Welding, while lucrative and in-demand, is not just a career. While many people who are interested in welding are interested in the job field, there are just as many opportunities to learn the welding craft as a hobby, too!
MIG welding, also called wire feed, is a popular technique used in steel artwork and is taught in many different art studios around the country. The state of Arizona is no exception!
If you are interested in the field as a career option, don’t fret. Arizona is home to many different welding schools and institutions.
From dual enrollment courses to American Welding Society certifications, Arizona is prepared for a boom in the industry.
Employment in the field of welding is expected to grow to 452,500 jobs by 2029 in the US alone, so now is a great time to get started.
The institutions listed below are great places to begin your journey into the world of welding.
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The Collaboratory is owned and operated by Ceri Jones and is a place for creative exploration in non-typical forms of art. Established in 2010, this studio offers 60 or 90-minute classes to learn the basics of welding as an art!
MIG welding, or wire feed, is predominantly used for making steel artwork.
The classes are hands-on and are designed to be safe for new welders while building their confidence in the technique. This is a great place to go if you are interested in welding as an art medium rather than a career.
Weld Like A Girl is an empowerment project for girls and women. The owner wanted to provide a safe space to explore welding with the understanding that it is a foreign world to most women.
The classes are designed to boost self-esteem and whole-person wellness; most classes are still co-ed, and “Gentlemen (not jerks) may attend most classes,” according to their website.
The classes teach welding and hot metal cutting in a small group setting, no more than 8-12 people. This allows students to receive individual instruction. This is a great place for women (and gentlemen) to learn about welding without going to a vo-tech school!
GateWay Community College offers an Applied Technology Field of Interest program for students. These programs include HVAC, automotive, and welding to name a few. They focus on hands-on skill-building to help students design, develop, or repair high-tech equipment and processes.
The classes are scheduled to accommodate full-time and part-time students and they also align with industry standards.
GateWay offers three certificates in welding: fundamentals, gas tungsten arc welding, and shielded metal arc welding. Do keep in mind that students pay tuition and fees according to their residency classification. You can find your classification on GateWay’s website.
The Refrigeration School, or RSI, offers a Welding Specialist program in which students can receive hands-on training that transfers over to a multitude of industry applications.
The aim of this program is to prepare students for entry-level positions in thin alloy, structural, and pipe and pipeline welding. The program also includes best safety practices and basic metallurgy with the typical welding courses.
One cool thing about RSI is that they just launched OcuWeld, a virtual reality gamification that can enhance students’ training! The OcuWeld is a simulator that is part of the gear package and is included with their welding program, so every student receives an Oculus.
Arizona Automotive Institute (AAI) offers a Combination Welding program that prepares students for a variety of positions in the welding industry. This school combines classroom-style education with hands-on training for the best of both worlds.
Arizona Automotive Institute's welding program can be completed in 10 months and prepares students to take welding certification exams that meet the National Center for Construction Education & Research standards.
Mountain Institute offers expert instruction and hands-on training where students can learn arc and oxy-fuel welding and cutting, fundamental principles of joining ferrous and non-ferrous metals, processes, and more.
The Mountain Institute offers Dual Enrollment classes for high school students that prepares students for post-secondary education or employment.
Students can complete the course and come away with American Welding Society certifications which include 2G, 3G, and 4G levels.
East Valley Institute of Technology is Arizona’s newest International Accredited Test Facility and offers certifications through the American Welding Society.
At this institute, students will receive hands-on training in basic welding principles and metal fabrication. Students are able to learn various forms of welding such as plasma and oxy-fuel cutting.
American Welding Society certifications are available to students at an extra cost.
The Vocational Training Institute (VTI) offers a Welding Training Program that provides students with the skills needed to succeed in the industry.
The course includes over 287 training hours which allows students to experience real-world applications of welding. This course is designed to prepare students for an entry-level apprenticeship.
The course trains students in safety education and 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G welding levels. Graduates of this program receive the OSHA 10 Safety Survey Card as well as their diploma.
The Universal Technical Institute (UTI) offers a Combination Welding program that was developed with Lincoln Electric. This program introduces and trains students in four welding processes: GMAW, SMAW, FCAW, and GTAW.
The program is 36 weeks long from start to finish and teaches students the procedures and equipment that are required in the industry.
Students at UTI learn how to weld in the flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead positions. The course includes 12 hands-on courses to prepare students for real-world application.
The American Contractors Academy’s philosophy is hands-on education coupled with classroom-style instruction that offers an intimate and highly specialized learning environment.
The Academy is looking for students who are interested in entering the industry as entry-level millwrights, certified welders, and fabricators. The school is a great college alternative and is focused on teaching students a variety of skills as well as safety and job site etiquette.
They offer welding courses in SMAW and GMAW; both of these courses cover the basic principles of welding and help students become familiar with principles and concepts used in the field.
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