Washington Community Colleges
Welding Technology Programs
Welding technology programs at community colleges in this state. Career-track training for AWS-certified welders.
3 colleges · 298 sections · 57 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Welding programs at Washington community colleges are among the most direct paths from enrollment to a full-time skilled-trade job in the state. Most SBCTC 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 298 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 Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clover Park Technical College | 176 | 25 | — |
| Big Bend Community College | 89 | 27 | — |
| Bellingham Technical College | 33 | 10 | — |
Welding Technology Availability Snapshot
How welding technology sections are being offered across 3 colleges in Washington this term (298 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person280 (94%)
- hybrid18 (6%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)98
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)70
- Evening (5 PM and after)48
- Asynchronous / TBA82
Start dates
Sections begin on 3 distinct dates.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 12 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.
Bellingham Technical College5 programs
Centralia College3 programs
Clark College6 programs
Grays Harbor College11 programs
Green River College6 programs
Lake Washington Institute of Technology3 programs
Olympic College4 programs
Renton Technical College6 programs
Skagit Valley College6 programs
South Puget Sound Community College6 programs
Spokane Community College1 program
Welding is one of the most common and dependable methods of joining materials together. Fabrication is the process of blueprint reading, layout, cutting and preparing materials for assembly.<br /> <br /> The competency-based Welding and Fabrication program trains the student in the safe and correct procedures used in shielded metal-arc welding, oxy-acetylene welding, MIG and TIG welding, and air arc and plasma cutting. Course content also includes the safe use and care of hand and power equipment found in welding and fabrication shops. Some of the equipment includes overhead cranes, grinders, power saws, ironworker, cold saws and drill presses.<br /> <br /> The student will be prepared for entry into many trade and industry opportunities, including construction, aerospace, automotive, heavy equipment, machinist, ship building and agriculture. This is only a small cross-section of job opportunities available to the student who successfully completes the program.<br /> <br /> Students must complete a minimum of 57 credits through coursework or prior learning experience in order to graduate. Normal sight, depth perception, and physical dexterity are required.
Plan all required coursesQuarter 1
- APLED 123Leadership Skills for Business and Industry(3 cr)7 sections+ plan
- WELD 113Welding Math(1 cr)3 sections+ plan
- WELD 114Introduction to Blueprint Reading(2 cr)3 sections+ plan
- WELD 115Introduction to Fabrication(3 cr)6 sections+ plan
- WELD 116Shielded Metal Arc Welding Theory(3 cr)3 sections+ plan
- WELD 117Shielded Metal Arc Welding Applications(1 cr)3 sections+ plan
Quarter 2
- WELD 121Intermediate Welding Math(1 cr)1 section+ plan
- WELD 123Intermediate Blueprint Reading(2 cr)1 section+ plan
- WELD 124Advanced Shielded Metal Arc Welding Theory(3 cr)1 section+ plan
- WELD 125Advanced Shielded Metal Arc Welding Applications(1 cr)1 section+ plan
- WELD 126Intermediate Fabrication(3 cr)2 sections+ plan
- WELD 127Fabrication Machine Operation(2 cr)2 sections+ plan
Quarter 3
- APLED 125Employment Preparation(3 cr)5 sections+ plan
- WELD 131Advanced Welding Math(1 cr)1 section+ plan
- WELD 133Advanced Blueprint Reading(2 cr)1 section+ plan
- WELD 134Specialty Welding Theory(3 cr)1 section+ plan
- WELD 135Specialty Welding Applications(7 cr)1 section+ plan
- WELD 136Advanced Fabrication(3 cr)2 sections+ plan
Optional 4th Quarter
Source: College catalog
Walla Walla Community College3 programs
Wenatchee Valley College1 program
First Year - Fall Quarter
16 creditsFirst Year - Winter Quarter
19 creditsSpring Quarter
20 credits- WELD 220Welding Certification Prep Course(2 cr)not offered+ plan
- INDT 136Metal Fabrication II(5 cr)not offered+ plan
- INDT 137Metal Fabrication III(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- WELD 223Pipe Welding(3 cr)not offered+ plan
- WELD 230Welding Inspection and Code Interpretation(2 cr)not offered+ plan
- OCED 130Industrial Safety(5 cr)not offered+ plan
Source: College catalog
Common Welding Technology courses
- WLD 110SMAW I(15 sections)
- WLD 132Gas Tungsten Arc Welding I (TIG)(11 sections)
- WLD 114Industrial Machinery(8 sections)
- WLD 117Shielded Metal Arc Welding I(8 sections)
- WLD 119Gas Metal Arc Welding II(8 sections)
- WLD 123Shielded Metal Arc Welding II(8 sections)
- WLD 152Gas Metal Arc Welding(8 sections)
- WLD 168Flux Cored Arc Welding I(8 sections)
- WLD 204WABO Test Prep FCAW(8 sections)
- WLD 208WABO Test Prep. SMAW Pipe(8 sections)
- WLD 210Gas Tungsten Arc Welding(8 sections)
- WLD 211Advanced Gas Tungsten Arc Welding I (GTAW)(8 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 Washington’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 Washington 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 Washington?
- 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 Washington’s welding technology programs stack up.
Other programs in Washington
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.