Oregon Community Colleges
Welding Technology Programs
Welding technology programs at community colleges in this state. Career-track training for AWS-certified welders.
6 colleges · 245 sections · 49 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Welding programs at Oregon community colleges are among the most direct paths from enrollment to a full-time skilled-trade job in the state. Most Oregon 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 245 sections at 6 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 Oregon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clatsop Community College | 179 | 19 | — |
| Linn-Benton Community College | 31 | 11 | — |
| Lane Community College | 16 | 15 | — |
| Klamath Community College | 9 | 9 | — |
| Chemeketa Community College | 6 | 3 | — |
| Oregon Coast Community College | 4 | 4 | — |
Welding Technology Availability Snapshot
How welding technology sections are being offered across 6 colleges in Oregon this term (245 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person243 (99%)
- hybrid2 (1%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)90
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)86
- Evening (5 PM and after)59
- Asynchronous / TBA10
Start dates
Sections begin on 6 distinct dates.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 12 distinct instructors across 6 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Chemeketa Community College3 programs
Klamath Community College5 programs
Portland Community College1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
96 credits- WLD 101Welding Processes & Applications(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- WLD 102Blueprint Reading(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- WLD 111Shielded Metal Arc Welding (E7024) and Oxy-acetylene Cutting(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- WLD 112Shielded Metal Arc Welding: Mild Steel I (E7018)(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- WLD 113Shielded Metal Arc Welding: Mild Steel II (E7018)(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- WLD 114Shielded Metal Arc Welding: Mild Steel III (E6011)(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- WLD 131Gas Metal Arc Welding(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- WLD 132Gas Metal Arc Welding-Pulse(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- WLD 141Flux-Cored Arc Welding I (Gas Shielded)(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- WLD 142Flux-Cored Arc Welding II (Self Shielding)(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- WLD 151SMAW Certification Practice: Unlimited Thickness Mild Steel(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- WLD 152Flux Cored Arc Welding (Gas Shielded) Certification Practice(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- WLD 153Flux Cored Arc Welding (Self shielding) Cert. Practice(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- WLD 203Structural Steel Welding Code & Standards(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- WLD 221Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Mild Steel(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- WLD 222Gas Tungsten Arc Welding: Aluminum(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- WLD 223Gas Tungsten Arc Welding: Stainless Steel(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- WLD 260Beginning Fabrication(4 cr)not offered+ plan
- WLD 263Welding Technology - Capstone(4 cr)not offered+ plan
Source: College catalog
Rogue Community College2 programs
Common Welding Technology courses
- WLD 150Beginning Welding(15 sections)
- WLD 170Advanced Welding(13 sections)
- WLD 220Structural Steel Welding(12 sections)
- WLD 101Shielded Metal Arc Welding(11 sections)
- WLD 102Gas Metal Arc Welding(11 sections)
- WLD 103Flux Core Arc Welding(11 sections)
- WLD 160Intermediate Welding(11 sections)
- WLD 100Materials Processing(10 sections)
- WLD 104Gas Tungsten Arc Welding(10 sections)
- WLD 105Flux Core Arc Self-Shield Prcs(10 sections)
- WLD 190Weld Certification Preparation(10 sections)
- WLD 205Adv Shielded Metal Arc Welding(10 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 Oregon’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 Oregon 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 Oregon?
- 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 Oregon’s welding technology programs stack up.
Other programs in Oregon
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.