Welding Technology Major: What It Includes, Classes and Careers

A Welding Technology major teaches you to join and cut metal using welding processes used in industry. Welding programs teach shielded metal arc, gas metal arc, flux-cored and gas tungsten arc welding, plus blueprint reading, metallurgy and safety.

A Welding Technology major includes coursework in welding processes (SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW), blueprint reading and welding symbols, metallurgy, cutting processes, and welding inspection and more. You build skills such as welding, reading weld symbols, metal fabrication, and inspection. Typical degrees: certificate and associate degree.

Typical courses include welding processes (SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW), blueprint reading and welding symbols, metallurgy, cutting processes, welding inspection, and shop safety. Exact course names and requirements vary by college, and most degrees also include general education courses.

It depends on the level. Welding Technology is offered as certificate and associate awards at U.S. colleges; certificates take from a few months to about two years and an associate degree usually takes about two years of full-time study. Part-time study takes longer.

Certificate and associate degree. In the latest federal data, 678 colleges reported certificate awards and 342 colleges reported associate awards.

Career paths connected to welding technology include welder, welding machine operator, metal fabricator, boilermaker, ironworker, pipelayer, and quality control inspector. Some roles need additional training, experience, certification or a license.

Examples include welder (typical training: 3–18 months), welding machine operator (typical training: A few months on the job), metal fabricator (typical training: Several months on the job), boilermaker (typical training: 4–5 year apprenticeship), ironworker (typical training: 3–4 years (apprenticeship)), and pipelayer (typical training: A few weeks on the job).

Welding Technology majors build skills such as welding, reading weld symbols, metal fabrication, inspection, and safety.

Good pairings include Business (helps if you plan to run your own welding shop) and Occupational Safety (welding hazards make safety knowledge valuable).

It can be a good fit if you are interested in the work it leads to, such as welder, welding machine operator, and metal fabricator, and enjoy subjects like welding processes (SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW) and blueprint reading and welding symbols. No major guarantees a job, so compare the coursework, the careers and the education each career requires before deciding.

How hard it feels depends on your strengths. Core coursework includes welding processes (SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW), blueprint reading and welding symbols, and metallurgy; if those subjects interest you, the major is likely to feel more manageable. Reviewing a college’s course list and talking to current students helps you judge.

699 U.S. colleges reported awarding degrees or certificates in this field in the latest federal (IPEDS) data. Programs can have different names at different schools.

Texas (62), California (60), North Carolina (59), Illinois (39), and Michigan (29), based on the colleges that reported awards in this field.

559 of the colleges that offer welding technology also report offering at least one program entirely online, though not necessarily this one. Use the college search with this major and “Offers fully online programs”, then confirm with the school.

Welding Technology teaches you to join and cut metal using welding processes used in industry. Construction Management teaches you to plan, budget, schedule and supervise construction projects. Welding Technology leads to careers such as welder and welding machine operator, while Construction Management leads to careers such as construction manager and cost estimator.

Welding Technology teaches you to join and cut metal using welding processes used in industry. Building Science and Construction Technology studies how buildings are designed, built and maintained to perform well. Welding Technology leads to careers such as welder and welding machine operator, while Building Science and Construction Technology leads to careers such as construction and building inspector and building maintenance technician.

Yes. Short online career training can help you understand a specific job and build practical knowledge alongside your classes. It does not replace your degree or any required license.

No. Career Education Institute is not a college and does not award degrees. It offers short, non-credit online trainings about jobs connected to welding technology, such as Welder Training.