Engineering

Certificate in Welding and Fabrication

The Certificate in Welding and Fabrication is a two-year Craft Certificate programme examined by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and offered at technical and vocational training institutions across Kenya. It equips students with fundamental skills in arc welding, gas welding, metal fabrication, and workshop practice. The programme is accredited by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) under the TVET Act, 2013.

Year 1 covers entrepreneurship, information communication technology, mathematics, mechanical science, technical drawing, electrical principles, material technology and metallurgy, and fabrication and welding technology. Students learn the foundational principles of metal properties, welding processes, and safe workshop practices. Year 2 advances to communication skills, life skills, mathematics II, technical drawing II, mechanical science II, business plan, workshop organisation and management, fabrication and welding technology II, and a trade project.

The programme combines theory with extensive practical training in workshops. Students learn to perform various welding processes including arc welding, gas welding, MIG and TIG welding, and to fabricate metal structures from engineering drawings. Safety practices and quality control are emphasised throughout the training.

Entry requirements are a KCSE mean grade of D (plain) or a pass in a relevant Artisan Certificate. The programme is available at national polytechnics, technical training institutes, and vocational training centres across Kenya.

Graduates pursue careers as welders, fabricators, pipe fitters, and metal workshop assistants in construction companies, manufacturing firms, oil and gas companies, and metal fabrication workshops. The programme provides a progression pathway to a Diploma in Welding and Fabrication and subsequently to higher qualifications in mechanical engineering.

The programme includes a compulsory industrial attachment that provides students with practical workplace experience. Government-sponsored students placed through KUCCPS receive capitation funding, and HELB loans are available for eligible students. The standardised annual tuition fee at public TVET institutions is KES 67,189.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 67,189
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Certificate

What you study

10 subjects

Fabrication and Welding Technology
Material Technology and Metallurgy
Technical Drawing
Mechanical Science
Electrical Principles
Workshop Organisation and Management
Mathematics
Entrepreneurship
Welding Processes
Metal Fabrication

Modules

12 in the programme

Entrepreneurship Education
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Entrepreneurship principles and business planning for welding and fabrication trades.
Information Communication Technology
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
ICT fundamentals including computer-aided design and digital tools for fabrication.
Mathematics I
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Technical mathematics including geometry, trigonometry, and calculations for fabrication.
Mechanical Science I
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Mechanical principles including forces, stress, and material behaviour under load.
Technical Drawing I
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Engineering drawing techniques for fabrication drawings and welding symbols.
Material Technology and Metallurgy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Properties of engineering materials, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and metallurgical principles.
Fabrication and Welding Technology I
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Fundamental welding processes including arc welding, gas welding, and cutting techniques.
Electrical Principles
Year 1Semester 22 creditsCore
Electrical principles relevant to welding equipment operation and power sources.
Fabrication and Welding Technology II
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced welding processes including MIG, TIG, and specialised fabrication techniques.
Workshop Organisation and Management
Year 2Semester 12 creditsCore
Workshop layout, equipment management, quality control, and safety management.
Technical Drawing II
Year 2Semester 12 creditsCore
Advanced engineering drawings including assembly drawings and fabrication details.
Trade Project
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Practical fabrication project demonstrating integrated welding and fabrication competencies.

Specialisations

Arc Welding
Focus on shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) for structural and pipe welding.
MIG and TIG Welding
Specialisation in gas metal arc and gas tungsten arc welding for precision fabrication.
Pipe Welding
Focus on pipeline welding for oil, gas, and water infrastructure projects.
Metal Fabrication
Specialisation in structural steel fabrication, sheet metal work, and tank fabrication.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on metallurgy or welding theory with afternoon workshop sessions where students practise arc welding, gas cutting, and metal fabrication on practical projects under supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for welders in Kenya's construction, pipeline, and manufacturing sectors.
Low entry requirements make it accessible to a wide range of students.
Practical, hands-on training with direct application to industry needs.

Against it

Physical work in hot environments requiring proper safety equipment and ventilation.
Entry-level salaries may be modest until experience and additional certifications are gained.
Limited to workshop and site environments, which may involve irregular hours.

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 Technical and Vocational College67k at Limuru Technical and Vocational College

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

TVET 67.2K/yr at public TVCs (jitimu.com). Private: unverified.

Government-sponsored students placed through KUCCPS receive capitation funding. HELB loans of up to KES 45,000 per year are available for eligible TVET certificate students.

Funding options

HELB Loan
KUCCPS Government Capitation
County Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB TVET Loan
LoanKsh 45,000Kenyan
Kenyan students placed by KUCCPS in accredited TVET institutions. Loan ranges from KES 25,000 to KES 45,000 per year for certificate students.
KUCCPS Government Capitation
SubsidyKsh 30,000Kenyan
Government-sponsored students placed by KUCCPS receive capitation funding covering most tuition costs.
County Bursary
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Various county governments offer bursaries for TVET students resident in their counties.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: D
Alternative entry: Pass in a relevant Artisan Certificate in welding, metal work, or equivalent qualification approved by KNEC.

How you are assessed

3 components

End of Module KNEC Examinations
Written examination50% of the mark
KNEC-administered examinations covering theory, technical knowledge, and calculations.
Practical Workshop Assessments
Practical assessment40% of the mark
Workshop-based practical assessments evaluating welding and fabrication competencies.
Trade Project
Project10% of the mark
Final fabrication project demonstrating integrated welding and fabrication skills.

Accreditation

Examined by KNEC and accredited by TVETA under the TVET Act, 2013. Graduates may also take NITA trade tests for additional certification.

Accredited by

Kenya National Examinations Council
AcademicRequired
Examined by KNEC. Institutions must be TVETA-accredited to offer this programme.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
InstitutionalRequired
All TVET institutions offering this programme must be registered and accredited by TVETA.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Welder
High demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 540,000
Performs arc, gas, MIG, and TIG welding in construction, manufacturing, and fabrication workshops.
Metal Fabricator
High demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 480,000
Fabricates metal structures, gates, tanks, and frames from engineering drawings.
Pipe Fitter
Moderate demandKsh 360,000 to Ksh 600,000
Cuts, fits, and welds pipes for oil, gas, water, and industrial pipeline projects.
Workshop Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 240,000 to Ksh 420,000
Assists in metal workshop operations including cutting, grinding, and welding.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates are in high demand as welders and fabricators in Kenya's construction, manufacturing, and oil and gas sectors.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Arc Welding Machine
EquipmentPrimary
MIG/MAG Welder
Equipment
Oxy-Acetylene Torch
Equipment

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Welding is unskilled labour.
Welding requires technical knowledge of metallurgy, welding processes, and quality standards, with certified welders in high demand globally.
Welders cannot progress beyond certificate level.
The certificate provides a clear progression pathway to a Diploma in Welding and Fabrication and subsequently to higher qualifications in mechanical engineering.
Welding is only for men.
The profession is open to all genders, with increasing opportunities for women in the fabrication and construction sectors.
Welding is dangerous and unhealthy.
Modern welding safety equipment, ventilation systems, and strict safety protocols minimise health risks when properly followed.