Top 10 Welding Schools in the US (2025 Update)
Hey there! Let us explore the top welding schools in the US.
With more than 400,000 predicted job vacancies in the industry by 2028, welding is a line of work that offers numerous job opportunities, and it just keeps getting bigger. Welders are in high demand across a wide range of sectors, including armed services, engineering and construction, transportation, and aviation.
After receiving welding training, you could work as an installer, industrial welding professional, welding inspector in industrial automation maintenance and repair, technical sales, or one of many other specialized welding fields.
The average annual earnings for welders are upwards of $40,000. Still, with numerous areas of expertise and skill sets, you can earn hundreds of thousands or millions in a career as a factory pipeline welder, a hydrographic welder, or even a military assistance welder.
Of course, completing a welding certificate or degree from an accredited college or academic institution is the first step along any of these employment pathways.
In this article, we list the best schools and colleges to help you start your welding career. Furthermore, these institutions will bring you closer to securing a well-paying job.
The Best Welding Schools in the US
Wichita Area Technical College
Website https://wsutech.edu/
If you’re keen to explore the world and start earning from welding, then the Wichita Area Technical College is one of the best options as they have an excellent Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in welding or a Technical Certificate (TC) program. Depending on the amount of time you want to commit to learning, you can choose from three unique welding programs.
The shortest path is the Welding Fast Track program, in which you can obtain a TC in welding in only 19 credit hours. WSU Tech awards you a TC in welding with 46 credit hours. To earn your AAS, you must complete 62 credit hours. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Additionally, its welding courses have American Welding Society accreditation, which helps you secure employment in the welding sector.
Reid State Technical College
Website https://www.rstc.edu/
You can earn a short-term certification in welding technology from Reid State Technical College in just 2 semesters of full-time study and 28-semester credits. That’s not all. . With 4 semesters of full-time study and 58 credit hours, you can clinch a full Welding Technology certificate in Pipe Welding if you prefer a more advanced curriculum.
Also available for learning enthusiasts who wish for an associate degree is the associate in Occupation Technology (AOT). You will need to complete this degree over the course of six full-time semesters and 77 credits, but you will graduate with a primary technical specialty in welding technology and a secondary in industrial electricity/electronics technology, fully equipping and setting you up for a lifelong career in construction and manufacturing sector. You will be registered in the National Training Registry and have the option of voluntarily seeking licensure from the National Center for Construction Education and Research or the American Welding Society.
Mesa Community College
Website https://www.mesacc.edu/
Whether you are looking for a fast-paced certificate that will help you navigate the labor market or you want to invest more time to get your degree, Mesa Community College has a course to fit your needs. With only 15 credits, you can clinch a Certificate of Completion (CCL) in welding technology. Another option is to earn a CCL in manufacturing welding after wrapping up 26 credits. However, if you prefer a degree, you can pursue 64–73 credits to graduate with an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in welding.
These certifications provide practical learning for a welding career. Moreover, earning the AAS will fully prepare you to succeed in exams. Additionally, you’ll receive accreditations for welder performance qualifications through the AWS, ASME, API, or as an AWS-certified welding inspector.
Warren County Career Center
Website https://www.mywccc.org/
The Welding Technician course at Warren County Career Center has 100% accreditation by the Council on Occupation Education. It will equip you with the right certifications that are required for you to fully delve into a full-time welding career with any business entity. The total curriculum will take you 600 hours to finish. This includes 318 hours of practical lab time and 282 hours of theory.
Once finished, you’ll receive structural certificates in TIG, MIG, and ARC welding from the American Welding Society. Furthermore, you will earn the American Heart First Aid/CPR Certification, the OSHA 10-hour General Industry Certification, and the WCCC Certificate of Program Completion. You will be fully prepared for a long-term career in the welding industry after completing this full-time course.
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Universal Technical Institute
Website https://www.uti.edu/
With the Welding Technology Training Program available in five of UTI’s locations, you’ll receive all the essential and practical training needed to explore a career in welding industries like automotive fabrication and avionics. The coursework, which has been developed in collaboration with Lincoln Electric, lasts 36 weeks.
With 12 coursework to finish up, you’ll grasp the basics of GMAW, SMAW, FCAW, and GTAW, including the method of welding flat, horizontal, overhead, and vertical positions for piping systems, sheet, and structural steel. Once you finalize your courses, your Associate in Occupation Studies will assist you in clinching a well-paid career in the welding field of your choosing.
Arizona Automotive Institute
Website https://www.aai.edu/
With a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent, you can apply for Arizona Automotive Institute’s Combination Welding course. Experienced instructors provide practical training focused on skill development for high performance. Flexible schedules accommodate busy individuals, ensuring course completion.
The program covers various arc welding techniques and essential technical knowledge for success in the welding industry. As an ACCSC-accredited institution, AAI offers credentials that enhance your marketability. Upon completion, you’ll be prepared to take welding certification exams meeting NCCER standards.
Elite Welding Academy
Website https://eliteweldingacademy.com/
The Elite Welding Academy provides skills for careers in automotive, business, and industrial sectors. It is accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. The structural and pipe welding course takes 1,000 hours to complete. It covers pipe welding, construction welding, and industrial welding for various sectors. You can choose between full-time day sessions (26 weeks) or part-time evening classes (44 weeks).
South Georgia Technical College
Website https://www.southgatech.edu/
South Georgia Technical College helps you prepare for a welding career with a diploma and 11 welding certificates. As an accredited college, its credentials and certificates carry weight during recruitment. The diploma program includes ARC welding, plasma cutting, blueprint reading, and other essential courses.You will need 54-semester credits.
Lincoln Tech
Website https://www.lincolntech.edu/
Lincoln Tech offers a cost-effective path to earning a welding certification. Its nine campuses provide hands-on welding technology instruction, accredited by ACICS, ACCSC, NCCER, and NEASC.
You will train in ARC welding processes, including flux core, gas tungsten, gas metal, and shielded metal ARC welding. The program includes 10-hour OSHA-endorsed safety training on plate metal, carbon steel, aluminum, and alloy steels. This practical approach ensures you are job-ready upon completing the welding technology program.
Apex Technical School
Website https://apexschool.com/
The Combination Welding Technology program at Apex Technical School offers over 800 hours of training. It combines instructional concepts with hands-on shop experience. The program prepares you for entry-level welding roles. You will learn pipe and tube welding, electric and gas welding, and manual and automatic methods.
Your certification will be of value to you because they are ACCSC-accredited.
FAQ
How long is a welding course?
Depending on your chosen institution, welding certification generally takes between seven months and two years of hands-on learning.
What’s the best welding certification to have?
- Certified Welding Engineer
- Certified Welding Fabricator (CWF)
- Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)
- EPA Amusement Operator Safety Certification (EPA)
What welding job has the best pay?
Rig welders are among the top-paid welders, racking up roughly $77,000 annually, but they typically spend long hours working under difficult conditions. Errors in welding jobs can lead to disaster; therefore, only highly qualified welders are considered for these high-demand positions.
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