Welding Schools and Programs in The United States

Welding Studies in The United States

Welding is the craft of joining, cutting and repairing metal parts with heat, using processes such as shielded metal arc, gas metal arc, flux-cored arc and gas tungsten arc (TIG) welding. In the United States it is taught mainly as a hands-on vocational subject. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), training is offered by vocational-technical institutes, community colleges and private welding schools, and some people enter the trade through an employer-based apprenticeship. Most of the schools listed on this page are community and technical colleges; a few universities also teach welding, up to bachelor's level.

How welding programmes are organised

• Certificates of one or two semesters, focused on shop skills and preparation for welder certification tests
• Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees of about two years, which add general education and more advanced processes such as pipe welding
• Bachelor's degrees in welding engineering technology at a small number of universities, aimed at technical and supervisory roles

Examples from the schools' own pages: Bismarck State College in North Dakota runs a one-year welding programme that prepares students for an entry-level job or apprenticeship and for the American Welding Society (AWS) Certified Welder test; from fall 2026 it is offered only as a certificate or an associate degree. Idaho State University in Pocatello offers a one-year General Welder certificate, a two-year Welder-Fitter AAS and advanced technical certificate, and a one-semester specialised certificate in nuclear welding; the programme admits 45 students a year, with starts in August and January. Western Nevada College in Carson City has an 18-credit Welding Technology certificate of achievement that prepares students for certification exams.

Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, offers both a Welding Technology AAS and a Bachelor of Science in Welding Engineering Technology. The bachelor's programme is open only to students who have already completed an AAS in welding technology, so it works as a "2+2" route, and it is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET (ETAC-ABET).

Certification and licensing

A college certificate or degree is not the same as a welder certification. Welders are usually certified by passing practical tests, and the AWS runs credentials such as the Certified Welder programme and the Certified Welding Inspector (CWI). The BLS notes that some employers require general or specific certification for particular jobs and that welders must be licensed in some states and localities, with requirements that vary.

Admission and visa

EducationUSA, the US State Department's advising network, explains that community colleges may have a more flexible admissions process and that tests such as the TOEFL or SAT are not usually required for admission, although students most likely take English and subject placement tests on arrival. Some programmes set their own entry conditions: Idaho State lists minimum maths scores, and Ferris State sets GPA and test-score requirements for its AAS.

The visa depends on the programme. EducationUSA describes the M student visa as the visa for non-academic or vocational study or training, while the F visa covers academic study at an accredited college. It also states that US institutions cannot issue the I-20 form for non-degree vocational training, and that community colleges offer technical and vocational study for an associate's degree. EducationUSA also warns that a certified school may not hold national or regional accreditation, so both are worth checking with the college's international office.

Costs

Community colleges are usually the cheapest route. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), average tuition and fees at public 2-year institutions were $4,000 in 2022-23, but this figure uses in-district or in-state rates; international students normally pay the higher out-of-state or international rate. Some employers support students: Bismarck State, for example, mentions a tuition assistance programme with Fisher Industries for welding students.

Where to study welding in the United States

Welding schools are spread across smaller cities and regional centres rather than big metropolitan areas. Examples include Linn-Benton Community College (Albany, Oregon), Western Wyoming Community College (Rock Springs), San Juan College (Farmington, New Mexico), Alamance Community College (Graham, North Carolina), Piedmont Technical College (Greenwood, South Carolina) and Virginia Western Community College (Roanoke). Larger universities in the list, such as The Ohio State University, Idaho State University and Ferris State University, add the option of continuing to engineering or engineering technology studies.

Careers

According to Bismarck State, jobs are concentrated in fabricated metal products, transportation equipment, machinery, structural metals and construction. The BLS reports that manufacturing employs 63% of welders, cutters, solderers and brazers, that their median annual wage was $53,750 in May 2025, and that employment is projected to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 40,300 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change jobs. With experience and further training, welders can move into inspection, supervision or teaching.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to study welding in the United States?

Certificates take from one semester to one year, an Associate of Applied Science about two years, and a bachelor's degree in welding engineering technology about four years in total.

Is a college welding certificate the same as being a certified welder?

No. A college certificate shows that you completed a programme; welder certification comes from passing practical tests, such as those of the American Welding Society. Many programmes prepare students for these tests.

Which visa do I need to study welding?

Vocational study usually falls under the M student visa, while the F visa covers academic degrees. Which one applies depends on the programme, so confirm it with the college's international office before applying.

Do I need the TOEFL to study welding at a community college?

Not always. EducationUSA notes that tests are not usually required for admission to community colleges, but students most likely take English placement tests on arrival.