Lincoln Electric is starting a multi-faceted plan to improve welding education standards across the nation and beyond by means of a recently approved partnership with the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3).
 
NC3 is a non-profit-making network of education providers and organizations focused on connecting the gap between education and industry workforce needs. The new cooperation with Lincoln Electric gives NC3 the authorization to administer Lincoln Electric’s Education Partnerships Schools (LEEPS) program and provide new qualifications to provide community colleges, technical schools and other post-secondary trade schools with a complete suite of portable, stackable national welding certifications.
 
As part of the agreement, NC3 will establish and issue the LEEPS program’s world class industry certifications, ensuring strong national standards for welding instructor training, classroom curriculum, competency labs, qualification exams and digital certification issuance. Lincoln Electric will guarantee the certifications are in conjunction with requirements set by the American Welding Society, a recognized authority in welding education and training.
 
The plan also necessitates implementing a series of national-standard Lincoln Electric training centers throughout the country as extensions of Lincoln Electric’s Welding Technology & Training Center located in Cleveland, Ohio.
 
“We are energized to have this collaboration with NC3,” said Jason Scales, Ph.D., Business Manager for Lincoln Electric’s Education products and services. “This will provide us with an incredible platform to share Lincoln Electric’s more than 100 years worth of knowledge in welding training, research and instruction with these institutions and redefine what a quality welding education program should look like.”
 
Certificates are among the quickest growing credential, serving workers with professional and higher level training that demonstrates a greater understanding of the key attributes demanded by employers in particular industries. Applicants with NC3 certifications listed on their resume are regarded as highly skilled and dedicated job candidates. To date, NC3 has supported 110,000 students and awarded 180,000 certificates.
 
Together with Lincoln Electric, NC3’s industry partners include dozens of companies in a multitude of industries, such as Snap-on, a high-end tools and equipment manufacturer; Fiat Chrysler Automobiles; 3M; Festo, an industrial control and automation company; and Trane, a manufacturer of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems and building management systems and controls.
 
This article is originally posted on tronserve.com