Arkansas Elite Welding Academy Competition for 2026 Underclassmen

Annual welding competition for 2026 10th and 11th Graders

COMPETITION RULES

· Registration must be completed online, and students can only register ONE time.

· There is a $25 materials fee for each participant paid at time of registration.

· Participants must register in the correct age division.

· Competitors shall wear all mandatory Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). See list below.

· Only hand tools will be allowed. No electric, pneumatic, or rotating equipment.

· Competition rounds are 45 minutes. This time includes a pre-competition safety meeting, practice welds, and the competition weld.

· Once welding on the coupon has started, no further help is allowed.

· When weld is complete, an instructor will take the test coupon to the judging area where it will be visual tested by a CWI (Certified Welding Inspector). No one other than judges and Arkansas Elite instructors are allowed in the judging area.

· Competitors will not have access to their weld test coupon after they turn it in for judging. No weld test coupons can leave the judging area.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) AND TOOLS

Competitors should wear and bring the following:

· Leather work boots

· Cotton or FR jeans/pants free of holes, rips, and/or tears

· Cotton or FR long sleeved welding shirt free of holes, rips, and/or tears

· Welding Hood*

· Leather Welding Gloves*

· Safety Glasses*

· Ear Plugs*

· Chipping Hammer*

· Wire Hand Brush*

*If a competitor does not have these items, they can be borrowed from the Arkansas Elite tool room on competition day.