Skip to content

Studies & Degrees in Welding

Welding is the joining of metal parts by applying heat so that they melt and fuse into a permanent bond. Welders work with torches and other equipment, and choose the process according to the metals they have to join. In arc welding, for example, an electric current produces the heat. Related skills are cutting metal with an electric arc, plasma or burning gases, and soldering and brazing.

A welding course is mostly workshop practice. Students learn the main processes, often named by their abbreviations: stick (SMAW), wire-feed (GMAW or MIG), TIG (GTAW) and flux-cored welding. They also learn to read blueprints and welding symbols, measure and prepare parts, cut and shape metal, check their welds and work safely. At a higher level, welding engineering studies materials, the design of welded structures, process control and inspection.

Qualifications and levels

  • Certificates and diplomas. Most students train at a technical or community college. Alexandria Technical & Community College in Minnesota runs a ten-month welding programme that teaches 12 welding and cutting processes. Idaho State University offers a one-year General Welder certificate. In Canada, the Welder Foundation certificate of Camosun College lasts 28 weeks and prepares for a welding apprenticeship.
  • Associate degrees. Some colleges offer two-year programmes. Examples are the Welder-Fitter Associate of Applied Science at Idaho State University and the Welding Technology Associate of Applied Science at the College of Southern Idaho.
  • Vocational training in Spain (FP). The Técnico en Soldadura y Calderería is an intermediate vocational qualification (grado medio) of 2,000 hours in the Fabricación Mecánica family. Entry requires the Spanish compulsory secondary certificate (ESO) or a higher qualification, or an entrance exam. Modules include welding in natural and protected atmospheres, cutting and forming, machining and assembly.
  • Bachelor's degree. Welding engineering as a full degree is rare. The Ohio State University describes itself as one of only a few institutions in the world to offer bachelor's, master's and PhD degrees in Welding Engineering, with the only ABET-accredited undergraduate welding engineering programme in the United States (university page archived in July 2024).
  • Master's degree. The Welding Engineering MSc of Cranfield University in the United Kingdom takes one year full-time or two to three years part-time. It is aimed at graduates in a relevant science or engineering discipline and is accredited by The Welding Institute.
  • Welder certification. Certification is a test of skill, separate from a course. The American Welding Society states that its Certified Welder test is strictly performance-based, with no prerequisite courses, and is taken at an AWS Accredited Test Facility. Other countries use their own or international standards, so students should ask a school which certification its training prepares for.

Where to study it

Our directory lists 41 schools for welding. Of these, 35 are in the United States, two in the United Kingdom, two in Spain, one in Canada and one in Russia. Most of the US schools are community and technical colleges that teach in English.

International students should check three things before applying: whether the programme accepts them at all, which language level it asks for, and which certification tests are included. Camosun College, for example, states that its Welder Foundation certificate is not open to international students. In Spain, FP programmes are taught in Spanish or in the co-official language of the region.

Careers

Trained welders work as welders and cutters, fitters, boilermakers, pipe welders and metal structure assemblers. In Spain, the official description of the FP qualification names metal construction, shipbuilding and the manufacture of transport vehicles as the main sectors. Welding engineers and inspectors work on procedures, quality and the management of welding operations.

In the United States, welders, cutters, solderers and brazers held about 437,700 jobs in 2025, and 63% of them were in manufacturing, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Bureau projects employment growth of 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, slower than the average for all occupations, with about 40,300 openings each year, most of them to replace workers who leave the occupation. It also notes that welders must be licensed in some states and localities.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to train as a welder?

It depends on the route. Examples in our directory range from a 28-week foundation certificate and a ten-month programme to two-year associate degrees. The Spanish FP qualification has 2,000 hours.

Is a university degree needed to become a welder?

No. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, welders typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, combined with technical and on-the-job training. Degrees in welding engineering lead to engineering roles.

Is a course certificate the same as welder certification?

No. A course certificate shows that training was completed. Welder certification is a practical test to a standard, such as the American Welding Society's Certified Welder test.

Can international students enrol in welding programmes?

Some programmes accept them and some do not. Each college states this on its programme page, so it should be checked before applying for a visa.