He cultivated an interest in welding while working as a painter for Polaris Industries in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Palmer-Hodges is currently taking OCC metallurgy and advanced welding classes, and is spending 35 hours per week in the college's welding lab. His goal is to enter the welding profession after completing his OCC studies. OCC's Welding Technology Program prepares students to receive a certificate or an associate in arts degree in welding. It also provides them with the ability to transfer to a four-year college or university.
Employment is possible after completion of certain courses.
The college offers instruction in arc and oxy-acetylene welding, weld testing, mathematics and science for welding, gas tungsten arc welding, blueprint reading, welding specifications and codes, welding metallurgy, and pipe welding. Students begin with oxy-acetylene welding and then advance into the arc processes. Sixty percent of our students each semester are already working in the welding industry. They're here at Coast brushing up and earning credentials that will allow them to advance in the profession. The remaining 40 percent are beginners.