California Community Colleges
Welding Technology Programs
Welding technology programs at community colleges in this state. Career-track training for AWS-certified welders.
7 colleges · 109 sections · 72 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Welding programs at California community colleges are among the most direct paths from enrollment to a full-time skilled-trade job in the state. Most California CCs welding programs are one-year diploma or two-year AAS sequences aligned to AWS (American Welding Society) certifications — SMAW (stick), GMAW (MIG), GTAW (TIG), and FCAW (flux-cored). The 109 sections at 7 institutions this term combine bench-work hours with metallurgy theory and blueprint reading.
Welders graduating with AWS certifications step into manufacturing, pipeline, structural-steel, and shipyard jobs without needing further education. Pay is competitive (often above other CC-trade tracks), demand outpaces supply in most California metro areas, and the certification stacking — adding pipe, aluminum, and underwater certifications over time — keeps the career growing.
Colleges offering Welding Technology
Pick a college to see its full plan — every required course, which ones transfer to the school you want, and what’s open now.
Welding Technology is a transfer program — community colleges offer the coursework; you earn the degree, and its earnings, at a four-year university. See where it transfers →
| College | Sections | Courses | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Tahoe Community College | 32 | 23 | 23 |
| Butte College | 31 | 19 | — |
| Riverside City College | 12 | 8 | — |
| Ventura College | 12 | 7 | — |
| Palo Verde College | 9 | 8 | — |
| Hartnell College | 7 | 6 | — |
| Mendocino College | 6 | 4 | — |
Welding Technology Availability Snapshot
How welding technology sections are being offered across 7 colleges in California this term (109 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person86 (79%)
- online23 (21%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)34
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)25
- Evening (5 PM and after)35
- Asynchronous / TBA15
Start dates
Sections begin on 22 distinct dates. 36 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 23 distinct instructors across 7 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
College of the Desert4 programs
Fullerton College1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
29 credits- WELD 100Introduction to Welding (formerly WELD 121AF)(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- WELD 091AIndustrial Welding Fundamentalsnot offered+ plan
- WELD 091BSemi-Automatic Welding Applications(5 cr)not offered+ plan
- WELD 091CManual Arc Welding Fundamentals(5 cr)not offered+ plan
- WELD 091DStructural Welding Certification(5 cr)not offered+ plan
- DRAF 101Blueprint Reading for Manufacturing (formerly DRAF 070 F)(2 cr)not offered+ plan
- DRAF 171Fundamentals of Drafting(2 cr)not offered+ plan
- MACH 116Machine Tools(2 cr)not offered+ plan
- METL 192Fundamentals of Metallurgy(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- TECH 081Technical Mathematics I(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- TECH 108Manufacturing Processes(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- WELD 096Welding Inspection Technology(5 cr)not offered+ plan
- WELD 098Welding Fabrication Technology(2 cr)not offered+ plan
- TECH 127Industrial Safety(2 cr)not offered+ plan
Source: College catalog
Hartnell College2 programs
Long Beach City College13 programs
Mt San Antonio College5 programs
Pasadena City College5 programs
San Bernardino Valley College9 programs
San Joaquin Delta College4 programs
Sierra College1 program
Full degree sequence — 31 courses, 38 credits
Catalog group: Recommended Course Sequence
- WELD 0001AIntroduction to Welding and Fabrication(2 cr)8 sections+ plan
- WELD 0001BBasic Welding Fabrication(2 cr)5 sections+ plan
- WELD 0002AGas Metal Arc Welding of Mild Carbon Steel on Sheet and Plate(2 cr)5 sections+ plan
- WELD 0002BGas Metal Arc Welding of Stainless Steel on Sheet and Plate(2 cr)4 sections+ plan
- WELD 0002CGas Metal Arc Welding Certifications on Sheet and Plate(2 cr)2 sections+ plan
Source: College catalog
Common Welding Technology courses
- WLD 20Beg Welding(5 sections)
- WLD 150Shop Practices for Beg WLD(4 sections)
- WEL V20Advanced Welding Applications(3 sections)
- WLD 154Shop Practices for Welders I(3 sections)
- WLD 107AWilderness First Aid(3 sections)
- WLD 107BWilderness First Responder(3 sections)
- WLD 133Intern-Occupational Work Exp.(3 sections)
- WEL 101Shielded Metal Arc Welding(2 sections)
- WEL 65ABasic Metal Arc Weld(2 sections)
- WEL 65BAdvanced Shielded Metal Arc Welding(2 sections)
- WEL 75AGas Metal Arc Welding(2 sections)
- WEL 85AAmerican Welding Society/Los Angeles City Welding I(2 sections)
Career outlook for Welding Technology graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare California’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does a welding program take at a community college?
- One-year diploma programs cover the AWS Certified Welder fundamentals (SMAW + GMAW for structural steel). Two-year AAS programs add advanced processes (TIG, pipe welding), blueprint reading, materials science, and supervisory coursework. Many students start with the diploma, get hired, then return for the AAS while working.
- What welding certifications can I earn?
- AWS Certified Welder is the baseline credential — most California programs prepare graduates to test for it on multiple processes (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW) in multiple positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead). Specialty certs (6G pipe, structural code D1.1, pressure-vessel code D1.5) come from employer-sponsored testing after hire and pay significantly more.
- What's the demand for welders in California?
- Strong. Industrial manufacturing, pipeline maintenance, shipyard work, and infrastructure construction all need welders, and the workforce is aging faster than it's being replaced. BLS projects 2% growth nationally through 2032, but starting wages have risen 15-20% in the last five years as employers compete for trained welders.
- Do I need a four-year degree to advance in welding?
- No. Career progression goes: certified welder → senior welder → welding inspector (CWI certification, employer-paid) → welding supervisor → welding engineer. The CWI is the credential that opens supervisory and inspection roles at $25–35/hr+; the welding-engineer path requires more formal education but is the exception, not the norm. Most welders advance via certification stacking, not college credit.
Compare Welding Technology programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how California’s welding technology programs stack up.
Other programs in California
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.