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Artisan in Welding and Fabrication

The Artisan in Welding and Fabrication is a TVET-CDACC Level 4 competency-based programme that trains students in fundamental welding and metal fabrication skills for the manufacturing and construction sectors. The course is examined by TVET-CDACC and offered across accredited TVET institutions in Kenya. Students learn basic welding assistance, metal handling, grinding, tool handling, and workshop safety practices.

Duration
1 year
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 67,189
Ksh 67,189 total
Private tuition
Ksh 39,000
Ksh 39,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 67,189 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 39,000 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of KCSE Mean Grade D- (Minus) or below, or KCPE certificate or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 1 year, full-time, with 1 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 171 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Auto Diagnostics Technician, at 3 out of 100.The detail

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Overview

The curriculum covers basic units including communication skills, numeracy skills, digital literacy, entrepreneurial skills, employability skills, environmental literacy, and occupational safety and health practices. Core units focus on basic welding assistance, metal handling, grinding, tool handling, cleaning, material handling, basic equipment assistance, and industrial attachment in a welding workshop.

Kenya's manufacturing sector, construction industry, and metal fabrication enterprises create sustained demand for welding support personnel. Steel fabrication workshops, construction sites, and repair garages require trained welding assistants for structural fabrication, equipment repair, and metal work projects.

Training combines classroom theory with practical sessions in welding workshop environments. Students practice metal handling, grinding, equipment setup assistance, tool use, and workshop cleaning under supervised conditions. The programme includes industrial attachment in welding workshops or fabrication companies where students apply their skills in real metal working environments.

Graduates work as welding helpers, grinding assistants, workshop assistants, and metal handlers in fabrication workshops, construction companies, and manufacturing plants. The qualification provides a foundation for progression to Welding Level 5 and Level 6 for specialised welding and fabrication technology roles.

This programme is suitable for KCSE certificate holders with a mean grade of E or KCPE certificate who are interested in practical metal working skills and seeking direct entry into the welding and fabrication sector.

What you study

8 subjects
  • Basic Welding Assistance
  • Metal Handling
  • Grinding
  • Tool Handling
  • Cleaning
  • Workplace Safety
  • Material Handling
  • Basic Equipment Assistance

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Workplace Safety

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Occupational safety in welding workshops including fire safety, heat protection, spark management, and personal protective equipment for welding work.

  • Basic Welding Assistance

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Assisting welders with basic tasks including workpiece holding, positioning, clamping, and material preparation during welding operations.

  • Metal Handling

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Handling and moving metal materials safely including carrying steel sections, sheet metal, and pipes for welding and fabrication workshop operations.

  • Grinding

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Basic grinding of metal surfaces and welds including angle grinder use, surface preparation, weld cleaning, and smoothing for fabrication finishing work.

  • Tool Handling

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Identifying, selecting, and safely handling basic welding tools including hammers, chisels, clamps, wire brushes, and grinding discs for workshop work.

  • Cleaning

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Cleaning work areas, tools, and equipment including slag removal, surface cleaning, tool maintenance, and general workshop housekeeping after welding work.

  • Material Handling

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Handling and organising welding materials and consumables including electrodes, filler rods, shielding gas, and metal stock for workshop operations.

  • Basic Equipment Assistance

    Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore

    Assisting with welding equipment setup and basic operation including machine connection, cable routing, and equipment preparation for welding work.

Specialisations

  • Material Handling

    Focus on metal material handling including carrying steel sections, sorting metal stock, organising consumables, and moving materials for welding workshop operations.

  • Welding Support

    Focus on basic welding assistance including workpiece preparation, positioning, clamping, material handling, and routine support to welders during fabrication work.

  • Workshop Support

    General workshop assistance including tool maintenance, material organisation, equipment cleaning, and routine support tasks for welding and fabrication operations.

  • Grinding

    Specialisation in grinding and finishing including angle grinder operation, surface preparation, weld cleaning, and metal smoothing for fabrication finishing work.

A day as a student

Students spend virtually all their time in workshops handling metal, assisting welders, grinding, cleaning, carrying materials, and performing basic equipment assistance.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Quick entry to welding workforce with basic skills.Entry-level positions have modest salaries.
Most affordable entry point to welding.Welding environments involve heat, sparks, and fumes.
Foundation for progression to craft, certificate, and NITA trade test.—

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 332 engineering courses
Public67k to 67k
67k at Kasarani TVC67k at RVTTI Eldoret
Private14k to 39k
14k at Nairobi VTC (Dandora)39k at Vitech Training Institute

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Public TVET 67,189/yr. Private: Nairobi VTC 13.5K, Vitech 39K/yr (vtc.nairobi.go.ke).

TVET government funding and HELB loans are available. Artisan programmes are the most affordable entry point to welding.

Funding options

  • Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Funding

  • Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) - TVET Loans

Scholarships

4 recorded

  • National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)

    BursaryKenyan

    Students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

  • TVET Funding

    Government fundingKenyan

    Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.

  • County Government Bursaries

    BursaryKenyan

    Residents of respective counties.

  • HELB TVET Loans

    LoanKenyan

    Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions.

Scholarships you could apply for

6 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade
KCSE Mean Grade D- (Minus) or below, or KCPE certificateminimum entry
Alternative entry

KCPE certificate holders are also eligible. No specific subject requirements.

When it next starts

Taught at 171 institutions
January 2027171 institutions

Including Technical University of Kenya, Lari Technical and Vocational College, Kajiado East Technical and Vocational College.

May 2027171 institutions

Including Technical University of Kenya, Lari Technical and Vocational College, Kajiado East Technical and Vocational College.

September 2027171 institutions

Including Technical University of Kenya, Lari Technical and Vocational College, Kajiado East Technical and Vocational College.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • Theory Assessment

    Test15% of the mark

    Basic written assessment of supporting welding knowledge.

  • Competency-Based Practical Assessment

    Practicum60% of the mark

    TVET-CDACC competency assessment of practical welding assistance skills.

  • Practical Projects

    Project25% of the mark

    Completion of basic welding assistance and grinding tasks.

Accreditation

  • Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority

    NationalRequired

    Mandatory accreditation for all TVET institutions and programmes in Kenya.

  • TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council

    NationalRequired

    Examining and certifying body for competency-based programmes under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF).

Accredited by Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and certified by TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council (TVET-CDACC) under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF). The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Welding Helper

    High demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 42,000

    Assist welders with basic tasks on construction sites and workshops.

  • Grinding Assistant

    Moderate demandKsh 23,000 to Ksh 38,000

    Support grinding and finishing operations.

  • Workshop Assistant

    Moderate demandKsh 22,000 to Ksh 36,000

    General assistance in welding workshops.

  • Metal Handler

    Moderate demandKsh 24,000 to Ksh 40,000

    Handle and transport metal materials on sites.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as welding helpers and grinding assistants in construction sites, workshops, and manufacturing firms across Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Artisan welding is not a real qualification

    It is a TVET-CDACC certified qualification providing entry to the welding profession.

  • Welding assistance doesn't need training

    Even basic welding assistance requires safety knowledge and proper tool handling.

  • Artisan graduates are stuck in low-level roles

    Artisan graduates can progress to craft, certificate, and NITA trade test levels.

  • This programme has limited career opportunities.

    Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.

Further reading

Read next