List of Welding Schools & Classes in Oregon
Oregon is home to many welding schools and classes. Welders work in a variety of industries, from manufacturing to maritime welding. In fact, welding is used to build ships, automobiles, planes and even space vehicles – no matter your interest, a career in welding is sure to be available.
The most common type of welding is arc welding. This uses electrical currents to heat and bond metals together. However, there are more than 100 different processes that a welder can learn about and choose from.
In the state of Oregon, welders earn an average of $39,375 annually with the most common wage ranging from $15 to $22 per hour. According to the Oregon Employment Department, over 250 welding job openings are expected each year through 2027. 375,000 welding professionals will be needed by 2023 alone. This means that the field is welcoming as many welders as it can, as quickly as it can!
From trade schools to community colleges, Oregon has a plethora of options for prospective welding professionals. Read on for information on the most popular welding schools in the state.
- Andrew Pearce (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 192 Pages - 02/02/2021 (Publication Date) - Fox Chapel Publishing (Publisher)
1) Albany Weld School
- Type: welding
- Classes: small group, 10 week sessions, ongoing education opportunities
- Price: $8,495
- Website: https://weldschool.com/index.html
- Telephone: (541) 888-9353
- Location: 91120-B Cape Arago HWY PO Box 5771 Charleston, OR 97420
Albany Weld School is Oregon’s one and only licensed Weld Career Trade School. The school’s instructor has many years worth of experience in fabrication and construction, which allows students to be taught real-life applications. The program puts emphasis on teaching students about finding and keeping the best paying jobs.
Classes at Albany Weld School include four days of five hours each in the welding booth.
This welding school also offers welding inspection services, seminars, drop-in skills upgrades, training, testing, and welding certifications. These ongoing educational opportunities allow welders to stay updated on new processes and advance their skills. Continuing your education after completing an Albany Weld School program will help you compete for higher earning positions.
The certifications are nationally recognized ANSI/AWS D1.1 cards. The school encourages people to reach out via email or telephone to find out when the next class begins.
2) WW NDT Services & Welding School
- Type: welding
- Classes: small group, full day, weekday, fall, winter, spring, and summer options, 420 hour program
- Price: $8,350
- Website: https://weldcerts.com/school-information/
- Telephone: (541) 393-6555
- Location: 1567 Main Street Springfield, OR 97477
WW NDT Services & Welding School helps to train people in the art and technical skills of welding. Its instructors each have over a decade of experience in the industry, and pass their knowledge down to their students.
The school offers a hands-on program and most of the instruction is based around projects and real-world practice.
The program also exposes students to national certifications; these certifications allow them to go straight into the workforce with the necessary credentials. WW Welding School’s classes include 420 hours of training and use the American Welding Society’s standards to determine students’ competencies.
If you are interested in learning more about WW Welding School and its facility, contact the School directly to set up a tour.
3) NW College of Construction
- Type: Sheet Metal, Welding
- Classes: small group, 189 hour program, on the job training
- Price: Call for more information
- Website: https://nwcoc.com/
- Telephone: (503) 256-7300
- Location: 8111 NE Holman St. Portland, OR 97218
NW College of Construction is a training school dedicated to educating high-quality construction workers in a range of specializations.
NW College of Construction offers unique apprentice-based programs that allow students to get paid while they learn in-demand trades. The programs combine classroom instruction with on-the-job training. The College finds construction jobs for their students.
When the students find a training agent, their status changes to Registered Apprentice and they become eligible for enrollment as a student at the school. Their goal is to provide students with a practical foundation so that they can launch their careers easily.
The College offers a sheet metal class that is closely related to general welding. Students learn to manipulate metal on the job and in hands-on classes.
When the program is completed, students receive a nationally recognized industry certification as a Master Craftsperson.
4) R & S Welding Mentors
- Type: welding
- Classes: small group, private tutoring
- Price: Call for pricing information
- Website: https://weldingmentors.com/
- Telephone: (503) 884-3277
- Location: 1750 Oxford St SE, Salem, OR 97302
R&S Welding Mentors is a private career school that is licensed by the state of Oregon. As such, they have tailored their program to the needs of the state: targeted training for structural steel, fabrication and production welding.
Instructors have over 40 years of experience in shipyard production, structural steel, heavy equipment repair, and more. They share their extensive knowledge with students.
The welding program at R&S Welding Mentors offers hands-on, performance-based training as well as AWS welding certification training/testing. They build a foundation for students by training them in workplace safety, teamwork and work ethics as well as welding skills.
5) Baker Technical Institute
- Type: welding
- Classes: small group, multiple week sessions, shielded metal, gas tungsten, gas metal and flux cored arc welding
- Price: $2,200-$6,000
- Website: https://bakerti.org/programs/technical-training/welding-metal-technology/
- Telephone: (541) 524-2651
- Location: 2500 E Street Baker City, OR 97814
Baker Technical Institute is a career-focused school offering a wide range of programs. They offer many welding programs for beginner welders and experienced workers who are wanting to further their skills.
Baker Technical Institute focuses its welding programs on hands-on learning. BTI offers students the chance to work with industry-grade equipment in a state-of-the-art facility which allows students to feel more confident once they are in the field.
Since BTI is partnered with regional employers and industry experts, they can provide innovative education in a variety of fields: welding, nursing, construction, engineering, natural resources, environmental science and even agriculture.
6) Portland Community College
- Type: welding
- Classes: small group, 1-2 years, multiple locations, weekdays, mornings, afternoons, evenings
- Price: ~$1,000-$2,000
- Website: https://www.pcc.edu/programs/welding/
- Telephone: (971) 722-8888
- Location: 705 N Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97217
Portland Community College (PCC) is Oregon’s largest post-secondary institution.
Portland Community College offers an associate’s degree in welding technology as well as certificate classes. PCC stands out by offering students courses in maritime welding, which is done above or underneath the surface of the water.
The welding program at PCC includes hands-on, real-world experience. Students learn many different skills including Gas Metal Arc Welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, Non-Destructive Testing, Plasma Arc Welding, stick welding, wire welding, and much more.
After completing PCC’s comprehensive program, students are prepared for work in fabrication, manufacturing, marine construction, sheet metal, and related industries.
If you are interested in learning more about Portland Community College’s welding program, consider attending an information session. Call directly or visit their website for more information.
7) Umpqua Community College
- Type: welding
- Classes: small group, weekdays, 2-year program
- Price: $3,783 – 7,386
- Website: https://www.umpqua.edu/welding
- Telephone: (541)440-7819
- Location: 1140 Umpqua College Rd, Roseburg, OR 97470
Umpqua Community College in Roseburg offers small class sizes for personalized instruction. Welding students at Umpqua work towards a 2 year Associate of Applied Science degree.
The program itself is designed to allow students to thoroughly study four different aspects of the industry: welding, fabrication, production and piping. This prepares students for employment in welding industries that require workers to meet specifications and standards.
8) Clatsop Community College
- Type: welding
- Classes: small group, 1-2 year programs, 3 month certificates
- Price: $5,388-$8,655
- Website: https://www.clatsopcc.edu/academic-path/academic-programs-a-z/welding/
- Telephone: (503) 338-7680
- Location: 1651 Lexington Ave, Astoria, OR 97103
Clatsop Community College sets itself apart by focusing on real-world projects. Their students have built mounts for ocean-floor monitoring equipment and training equipment for regional fire departments in the last year alone.
In 2022, CCC plans for their students to restore a ship’s wheelhouse for use as a damage control simulator. This simulator will be used for their maritime and fire science departments.
Students of CCC will also have the chance to learn oxy-fuel cutting, material preparation, construction layout, and grinding and finishing. They will also have the opportunity to use a CNC plasma cutter and a virtual reality welding simulator.
Prospective students can choose between 1-2 year programs. Those looking for continuing education opportunities should consider taking a 3 month certificate course.