Minnesota Community Colleges
Welding Technology Programs
Welding technology programs at community colleges in this state. Career-track training for AWS-certified welders.
3 colleges · 40 sections · 31 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Welding programs at Minnesota community colleges are among the most direct paths from enrollment to a full-time skilled-trade job in the state. Most Minnesota State 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 40 sections at 3 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 Minnesota 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 Superior College | 16 | 10 | 1 |
| Saint Paul College | 16 | 16 | — |
| Century College | 8 | 6 | — |
Welding Technology Availability Snapshot
How welding technology sections are being offered across 3 colleges in Minnesota this term (40 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person31 (78%)
- hybrid8 (20%)
- online1 (3%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)32
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)7
- Asynchronous / TBA1
Start dates
Sections begin on 1 distinct date.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 13 distinct instructors across 3 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Anoka Technical College6 programs
Century College1 program
Career/Occupational Requirements
- WLDG 1000Welding Safetynot offered+ plan
- WLDG 1001Introduction to Oxyacetylene Welding2 sections+ plan
- WLDG 1003Weld Symbols and Print Reading for Welding1 section+ plan
- WLDG 1007Introduction to Gas Tungsten Arc Welding2 sections+ plan
- WLDG 1013Gas Metal Arc Welding 11 section+ plan
- WLDG 1019Flux Cored Arc Welding1 section+ plan
- WLDG 1021Shielded Metal Arc Welding1 section+ plan
- ADM 1518Manufacturing Processes and Production1 section+ plan
- ADM 1522Quality Practices1 section+ plan
Semester 1
Semester 2
Source: College catalog
Dakota County Technical College1 program
First Year - Fall Semester: 19 Credits
19 creditsSee catalog for course list
First Year - Spring Semester: 17 Credits
17 creditsSee catalog for course list
Source: College catalog
Common Welding Technology courses
- WLDG 1560Gas Metal Arc Welding I(3 sections)
- WLDG 1001Introduction to Oxyacetylene Welding (Partially Online)(2 sections)
- WLDG 1007Introduction to Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (Partially Online)(Early Finish)(2 sections)
- WLDG 1522Gas Tungsten Arc Welding II(2 sections)
- WLDG 1542Shielded Metal Arc Welding II(2 sections)
- WLDG 1562Gas Metal Arc Welding II(2 sections)
- WLDG 1572Flux Cored Arc Welding II(2 sections)
- WLDG 2402Introduction to Metallurgy(2 sections)
- WLDG 1003Weld Symbols and Print Reading for Welding (Partially Online)(1 section)
- WLDG 1013Gas Metal Arc Welding 1 (Partially Online)(Early Finish)(1 section)
- WLDG 1019Flux Cored Arc Welding (Partially Online)(Late Start)(1 section)
- WLDG 1021Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Partially Online)(Late Start)(1 section)
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 Minnesota’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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
- 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 Minnesota’s welding technology programs stack up.
Other programs in Minnesota
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.