A Diploma in Welding and Fabrication in Kenya prepares students to manufacture, assemble and repair metal products such as gates, frames, machinery parts, railings, pipelines and industrial structures. Training combines technical drawing, measurement, fabrication, welding processes and workplace safety. Some learners enter through a certificate or trade test and progress to a recognised Level 6 diploma.
Colleges offering welding and fabrication programmes
The TVET Authority official course directory includes Welding and Fabrication Level 6 entries at Rift Valley National Polytechnic, The Nairobi National Polytechnic and The Michuki National Polytechnic. It also lists related Welding Technology Level 6 programmes at other polytechnics. Confirm each institution’s currently available intake, campus and qualification level using its own admissions office.
Students may also investigate Welding and Fabrication at Level 5 or lower skills levels. The TVETA catalogue includes Level 5 offerings at The Nyeri National Polytechnic and other institutions, and separate short-course or NITA trade-test routes. The courses differ in duration, scope and award.
Entry requirements for a diploma
For many Level 6 diploma programmes, KUCCPS uses KCSE C− or C depending on the particular qualification. Relevant certificate completion may provide an alternative entry route. Verify specific technical subject grades, prior learning recognition and progression rules with your chosen college.
What you study
- Engineering drawing, workshop mathematics and measurement.
- Metal cutting, grinding, drilling, bending and shaping.
- Preparing joints, welding symbols and fabrication drawings.
- Manual metal arc, MIG, TIG and other applicable welding techniques.
- Sheet-metal and structural metal fabrication.
- Materials science, corrosion protection and finishing.
- Weld defects, inspection and quality assurance.
- Work planning, costing and estimating materials.
- Workshop tools, machine care and safe storage.
- Occupational safety, electrical precautions and fire prevention.
- Team projects, job records and supervised industrial attachment.
Practical facilities and safety
A reputable welding course must provide supervised practice with suitable machines and protective equipment. Training should cover ventilation, welding screens, face and eye protection, flame-resistant clothing, safe cylinders and electrical isolation. For industrial jobs such as pressure vessels or critical structural work, additional practical qualifications and employer-specific inspection standards may apply.
Diploma compared with a NITA trade test
The TVETA catalogue lists welding and fabrication at diploma, certificate and trade-test levels. A Level 6 diploma is an academic or vocational qualification with broad technical and managerial knowledge. A NITA trade test primarily assesses occupational practical competence. They can complement each other, but they are not interchangeable.
Course duration and fees
Duration depends on the course level and assessment scheme. A diploma can include multiple terms, practical modules and attachment. Request an itemised estimate covering tuition, exams, safety boots, welding helmet, protective clothing, consumables, practical assessment and any additional industry certification.
Career opportunities
- Welding and fabrication technician.
- Steelwork or structural metalwork assistant.
- Metal workshop production and repair technician.
- Plant or equipment maintenance assistant.
- Sheet-metal fabricator.
- Welding inspection trainee with further qualifications.
- Construction site metal fabrication worker.
- Small-scale welding and fabrication business owner.
How to apply
- Choose a Level 6 programme or appropriate prior certificate pathway.
- Confirm the provider’s TVETA licensing status and approved course.
- Ask to view the workshop, practical tools and safety arrangements.
- Check entry requirements, awarding body and current intake.
- Review examination and industrial attachment expectations.
- Apply through the college’s official channels and keep financial receipts.
Official sources and useful links
- TVETA Welding and Fabrication Level 6 listings
- TVETA college licensing register
- KUCCPS entry requirements
- TVET-CDACC assessments
- National Industrial Training Authority trade tests
