 Semester 2
(Jan 2021 – June 2021) (July 2021 – Dec 2021)
1. Introduction to Safety and Health of Welders 5. Gas Metal Arc Welding
2. Drawing and Welding Symbol Interpretation 6. Flux Core Arc Welding
3. Thermal Cutting Processes 1 &2 7. Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
4. Shielded Metal Arc Welding 1 & 2 8. Welding Inspection and Testing Principles

Assessments
This qualification will be assessed by a combination of written examinations and practical assessments.

Fee Schedule
Fees for this programme are as follows:

FEE AMOUNT NOTE

SBCS Registration Fee TT$500 Payable upon registration

Insurance fee TT$60 Payable upon registration

AWS Sense US$20
Payable by: March 1st 2021
Registration Fee (one-time payment)
Early registration discount of 10% valid until
Tuition Fee Cash: TT$15,000
Dec 4th 2020
US$50 (per written exam) Total Examination Fee = US$350
Examination Fee
Payable by: Jun 30th 2021

NOTE:
All SBCS Fees in US dollars must be paid via bank draft payable to “SBCS Global Learning Institute”. Please include your
name on the bank draft in the B/O (by order of) section

All financial information provided by SBCS is subject to change

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UNIT
OUTLINE

UNITS
Unit Competencies Assessment
1 Introduction to
1. Understand the function of a welder in industry Instructor observation of safe
Safety and Health
including knowledge of shop operations operational practices
of Welders
2. Demonstrate proper safe operation practices in Sense Module 2 Test (ANSI Z 49.1)
the work area, as described in ANSI Z 49.2
Section 4, Protection of personnel and the
general area & ANSI Z 49, Part 1 General Aspects
and applicable OSHA regulations.
2 Drawing and 1. Evaluate welding drawings or sketches Written test score 75% minimum
Welding Symbol
2. Interpret welding symbol information
Interpretation
3. Perform conversion between US and SI units
4. Produce a multi-view sketch
3 Thermal Cutting Oxy-fuel cutting
Written Test Score 75% minimum
Processes 1 & 2
1. Evaluate cutting equipment, accessories and
Visual Inspection Passed
consumables to ensure proper safety and
operations
2. Produce manual Oxyfuel cuts on carbon steel
3. Produce mechanized Oxyfuel cuts on carbon steel
4. Perform scarfing and gouging operations to
remove base and weld metal on carbon steel
5. Evaluate cuts to ensure AWS D.1.1 standards are
met
Plasma Arc cutting
1. Produce manual plasma arc cuts on carbon steel
2. Perform scarfing and gouging operations to
remove base and weld metal on carbon steel
3. Evaluate cuts to ensure AWS D.1.1 standards are
met
4 Shielded Metal Arc
1. Evaluate SMAW equipment, accessories and Written Test Score 75% minimum
Welding 1 & 2
consumables to ensure proper safety and
Visual Inspection Passed
operations
Destructive Test Passed
2. Produce fillet welds in flat, horizontal, vertical
and overhead positions on carbon steel
3. Produce groove welds in flat, horizontal, vertical
and overhead positions on carbon steel
4. Evaluate welds to ensure AWS D.1.1 standards
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are met
5 Gas Metal Arc
1. Evaluate GMAW equipment, accessories and Written Test Score 75% minimum
Welding
consumables to ensure proper safety and
Visual Inspection Passed
operations
2. Produce fillet welds in all positions on carbon
steel
3. Produce groove welds in all positions on carbon
steel
4. Evaluate welds to ensure AWS D.1.1 standards
are met
6 Flux Core Arc Self-Shielded
Written Test Score 75% minimum
Welding
1. Evaluate FCAW-Self Shielded equipment,
Visual Inspection Passed
accessories and consumables to ensure proper
safety and operations
2. Produce fillet welds in all positions on carbon
steel
3. Produce groove welds in all positions on carbon
steel
4. Evaluate welds to ensure AWS D.1.1 standards
are met
Gas-Shielded
1. Evaluate FCAW-Gas Shielded equipment,
accessories and consumables to ensure proper
safety and operations
2. Produce fillet welds in all positions on carbon
steel
3. Produce groove welds in all positions on carbon
steel
4. Evaluate welds to ensure AWS D.1.1 standards
are met
7 Gas Tungsten Arc
1. Evaluate GTAW equipment, accessories and Written Test Score 75% minimum
Welding
consumables to ensure proper safety and
Visual Inspection Passed
operations
2. Produce fillet welds in all positions on carbon
steel, Aluminum and Stainless Steel
3. Produce groove welds in all positions on carbon
steel, Aluminum and Stainless Steel
4. Evaluate welds to ensure AWS D.1.1 standards
are met
8 Welding Inspection
1. Evaluate cut surfaces and edges of prepared Written Test Score 75% minimum
and Testing
All financial information provided by SBCS is subject to change
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Principles base metal parts Passed the visual inspection of a written

test
2. Evaluate tacks, root passes, intermediate layers
and completed welds

Contact Information
Further information can be found on the SBCS website:
http://www.sbcs.edu.tt/academic-centre/centre-for-information-technology-and-engineering/

Course administrators can also be contacted directly:

Campus Telephone: 663-SBCS (7227) Email

Champs Fleurs Extensions: 1094/6, 1253/54 CITE-Eng@sbcs.edu.tt

All financial information provided by SBCS is subject to change

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