List of Welding Schools & Classes in Florida
As an entry-level welder in the state of Florida, you can make anywhere from $16 to $28 an hour.
According to ZipRecruiter, as of October 2021, welders in Florida make about $39,544 per year on average. This translates to approximately $19.01 an hour, or $3,295/month.
Right now the market is in serious need of trained and certified welders, so this is a great career to enter that allows you to work pretty much anywhere.
Florida is one of the best states to earn the certifications you need to be successful in the industry. There are welding schools across the entire state, from technical colleges to welding academies.
You are sure to find a program that offers exactly what you want, no matter your budget or schedule.
Check out the schools below to see where you should start your career in welding!
1) George Stone Technical College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: SMAW, CAG, FCAW, GTAW and More
- Price: $5,201.30 – $14,061.50
- Website: https://www.georgestonecenter.com/
- Telephone: (850) 941-6200
- Location: 2400 Longleaf Dr, Pensacola, FL 32526
George Stone Tech has a wide variety of programs available. Its welding program teaches students about technical and product skills, underlying principles of technology, labor issues, safety and more alongside the actual practice of welding.
The program is 1,050 hours long which is approximately a 10-month program if you go full-time. Students spend time studying workplace safety and organization, basic manufacturing processes, metal identification and much more during this in-depth program.
Once completed, students will be prepared to take the American Welding Society’s Certified Welder Test.
2) Southern Technical College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: MIG, TIG, SMAW and More
- Price: ~$36,912
- Website: https://www.southerntech.edu/programs/school-of-technical-trades/associate-of-applied-science/welding-technology/
- Telephone: (877) 347-5492
- Location: 450 Havendale Blvd, Auburndale, FL 33823
Southern Technical College offers a welding program at three separate campuses: Auburndale, Orlando, and Sanford. This program offers an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Welding Technology.
Students learn welding processes along with advanced techniques for pipe welding. The course can be completed in 18 months and consists of hands-on instruction from experienced professionals.
Southern Tech also offers day and evening classes to best accommodate their students. Graduates are equipped with the knowledge they need to work anywhere a welder is needed.
3) Tulsa Welding School
- Type: Welding
- Classes: Pipefitting, Structural Welding, Pipe Welding, Fluxcore Welding and More
- Price: ~$32,745
- Website: https://www.tws.edu/
- Telephone: (904) 478-8947
- Location: 3500 Southside Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32216
Tulsa Welding School is a popular school in Oklahoma, Texas, and Florida. They offer two welding programs at their Jacksonville campus: Professional Welder and Professional Welder with Pipefitting.
The first is a 7-month program that starts by teaching students what it is truly like to be a welder. This includes interactive workshop courses and welding booths. Students are also trained to excel in job interviews and welding tests.
The second program is a 10-month long course that goes deeper into pipe systems installation, plumbing-related fixtures, types of pipes and much more. Graduates of the program will be equipped with hands-on skills and techniques that will allow them local and national access to entry-level careers.
This program also covers blueprint reading, mathematics, and other non-welding information.
4) Southeastern Welding School
- Type: Welding
- Classes: SMAW, GMAW, FCAW and More
- Price: ~$9,400
- Website: https://southeasternweldingschool.com/
- Telephone: (904) 781-8701
- Location: 6973 Highway Ave, Unit 107, Jacksonville, FL 32254
Southeastern Welding School has developed a welding program that teaches students the skills needed in many industries including railroads, fabrication, shipyards and more. All of its instructors have 18+ years of experience with hands-on job experience and Welder Supervisory experience.
One thing to note is that they coordinate tuition via an Income Share Agreement (ISA). This is “a contractual agreement in which you receive funding for your education. In exchange, you agree to share a fixed percentage of your post-graduation pre-tax income over a defined period of time.
You will pay 9% of your post-graduation pre-tax income for 42 months.” ISA repayments only begin once you secure an earned income of $2,000/month, but it is important to know before applying.
5) Fusion Welding Institute
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GMAW and GTAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.m3powergroup.com/fusion-welding-institute
- Telephone: (352) 304-6061
- Location: 2930 NE 24th St, Ocala, FL 34470
Fusion Welding Institute trains students with hands-on experience, repetition and real-world simulators. You can expect to weld every single day while attending Fusion.
Their program is a 450-hour course with extremely flexible scheduling. Students complete the course entirely at their own convenience and the facility is open 80 hours a week to ensure students have the access they need.
Students start with welding pipe on day one, building muscle memory and working on body positioning.
Instructors advance students as they hone their welding skills – this allows for advanced welders to accelerate their learning and inexperienced welders work at their own pace. According to Fusion, “this has proven to be the most effective training protocol to prepare students for weld testing as fast as possible.”
6) Ridge Technical College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: MIG, TIG, Metal Fabrication and More
- Price: $4,343
- Website: http://www.polkedpathways.com/ridge-technical-college/
- Telephone: (863) 419-3060
- Location: 1915 S. Floral Ave, Bartow, FL 33830
Ridge Technical College teaches students techniques of metal layout and fabrication via the use of special hand tools and machines. Students will learn important skills such as leadership, communication, human relations and employability.
After completing the 1,050-hour program, students may test for the American Welding Society’s certification.
You will leave with the knowledge of how to weld and cut metal by the oxyacetylene and electric arc methods.
7) Treasure Coast Technical College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: SMAW, GTAW, GMAW and FCAW
- Price: $6,026
- Website: https://tctc.indianriverschools.org/
- Telephone: (772) 564-4970
- Location: 4680 28th Ct, Vero Beach, FL 32967
Treasure Coast Technical College offers a 10-month welding program. This includes an in-depth study of the American Welding Society welding symbols, blueprint reading, torch and plasma cutting, and much more.
Students will learn welding positions on plate and pipe, as well as ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
Graduates are eligible to take the American Welding Society’s Certified Welder Test.