Kentucky Community Colleges
Welding Technology Programs
Welding technology programs at community colleges in this state. Career-track training for AWS-certified welders.
14 colleges · 431 sections · 32 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Welding programs at Kentucky community colleges are among the most direct paths from enrollment to a full-time skilled-trade job in the state. Most KCTCS 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 431 sections at 14 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 Kentucky metro areas, and the certification stacking — adding pipe, aluminum, and underwater certifications over time — keeps the career growing.
Earnings & outcomes for Welding Technology graduates
Federal College Scorecard data on what graduates of this program actually earn after completion. Where a school’s cohort is too small to publish, we show the national benchmark for the same field of study.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, per-program (4-digit CIP) data. CIP 4805 — Precision Metal Working. School cohorts are suppressed by the federal source when fewer than ~30 completers in the reporting cohort.
Colleges offering Welding Technology
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland Community and Technical College | 84 | 23 | — | 368 | $48,022 |
| Maysville Community and Technical College | 68 | 20 | — | 798 | $34,833 |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College | 54 | 27 | — | 661 | $47,139 |
| Somerset Community College | 42 | 18 | 3 | 323 | — |
| Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College | 26 | 17 | 6 | 247 | — |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College | 24 | 16 | 6 | 803 | — |
| Gateway Community and Technical College | 24 | 17 | — | 767 | — |
| Henderson Community College | 24 | 12 | — | 58 | — |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College | 21 | 16 | 5 | 593 | — |
| Elizabethtown Community and Technical College | 18 | 18 | 4 | 420 | — |
| Owensboro Community and Technical College | 16 | 11 | 7 | 842 | — |
| Big Sandy Community and Technical College | 12 | 12 | 3 | 85 | — |
| Madisonville Community College | 10 | 10 | — | 185 | — |
| Hazard Community and Technical College | 8 | 8 | — | 123 | — |
Welding Technology Availability Snapshot
How welding technology sections are being offered across 14 colleges in Kentucky this term (431 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person367 (85%)
- online34 (8%)
- hybrid30 (7%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)182
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)107
- Evening (5 PM and after)75
- Asynchronous / TBA67
Start dates
Sections begin on 7 distinct dates. 425 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 46 distinct instructors across 14 colleges.
Common Welding Technology courses
- WLD 121Shield Metal ArcWld Fillet Lab(36 sections)
- WLD 120Shielded Metal Arc Welding(33 sections)
- WLD 141Gas Metal Arc Weld Fillet Lab(23 sections)
- WLD 140Gas Metal Arc Welding(22 sections)
- WLD 171Blueprint Reading/Welding Lab(21 sections)
- WLD 221Welding Certification Lab(21 sections)
- WLD 170Blueprint Reading for Welding(20 sections)
- WLD 111Cutting Processes Lab(19 sections)
- WLD 220Welding Certification(19 sections)
- WLD 110Cutting Processes(18 sections)
- WLD 131Gas Tngstn Arc Weld Fillet Lab(18 sections)
- WLD 143Gas Metal Arc Wlding GrooveLab(18 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 Kentucky’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Kentucky's typical pay for this occupation is roughly in line with the national picture.
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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky?
- 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 Kentucky’s welding technology programs stack up.
Other programs in Kentucky
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.