Advanced Placement Welding Opportunities: Why Take Advantage at UTI 

 If you’ve already started building welding skills in high school, you may be able to save time when attending Universal Technical Institute (UTI). With Advanced Placement Opportunities (APO), handled through UTI’s standard challenge test process, students can earn credit toward certain welding courses before even stepping on campus. That means you may be able to reduce the number of courses you need to complete, avoid repeating skills you’ve already mastered, and focus sooner on advanced training.¹

What Exactly Are Advanced Placement Opportunities?

APOs at UTI allow incoming welding students to earn credit for select courses if they’ve already developed those skills in high school. For Welding, this is managed through UTI’s challenge test process, which requires both a written test and a hands-on demonstration. Passing both allows students to move forward into higher-level coursework without repeating material they’ve already learned.

The Benefits of Passing Advanced Placement Tests

Reduce your amount of training

UTI’s 36-week Welding Technology program is made up of 12 courses. With APOs, you may be able to receive credit for up to six of those courses by demonstrating your skills through the written and hands-on challenge test process. While this doesn’t necessarily shorten the overall program calendar, it does mean you can skip repeating material you’ve already mastered and focus on advanced coursework.

Get a head start on advanced welding skills

By earning credit through APOs, you can avoid subjects and techniques you’re already competent at and devote your energy to more advanced welding training. This helps you focus on building higher-level techniques and preparing for real-world applications.

APO Eligibility and Requirements at UTI

To be eligible for APO in Welding, students must provide curriculum information from their high school program for review. Once approved, students can attempt the APO challenge, which includes both a written test and a hands-on demonstration. Passing both parts allows students to receive credit for the corresponding UTI course.

A maximum of six eligible courses may be challenged. Unless otherwise noted, students take the end-of-course survey as the written portion of the exam for each course they would like to earn credit for.

Any student who doesn’t earn a passing grade on an APO test will be required to take the corresponding course at UTI as part of their program.

Courses that may be eligible include:

• Introduction to Welding, Safety and Careers (WELD-101)
• Principles of Welding (WELD-102)
• Gas Metal Arc Welding I (WELD-103)
• Shielded Metal Arc Welding I (WELD-104)
• Engineering and Fabrication (WELD-105)
• Gas Metal Arc Welding II (GMAW-2) (WELD-123)
• Shielded Metal Arc Welding II (SMAW-2) (WELD-124)
• Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) (WELD-125)
• Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) (WELD-126)
• Pipe Welding (WELD-130)

Where is APO offered?

APO for Welding is currently available at select UTI campuses that offer the Welding Technology program. Availability may vary by location, so check with an Admissions Representative to confirm whether your chosen campus participates.

How To Get Started With APO

If you’re interested in APO, the best next step is to:

• Contact a UTI Admissions Representative.
• Provide your high school welding curriculum for review.
• Schedule your APO challenge, which includes a written test and hands-on demonstration.

This process ensures you understand what to expect and how APO can fit into your training journey.

Learn More About APO Available at UTI

UTI’s Advanced Placement Opportunities are designed to recognize students who already have welding skills. By earning credit for certain courses through the challenge test process, you can move past material you’ve already learned and focus on developing advanced techniques.

Ready to see if you qualify? Request more information today.