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.
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.
- Duration
- 1 year
- Public, up to
- Ksh 67,189
- Private, up to
- Ksh 39,000
- Job market
- High
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Practicalities
- Study mode
- Full-time
- Attachment
- 1 months
- Average class
- 25 students
- Award
- Artisan Certificate
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 programmeWorkplace 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 favour
- Quick entry to welding workforce with basic skills.
- Most affordable entry point to welding.
- Foundation for progression to craft, certificate, and NITA trade test.
Against it
- Entry-level positions have modest salaries.
- Welding environments involve heat, sparks, and fumes.
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 332 engineering coursesAnnual 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 recordedNational 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.
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 certificate
- Alternative entry
- KCPE certificate holders are also eligible. No specific subject requirements.
How you are assessed
3 componentsTheory 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
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.
Accredited by
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).
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesWelding 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- Auto Diagnostics TechnicianTrades & Vocational3Low exposure
- Automotive Service AdvisorTrades & Vocational3Low exposure
- BlacksmithTrades & Vocational3Low exposure
- CNC MachinistTrades & Vocational3Low exposure
- Construction Safety OfficerTrades & Vocational3Low exposure
- Crane OperatorTrades & Vocational3Low exposure
- Electrical Contractor (Small Business)Trades & Vocational3Low exposure
- Generator & Diesel MechanicTrades & Vocational3Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.
Related courses
Further reading
Fees and entry marks for Artisan in Welding and Fabrication are restated every intake. Save it and the app keeps this version, so you can see what changed when it does.