3 Best Welding Schools in Atlanta, GA

About the School

Atlanta Technical College is a public technical school that offers associate degree, diploma, and technical credit programs.

Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, they were established in 1945 and were known as Smith-Hughes Vocational School back then.

Almost 70 years later, they remain true to their core values, which are Excellence, Integrity, Customer Service, Professionalism, Respect, Teamwork, and Diversity and Inclusion.

With their wide range of programs, they aim to deliver a positive learning environment that can provide valuable lifelong educational experiences and opportunities to their community.

Their academic, adult education, and continuing programs are available in-classroom and online, and they have evening and weekend classes to accommodate different schedules.

Courses Offered

The Welding and Joining Technology Program’s primary objective is to help students be 100% ready to join the welding industry.

It features various topics, including welding theory and practical welding applications.

It teaches the necessary knowledge and skills to:

• Interpret related blueprints
• Perform flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead shielded metal arc welding
• Perform gas metal arc welding and gas tungsten arc welding

The different certificate and diploma programs available are as follows:

Welding Blueprint Reading Certificate

• Requires 3 classes and takes 1 semester to complete
• Potential careers: welding assistants, welding helpers

Gas Metal and Flux Cored Arc Welder Certificate

• Requires 4 additional classes and takes 1 additional semester to complete
• Potential careers: welding assistants, specialized welding assistants

Welding and Joining Technology Diploma

• Requires 8 additional classes and takes 2 additional semesters to complete
• Potential careers: entry-level welders

Upon successful completion, graduates can work as welding and joining technicians in the construction industry.

About the School

Mechanical Trades Institute is a training center sponsored by the Mechanical Contractors Association of Georgia and the Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Service Technicians Local Union No 72.

Since 1936, they have been training apprentices to be Plumbers, Pipefitters, and HVACR Service Technicians.

Their free apprenticeship programs are designed to help students learn a trade under the guidance and instruction of industry professionals.

They are dedicated to supporting their apprentices from the start and helping them find the right path toward a lucrative career.

Courses Offered

The JATT Welding Program covers pipe welding and all pipe welding processes.

With classes available during the day and some evenings and taught by expert and welding-certified instructors, it aims to educate and train apprentices to be highly skilled professionals in the welding industry.

It covers the following welding processes:

• GMAW – Gas Metal Arc Welding
• GTAW – Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
• SMAW – Shielded Metal Arc Welding
• Mechanized Orbital Welding

About the School

The Sheet Metal Workers School, or the Georgia Sheet Metal Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, aims to teach future generations the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a successful career in the Sheet Metal Industry.

It is a joint program by the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 85 and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association.

Since the 1940s, they have been training apprentices to become qualified sheet metal workers and go on to become supervisors, contractors, managers, and foremen.

Their members have contributed to the construction of some of the state’s biggest projects, such as the Braves Stadium, Phillips Arena, Georgia Aquarium, and Falcons Stadium.

With their expert instructors and state-of-the-art equipment, they are ready to answer the increasing demands for skilled sheet metal workers.

Courses Offered

The Welding Apprenticeship Program is designed to prepare students for careers in skilled trades.

It combines in-classroom education and on-the-job training and is taught by seasoned journeyman workers.

As an apprentice, you can get plenty of good-paying job opportunities, valuable skills for career advancement, and job stability and security.

You can also earn while you learn.

Once you graduate, you are statistically more likely to earn higher wages and get promotions in a shorter period than those who have not gone through apprenticeship programs.