Fabricators build products using Steel, Aluminum, Stainless Steel and various other alloys. The need to maintain design efficiencies for weight and strength continually challenge the fabricator to work with lighter materials and more complex shapes to achieve the desired product. An excellent example of how much the industry has evolved can be seen by looking at what has happened to the design and Fabrication of bicycles. These used to be made of heavier sections in order to maintain strength, now we are seeing bikes made significantly lighter and yet capable of much higher stress loads.

1. When seeking a career choice it is critical that one looks at employability and diversity of the job and skills. These two factors keep you earning income for your needs and free of repetitive boredom.
2. The next consideration is how steady will your work be? In answering this question you need to consider the industries you serve. Fabricators are at the core of all constructed things;

• Buildings - Office towers, arenas.
• Ships - Ocean Liners, fast patrol craft.
• Planes - Jigs for wings and fuselage, landing gear.
• Furniture manufacture - Desks, chairs, sound shrouds.
• Auto manufacture and accessories - guards, racks and hitches.
• And the list goes on ...

View a career video.

There are two ways of beginning a Metal Fabricator apprenticeship:

1. Take the Metal Fabricator Foundation program and at the end of your 23 weeks of training you will have the basic fabricating knowledge and skills to increase your employment opportunities. The Foundation program qualifies for Level One of your apprenticeship with the Industry Training Authority (ITA).
2. Find employment with a fabrication shop that will register you with the ITA. In this option, you are indentured to a company as an apprentice steel fabricator learning basic fabrication skills while you are employed. The advantage is that you earn while you learn.

If you are registered with the Industry Training Authority, you can apply now to BCIT's Apprenticeship Studies program. Read more about BCIT's apprenticeship programs.

• Schooling is 30 hours per week
• 70% of this training is theory based, as this is not easily taught in a shop environment
• Your lessons will be a combination of lectures, tutorials, and demonstrations in class and shop, augmented with field trips to local industry
• Class size is restricted to a maximum of 16 students to allow for more personalized training and greater access to shop and classroom facilities
• Assignments and projects reflect real-life applications of classroom lectures and theory as well as reflecting the amazing diversity of the fabrication industry

You will learn trade skills which are practical skills applied to real life situations. You can’t compare high school, college or University to the process of learning that happens with us.

Employers need people who know how to get things fabricated. Our program breaks down the required skills into a list of competencies which are then delivered in a “competency based learning model”, which means; first you learn the theory, then you practice, then you demonstrate that competence.

The learning process requires your involvement, throughout the course you will be presented with a variety of challenges and gain knowledge step by step from instructors and your fellow students.

Metal Fabricators are often selected to lead teams on projects, selected as department heads and urged to pursue managerial positions. Fabricators are at the highest level of income due to their background of training and development.

Statistics suggest that you will experience at least four careers in your working life. An important consideration needs to be earning power and flexibility to pursue other education while working. This trade will give you tremendous shift selection, employment income and transferability to other or related trades and technologies.

In a global marketplace Fabricators will continue to earn a premium due to their ability to apply technology and training to their crews justifying their expense in relation to other trades.

So in a brief four years you may elect to remain in this field or move on, the good news is you will have a good paying career, this is a good base from which to make new choices for the future realities before you.

Graduate employment outcomes

The following link takes you to graduate outcome survey results containing mostly labour market results from the 2007-2009 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2006-2008 Graduates.
Note: The survey results will be displayed in a separate browser window. To view these results, you need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.

• Metal Fabricator

Our faculty and staff have a combined 120 years of practical experience and over 60 years of teaching experience. This translates into a huge source of knowledge that you can draw from. If after reviewing the information on our web pages you still have questions regarding steel fabrication please contact any one of us, BCIT's admission & registration or apprenticeship training.

Ron Rollins, Chief Instructor
Ironworking IP, BCIDP, Chair Academy in Leadership
T:  604-453-4057
E:  ron_rollins@bcit.ca

Larry Meier, Instructor
Metal Fabrication TQ, Level A Welding
T:  604-431-4942
E:  larry_meier@bcit.ca

Henry Ostermann, Instructor
Metal Fabrication TQ
T:  604-451-6833
E:  henry_ostermann@bcit.ca

Mohinder Soomel, Instructor
Metal Fabrication TQ, Level C Welding
T:  604-431-4940
E:  mohinder_soomel@bcit.ca

Terry Subtelny, Instructor
Metal Fabrication IP, Level C Welding, BCIDP
T:  604-412-7476
E:  terry_subtelny@bcit.ca

Peter Thomas, Instructor
Metal Fabrication IP, Med, BCIDP
T:  604-431-4934
E:  peter_thomas@bcit.ca

Ron Rollins, Chief Instructor
T:  604-453-4057
E:  ron_rollins@bcit.ca