List of Welding Schools & Classes in South Carolina
South Carolina is home to many technical schools, community colleges, and private schools offering welding programs. The state’s industrial economy supports welders in various sectors.
The diversity of South Carolina’s economy means welders can gain experience in unique work situations. The ability to learn through on-the-job experience is an invaluable perk of learning to weld in South Carolina.
Welders in South Carolina can expect to earn around $40,000 annually depending on their skill level, experience, and employer.
The following are the top places to learn welding in the state of South Carolina this year. More information on upcoming enrollment dates can be found at the links provided.
1) South Carolina School of Welding
- Type: Welding
- Classes: SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.southcarolinaschoolofwelding.com/
- Telephone: (803) 215-3224
- Location: 106 Old Jackson Highway Beech Island, SC 29842
South Carolina School of Welding offers a welding program that can be completed in as little as 24 weeks. Students can complete the program during morning or evening classes depending on their schedules.
Topics covered in the welding program include SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, and GTAW processes. Cutting techniques, beginner fabrication methods, and measuring are also taught.
In addition to welding skills, South Carolina School of Welding prepares students for the workforce through resume-writing assistance, job searches, and job placement. The school boasts a placement rate of 95%.
2) Spartanburg Community College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GMAW, GTAW, SMAW,
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.sccsc.edu/schoolslist/CAMIT/trade/weld.php
- Telephone: (864) 592-4600
- Location: 107 Community College Dr. Spartanburg, SC 29303
Spartanburg Community College offers welding certificates and an associate of applied science (AAS) degree in welding.
Welding certificate offerings include Welding, Advanced Welding, and Fabrication Welding. The Welding certificate is 28 credits and includes SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and FCAW processes. Oxy-fuel cutting and welding on both plate and pipe are taught.
The other certifications also cover these topics but only include 16 required credits.
The AAS degree option has 62 credits that include the above skills. Fabrication, arc welding, pipe welding, testing, print reading, and electives also make up the degree. AAS students are required to take electives in machining and the humanities.
3) Arclabs Welding School
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GTAW, GMAW, SMAW, FCAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.arclabs.edu/welding-program/
- Telephone: (877) 647-4111
- Location: Charleston, Columbia, and Piedmont locations
Arclabs Welding School offers welding classes that are 95% hands-on. These classes are ideal for people who like to learn through doing.
Students can choose from day or night classes to best fit their schedules. SMAW, FCAW, GMAW, and GTAW processes are taught in class. Cutting techniques, drawings, and blueprints are also covered.
Arclabs stands out from other schools by offering job placement and other student resources.
4) Tri-County Technical College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: SMAW, GMAW, GTAW
- Price: Contact for pricing information
- Website: https://www.tctc.edu/programs/career-programs/welding/welding-certificates/
- Telephone: (864) 646-8282
- Location: 7900 US-76 Pendleton, SC 29670
Tri-County Technical College offers certificates in industrial welding, multiprocess welding, and SMAW. Students who complete the industrial and multiprocess welding certificates learn SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, blueprint reading, metallurgy, and pipe welding.
The SMAW-only certificate is ideal for welders already in the workforce who need to expand their skill set. Plate and pipe welding are covered in the SMAW certificate.
5) Midlands Technical College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GTAW, GMAW, SMAW, FCAW
- Price: ~$13,000
- Website: https://www.midlandstech.edu/programs-and-courses/advanced-manufacturing-and-skilled-trades/comprehensive-welder
- Telephone: (803) 738-8324
- Location: seven locations in South Carolina
Midlands Technical College opened in 1974 and is one of the largest colleges of its kind in South Carolina.
Welding students at Midlands learn the foundational welding processes: GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, and SMAW. Pipe welding is also covered.
Students can complete the welding program in as little as one year and can choose from morning, afternoon, or evening classes.
6) Central Carolina Technical College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GMAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.cctech.edu/degree/welding-certificate-weld/
- Telephone: (803) 778-1961
- Location: 506 N. Guignard Dr. Sumter, SC 29150
Central Carolina Technical College serves over 8,500 students per year. The school offers a 36-credit welding certificate that includes arc welding, fabrication, print reading, GMAW, and maintenance welding.
More information on upcoming enrollment dates and tuition can be found on Central Carolina Technical College’s website.
7) Greenville Technical College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GMAW, GTAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.gvltec.edu/academics_learning/advanced-manufacturing-transportation/welding/index.html
- Telephone: (864) 250-4145
- Location: 1830 W. Georgia Rd. Simpsonville, SC 29680
Greenville Technical College offers welding certificates at its Brashier campus in Simpsonville.
Greenville’s standard welding certificate teaches print reading, arc welding, GMAW, GTAW, and pipe welding. Other certificates include robotic welding, and specialized welding.
The specialized certificate option teaches GMAW and GTAW on both plate and pipe.
8) York Technical College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.yorktech.edu/Welding-Technology/
- Telephone: (803) 327-8000
- Location: 452 S. Anderson Rd. Rock Hill, SC 29730
York Technical College opened in 1964 and offers 108 programs. Welding students can choose from a certificate, diploma, or associate of applied science (AAS) degree.
Regardless of the type of degree, students learn SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, oxy-fuel cutting, welding theory, weld symbols, joints, and testing.
9) Horry-Georgetown Technical College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GTAW, GMAW, SMAW, FCAW
- Price: Contact for pricing information
- Website: https://www.hgtc.edu/academics/academic-departments/advanced-manufacturing/advanced-welding.html
- Telephone: (843) 347-3186
- Location: 2050 Highway 501 E Conway, SC 29526
Horry-Georgetown Technical College first opened in 1966 and has become the fastest-growing technical college in South Carolina.
The college offers 70 practical programs that prepare students for success in the workforce. Welding students at Horry-Georgetown complete an advanced welding technologies certificate.
The certificate includes 34 credits and covers the main welding processes: SMAW, GTAW, GMAW, and FCAW. Cutting, print reading, arc welding, metallurgy, pipe welding, and testing are other topics learned in the certificate program.
10) Aiken Technical College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GMAW, GTAW, SMAW, FCAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.atc.edu/Study/Programs-of-Study/Technical-and-Continuing-Education/Welding
- Telephone: (803) 593-9231
- Location: 2276 Jefferson Davis Highway Graniteville, SC 29829
Aiken Technical College is a public, two-year school that offers a welding certificate and associate of applied science (AAS) degree.
AAS students pursue a General Technology degree with a welding emphasis. Skills learned include GMAW, SMAW, FCAW, and GTAW, print reading, and maintenance.
Electives for the associate degree include power tool operation and machining.
The welding certificate program at Aiken Technical College includes 32 credits. Students learn the welding processes listed above, metallurgy, quality control, and blueprint reading.
11) Norris Mechanical Welding School
- Type: Welding
- Classes: SMAW, GMAW, GTAW
- Price: $4,000-$6,000
- Website: https://www.norrismechanicalsc.com/catalog-2/
- Telephone: (864) 958-6187
- Location: 100 New Prospect Church Rd. Anderson, SC 29625
Norris Mechanical Welding School is owned and operated by Dale Norris. The school celebrates its 10th year in 2023.
Classes at Norris include SMAW, GMAW, and GTAW processes. Safety and cutting skills are also emphasized.
More information on enrollment and classes can be found on the school’s website or by contacting the school directly.
12) Piedmont Technical College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: SMAW, GMAW, GTAW
- Price: Contact for pricing information
- Website: https://www.ptc.edu/academics/schools-programs/industrial-technology/welding
- Telephone: (800) 868-5528
- Location: locations in seven counties including: Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood and Saluda
Piedmont Technical College has operated since 1966 and serves seven counties in South Carolina. The school offers both certificate and AAS programs in welding.
Certificate students learn SMAW, GMAW, and GTAW. Print reading and pipe welding is also covered.
An associate of applied science degree in General Technology with a welding concentration is another track students can take. The degree includes 65 credits.
Classes cover welding processes, cutting, fabrication, machining, writing, math, and various electives.
13) Florence-Darlington Technical College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GTAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.fdtc.edu/academics/programs/list
- Telephone: (843) 661-8324
- Location: 2715 W. Lucas St. Florence, SC 29501
Florence-Darlington Technical College offers certificates in arc welding, gas welding, fabrication welding, and pipe welding.
Skills learned include GTAW, arc welding, pipe fitting, print reading, calculations, cutting, beveling, and layouts.
More information on the welding certificate programs can be found online or by talking to an admissions counselor at Florence-Darlington.