Is this program hands-on?

Yes. You'll spend time in welding labs practicing skills with industry equipment and completing hands-on projects.

What careers can this program lead to?

Graduates may pursue careers as welders, fabricators, pipe welders, and welding technicians. You'll be able to work in industrial, manufacturing, and construction settings.

What is a continuing education course?

Continuing education courses are short, focused classes designed to help you gain specific skills, stay current in your field, or prepare for new responsibilities without committing to a full degree program. Many courses also lead to microcredentials that verify and showcase your specialized knowledge and skills.

Welding Technology

Q: What is welding technology?

Welding technology focuses on joining and cutting metal using specialized tools and techniques used in construction, manufacturing, and industrial work. It combines hands-on work with technical skill and problem-solving. It's a strong fit if you enjoy building, creating, and working with tools.

Q: What will I learn in this program?

You'll learn welding safety, blueprint reading, metal fabrication, and multiple welding processes used in the industry. This includes: shielded metal arc welding (SMAW/Stick), gas metal arc welding (GMAW/MIG), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW/TIG), and flux-cored arc welding (FCAW).

Career/Technical Certificate Continuing Education

Welding takes artistic skill and talent. With proper training, you can become a welding professional. Learn how to cut, contour, and bevel metal plates and structural shapes using torches, saws, shears, or other machine tools. We’ll train you in one of the largest, best-equipped welding training facilities in the region.

In Texas, industries and communities are growing—especially in the petrochemical areas. As construction rates rise, so does the demand for talented welders. Our program is designed to meet the needs of the welding industry.

Train in Modern Welding Labs

Build hands-on skills in welding labs designed to reflect real job environments. Train with industry equipment used in today’s workforce.

Learn by Doing

Practice shielded metal arc, gas metal arc, and flux core welding through hands-on training that prepares you for real projects.

Prepare for a High-Demand Trade

Skilled welders are needed across the Gulf Coast in construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, and petrochemical industries.

Build Skills Step by Step

Start with a certificate and continue toward the AAS degree, or begin directly in the degree program. Each option helps you grow your welding skills and industry knowledge.

Careers

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

$57,882

Opportunities

San Jac’s welding technology program teaches you how to weld carbon and stainless steel plate and pipe in all welding positions. You will learn the following welding processes:

Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) “Stick”
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) “MIG”
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) “TIG”
Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) processes, plus Oxy-Fuels

Locations

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Salary Source: Texas Wages

Art-Welding, Occupational Certificate

Certificate

The Occupational Certificate prepares you for the AAS degree or Certificate of Technology program or to advance in your current career. The curriculum combines foundational welding techniques with hands-on metal fabrication and artistic welding skills used in creative and industrial settings.

6 Months

If you're studying part-time, you can complete the 17 credits for this certificate in two terms.

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Combination Welder, Certificate of Technology

Certificate

The Certificate of Technology prepares you for the degree program, a starting career in the field, or advancement in your current field. This program gives you intermediate and advanced welding experience in shielded metal arc (SMAW) and gas tungsten arc (GTAW) welding on plate and pipe. You’ll train to meet industry certification test requirements. Instruction includes plate and pipe welding positions on carbon steel.

6 Months

If you're studying full-time, you can complete the 24 credits for this certificate in two terms.

IMPORTANT LINKS

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Gas Shielded Welding, Certificate of Technology

Certificate

The Certificate of Technology prepares you for the degree program, a starting career in the field, or advancement in your current field. This program gives you entry-level welding experience in gas metal arc (GMAW) and gas tungsten arc (GTAW) plate and pipe welding. You’ll train to meet industry certification test requirements. Instruction includes plate and pipe welding positions on carbon steel.

6 Months

If you're studying full-time, you can complete the 24 credits for this certificate in two terms.

IMPORTANT LINKS

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Industrial Welder, Level 2 Certificate

Certificate

The Level 2 Certificate prepares you for the degree program, a starting career in the field, or advancement in your current field. The curriculum focuses on introductory, advanced, and high-tech welding skills used in manufacturing, industry, and research.

1.5 Years

If you're studying full-time, you can complete the 42 credits for this certificate in three terms.

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Welding Technology, AAS

Career/Technical

The Associate of Applied Science degree prepares you for a career in welding and metal fabrication. You’ll build introductory, advanced, and high-tech welding skills used in manufacturing, industry, and research. Training includes hands-on experience in multiple welding processes and techniques used in the field.

2 Years

If you're studying full-time, you can complete the 60 credits for this program in four terms.

IMPORTANT LINKS

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Welding, Continuing Education Courses

Continuing Education

Our welding program provides instruction for all positions on carbon and stainless steel plate and pipe, using the following multiple processes:

Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) “Stick”
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) “MIG”
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) “TIG”
Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) processes, plus Oxy-Fuels

You can start college with continuing education courses and apply them toward a certificate or degree.

Varies

The Continuing Education Division at San Jac offers you a variety of noncredit courses for workforce training and lifelong learning.

IMPORTANT LINKS

Course Information

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As a program graduate, you’ll be prepared to pass the entry-level certification tests as required by industry. With a growing demand for qualified welders, you will be well-positioned to find employment as a welder.

Ready to take the first step toward an exciting future? It’s time to apply to San Jac. We’ll guide you through the process and help you start building your future, today.

Apply to San Jac

Big decision, simple answers. Let’s clear it up.

What is welding technology? What will I learn in this program?

Welding technology teaches you how to join and cut metal using specialized tools and techniques. It’s a great fit if you enjoy building, creating, and working with tools.

What you will learn:

shielded metal arc welding (SMAW/Stick)
gas metal arc welding (GMAW/MIG)
gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW/TIG)
flux-cored arc welding (FCAW)

Can I start with a certificate and continue toward a degree?

Yes. You can start with a welding certificate and continue toward an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, or begin directly in the AAS program. Either path lets you build your skills and move forward at your own pace.

You can also start with a continuing education class to explore welding before committing to a certificate or degree. These short, focused courses help you gain specific skills and may lead to microcredentials that verify your specialized knowledge and skills.

Some courses may also apply toward a certificate or degree.

Does this program include internship opportunities?

Yes. The program includes opportunities for external learning experiences. These include:

internships
externships
practicums
cooperative learning experiences at business and industry sites

These experiences allow you to apply your welding skills in real work environments, gain hands-on industry experience, and build connections with employers while completing the program.

What will I learn in the Art-Welding Occupational Certificate?

The Art-Welding certificate focuses on creative and fabrication-based welding skills.

You’ll learn the following:

metal fabrication
oxy-fuel welding and cutting
gas metal arc welding (GMAW/MIG)
metal sculpture welding techniques

This certificate is a strong fit if you are interested in artistic metalwork or fabrication.

What is the Combination Welder Certificate of Technology?

The Combination Welder certificate provides intermediate and advanced training in shielded metal arc welding (SMAW/Stick) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW/TIG) on plate and pipe.

The certificate is designed to help prepare you for industry welding certification tests.

This certificate is a strong fit if you are interested in careers in:

construction
petrochemical facilities
pipe welding
fabrication
industrial maintenance.

Many employers in the Gulf Coast region look for welders with pipe welding and TIG welding experience because those processes are commonly used in industrial environments.

What is the Gas Shielded Welding Certificate of Technology?

The Gas Shielded Welding certificate focuses on gas metal arc welding (GMAW/MIG) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW/TIG). The certificate is designed to help prepare you for industry welding certification tests. You will also gain experience with oxyfuel and plasma cutting equipment.

This certificate is a good option if you want hands-on experience with welding processes commonly used in:

manufacturing
fabrication shops
shipbuilding
industrial production.

Many welders consider GMAW/MIG welding one of the most widely used production welding processes because it is efficient and commonly used in fabrication and manufacturing environments. GTAW/TIG welding is often valued for precision work and high-quality welds on pipe and specialty materials.