List of Welding Schools & Classes in Washington
As a coastal state, Washington has an economy based largely on trade and shipping. Other key industries include technology and aerospace manufacturing.
These major industries require the skills of a trained and certified welder. Maritime welders specialize in ship repairs and maintenance.
Technology and aerospace companies in Washington also seek welders to create components for their products. Some of the top companies in these industries are located in the state of Washington.
With all of the opportunities available to welders, you may be wondering how to go about getting hired. The first step is to obtain a certificate or associate degree in welding technology.
Schools across the state of Washington offer fast and affordable welding programs that prepare students for any industry. From maritime welding to inspection, the programs included here teach you everything you need for a successful welding career.
This is our round-up of the top welding programs in Washington state this year. Make sure to reach out to schools directly for the latest enrollment and tuition information.
1) South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC)
- Type: Welding
- Classes: SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://spscc.edu/auto-welding-machining/welding
- Telephone: (360) 596-5200
- Location: 2011 Mottman Rd. SW Olympia, WA 98512
South Puget Sound Community College, or SPSCC, offers full and part-time welding programs. Students can complete a welding technology associate degree or can choose from four certificate options.
The associate degree includes 96 credits. Welding theory, cutting processes, SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, blueprint reading, and fabrication are all covered.
Certificates cover the four main welding processes.
2) South Seattle College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GTAW, GMAW, FCAW, SMAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://southseattle.edu/programs/welding
- Telephone: (206) 934-5394
- Location: 6000 16th Ave SW Seattle, WA 98106
South Seattle College opened in 1969 and offers an associate of applied science (AAS) degree and certificate in welding and fabrication technology.
The AAS degree includes over 90 credits, while the certificate has about 60. Both provide comprehensive welding education but are completed at different rates.
Skills taught include SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, cutting, blueprints, and symbols.
An additional opportunity unique to South Seattle College is its Maritime Shipyard Welding Program. The college has partnered with Vigor Industrial Shipyards to offer maritime welding education for welders interested in working in the maritime and shipping industries.
3) Bates Technical College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: SMAW, GTAW, FCAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.batestech.edu/programs/welding/
- Telephone: (253) 680-7410
- Location: 2201 S. 78th Tacoma, WA 98409
Bates Technical College was founded in 1940 and serves 7,000 students annually. The college offers a welding associate degree and certificate.
Students can complete the welding program during day or evening classes. Cutting processes, testing, pipe welding, SMAW, FCAW, and GMAW are included in Bates Technical College’s welding program.
4) Olympic College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GMAW, GTAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.olympic.edu/academics/academic-pathways/manufacturing-trades/welding
- Telephone: (360) 475-7279
- Location: Bremerton and Sheldon locations
Olympic College offers an associate of technical arts degree in welding, as well as four certificate options.
Welding students are required to complete classes on GTAW, GMAW, cutting, metallurgy, and pipe welding. A number of electives are also included in the associate degree option.
More information on enrollment and tuition can be obtained by contacting Olympic College directly.
5) Lake Washington Institute of Technology
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, SMAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.lwtech.edu/academics/welding-technology/
- Telephone: (425) 739-8381
- Location: 11605 132nd Ave NE Kirkland, WA 98034
Lake Washington Institute of Technology was founded in 1949 as the only public technical institute in the state of Washington.
Welding students can work towards an AAS degree or certification in several areas. SMAW, FCAW, GMAW, GTAW, cutting, pipe welding, layouts, and fabrication are taught.
6) Green River College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GMAW, GTAW, SMAW, FCAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.greenriver.edu/students/academics/degrees-programs/welding-technology/
- Telephone: (253) 833-9111
- Location: 12401 SE 320th St. Auburn, WA 98092
Green River College offers an associate of applied science degree and certificate in welding.
Classes include SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, blueprint reading, and pipe welding.
7) Everett Community College (EvCC)
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GMAW, SMAW, FCAW, GTAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.everettcc.edu/programs/prof-tech-ed/welding-fabrication
- Telephone: (425) 388-9570
- Location: 2000 Tower St. Everett, WA 98201
Everett Community College (EvCC) opened in 1941 and serves over 17,000 students. The school has day and evening program options to suit a variety of schedules.
Students at Everett can complete a welding certificate or an associate in technical arts degree. Classes include SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, fabrication, layouts, and pipe welding.
Aerospace fabrication and welding classes are offered at Everett, making it a great choice for students wanting to enter this industry.
8) Clover Park Technical College (CPTC)
- Type: Welding
- Classes: SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.cptc.edu/programs/welding
- Telephone: (253) 589-5800
- Location: 4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW Lakewood, WA 98499
Clover Park Technical College (CPTC) offers over 120 programs, including an associate of applied science (AAS) degree and certificate in welding technology.
The AAS degree includes instruction in SMAW, GTAW, GMAW, FCAW, metallurgy, and print reading. Certificates in the four main welding processes and wire feed welding are also available.
9) Skagit Valley College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GTAW, GMAW, SMAW
- Price: Contact for pricing information
- Website: https://catalog.skagit.edu/preview_entity.php?catoid=8&ent_oid=758
- Telephone: (360) 416-7703
- Location: 2405 East College Way Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Skagit Valley College offers nine certificate options and an associate of technical arts degree. The number of program options at Skagit makes this college stand out.
Skills learned in the various program offerings include SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, cutting, joins, fabrication, and layouts.
If you are seeking a school with a wide variety of learning opportunities, look no further than Skagit Valley College!
10) Clark College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GMAW, GTAW, SMAW, FCAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.clark.edu/academics/programs/advanced-manufacturing-and-mechanical/welding/index.php
- Telephone: (360) 699-6398
- Location: 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, WA 98663
Clark College is the largest college of its kind in southwest Washington. The school opened in 1933 and has provided quality technical education ever since.
The college has both associate degree and certificate tracks for welding students. Regardless of the option you choose, you can expect to learn SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, material science, and wire feed welding.
A full list of welding classes at Clark College can be found at the link provided above.
11) Renton Technical College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://rtc.edu/welding
- Telephone: (425) 235-2352
- Location: 3000 NE 4th St. Renton, WA 98056
Renton Technical College, or RTC, has one of the highest program completion rates in the country. This means that students who start a program at RTC are likely to finish successfully.
Welding students at RTC learn a wide range of welding and fabrication-related skills. These include OFW, SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, thermal cutting, print reading, metallurgy, and pipe welding.
Robotics and fabrication classes and forklift certification are also offered to better prepare students for real-world work.
12) Grays Harbor College (GHC)
- Type: Welding
- Classes: SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW
- Price: Contact for pricing information
- Website: https://www.ghc.edu/academics/degrees-and-certificates/professional/welding
- Telephone: (360) 532-9020
- Location: 1620 Edward P. Smith Dr. Aberdeen, WA 98520
Grays Harbor College, or GHC, opened in 1930. The college offers eight certificate options in welding technology, plus associate degrees in structural, construction, and pipe welding.
The specific associate degree options allow students to specialize in welding techniques that interest them most. Degree options range from 118 to 150 credits, making them some of the most thorough in the state.
Grays Harbor faculty teach the main welding processes, print reading, and fabrication. Regardless of the type of program you choose, you will be prepared for the workforce.
13) Walla Walla Community College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GTAW, SMAW, GMAW, FCAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://dept.wwcc.edu/welding/
- Telephone: (509) 522-2500
- Location: Walla Walla and Clarkston locations
Walla Walla Community College was established in 1967. The school has a welding program that covers SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and FCAW processes.
Blueprint reading, testing, quality control, metallurgy, and pipe welding are other important skills taught in the Walla Walla Community College welding program.
14) Columbia Basin College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GTAW, GTAW, SMAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.columbiabasin.edu/learn/discover-your-path/career-technical-education/welding-technology/index.html
- Telephone: (509) 542-4804
- Location: 2600 N. 20th Ave. Pasco, WA 49301
Columbia Basin College offers a two-year welding technology degree. Students in the welding program learn the four main welding processes: SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and FCAW.
Other skills learned include pipe welding, cutting, fabrication, and inspection.
15) Wenatchee Valley College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GTAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.wvc.edu/academics/industrial-technology/welding/index.html
- Telephone: (509) 682-6800
- Location: 1300 5th St. Wenatchee, WA 98801
Wenatchee Valley College offers a 55-credit welding certificate that prepares students for work across Washington state.
Basic welding processes like GTAW are taught. Print reading, inspection, and pipe welding are other skills introduced in the welding program.
16) Charter College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.chartercollege.edu/programs/tradesvocational/welding
- Telephone: (888) 200-9942
- Location: East Wenatchee, Fife, Pasco, Vancouver & more
Charter College opened in 1985 and has locations in several states. The school offers a welding certificate that can be completed in cities across Washington.
Students learn SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and FCAW processes. Computer technology, codes, cutting, and fabrication classes round out the program at Charter College.
17) Bellingham Technical College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GTAW, SMAW, GMAW, FCAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.btc.edu/Academics/DegreesAndCertificates/WeldingAndFabricatingTechnology/index.html#Classes
- Telephone: (360) 752-7000
- Location: 3028 Lindbergh Ave. Bellingham, WA 98225
Bellingham Technical College opened in 1957 and is located 90 miles north of Seattle. The college offers two associate degrees and one certificate in welding technology.
Welding students learn SMAW, FCAW, GTAW, and GMAW. Thermal cutting, print reading, and fabrication skills are also covered to prepare students for the workplace.
18) Centralia College
- Type: Welding
- Classes: GTAW, GMAW, SMAW, FCAW
- Price: Contact for tuition information
- Website: https://www.centralia.edu/pathways/tech-trades/welding.aspx
- Telephone: (360) 736-9391
- Location: 600 Centralia College Blvd. Centralia, WA 98531
Centralia College was founded in 1925 and is the oldest two-year institution in the state of Washington. The college offers an associate degree in welding as well as two certificate options.
The associate degree program includes 99 credits. Both the associate and certificate options cover SMAW, FCAW, GMAW, and GTAW processes.
Visit Centralia College’s website (linked above) to compare your learning options in more detail.