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Working as a welder pays well.
For instance, in Bakersfield, CA, the average base salary of a welder is $29.51 per hour.
That can increase to $33.72 per hour if you have more than 10 years of experience.
With that said, the job also comes with a lot of responsibilities.
As a welder, you design, cut, and permanently join metals together by using appropriate welding techniques and equipment.
For you to learn these steps and processes, you have to enroll in a welding school.
Below is a list of welding schools in Bakersfield, CA for anyone interested in becoming a welder.
1 Advanced Career Institute
About the School
Advanced Career Institute’s mission is to help students be ready to join the workforce.
With their outstanding educational programs, they teach essential skills required for entry-level employment.
Their four main goals are to Provide, Deliver, Endeavor, and Strive.
They are dedicated to designing short-term programs that use the best and most recent technologies to support their students’ pursuit of their professional goals.
In California, they have locations in Visalia, Fresno, Merced, and Bakersfield.
They also have a campus in Las Vegas.
For the last two and a half decades, they have been a part of thousands of people’s success stories.
Courses Offered
The Advanced Welding Training program gives students plenty of opportunities to work with various metals and welding techniques.
It takes 38 weeks or 760 clock hours to complete, and classes are available in the morning (6 am to 10 am), daytime (10:30 am to 2:30 pm), evening (2:30 pm to 6:30 pm), and night (7 pm to 11 pm).
During the course, students will learn about:
- FCAW (Flux Core)
- GMAW (MIG)
- GTAW
- SMAW (Arc)
- Oxy-Acetylene cutting and brazing
Upon successfully completing the program, they will earn qualifications in:
- Welding (NOCTI) areas
- SENSE (American Welding Society)
- National Construction Career Test (NCCER)
- Introductory Craft Skills
- Core
Address: 2925 Mosasco Street, Unit B, Bakersfield, California 93312
2 UEI College - Bakersfield
About the School
UEI College’s mission statement is all about changing the world for the better through student empowerment.
With over 40 years of industry experience, their focus is on helping every student gain important career skills for their future.
Their supportive instructors and faculty are committed to guiding students from day 1 so that they can be on the right path toward success.
Whether in one of their multiple campuses in California, Arizona, Georgia, Washington, or Nevada, they provide hands-on, real-world training to equip students as they begin their journey to achieve their career goals.
At present, they offer a wide range of trade and vocational programs in business, healthcare, and the trades.
Courses Offered
The Welding Program combines lectures and hands-on training and takes as fast as 10 months to complete.
Available online and in class, it teaches students the fundamentals of welding and trains them to use welding equipment and tools in a shop environment.
It covers Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), welding safety, metal cutting, and brazing.
Upon graduation, students will obtain their diploma, and be qualified to work as welders, welder tenders, welder fitters, cutters, solderers, brazers, machine setters, and operators.
Address: 3737 Rosedale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93308
3 A&J Training – Bakersfield Training Center
About the School
Apprentice and Journeymen (A&J) Training is a technical and trade school that offers various programs.
Their mission is to provide top-notch hands-on training necessary for their students to grow and advance in their chosen career paths.
They are committed to delivering excellence so that their students can gain marketable skills that can give them a competitive advantage once they enter the workforce.
Courses Offered
The Welding Training Program introduces the basic principles of welding.
Taught by their very own skilled welding instructors, it teaches students how to cut and join a wide variety of metals, including steel, cast iron, and specialized products.
It aims to prepare them for projects in power plants, computer chip factories, pharmaceutical factories, and pipelines.
Upon completion, students earn certifications that can help them jumpstart their careers in the welding industry.
Address: 6820 Meany Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93308
4 Elite Metal Works
About the School
Elite Metal Works is a training school that wants to help students who want to establish a career in the welding industry.
Led by its owner, Victor Martinez, who has more than 20 years of industry experience, it provides high-quality training that focuses on hands-on welding.
Its primary goal is to transform its students into expert welders with excellent welding skills that meet or even exceed industry expectations.
Courses Offered
The Welding Program gives students plenty of opportunities to work with various welding metals and processes.
It is designed to fully equip them with GMAW, SMAW, and GTAW knowledge and skills essential for an entry-level welder job.
For a total of 72 clock hours, it teaches students the following topics:
- Welder Safety (AWS Module)
- The Welding Process (AWS Module)
- Process Setup
- Process Settings
- Weld Symbols
- Filler metal and Shielding gases
- Weld Joint Selection
- Weld Inspection
- Equipment Parts Breakdown
Students receive certificates upon completion.
Address: 10502 Barrichello Street, Bakersfield, California 93314
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
|
#1 | Advanced Career Institute |
|
#2 | UEI College - Bakersfield |
|
#3 | A&J Training – Bakersfield Training Center |
|
#4 | Elite Metal Works |
Read the full guide: How to Become a Certified Welder
Welding Schools by City
Welding Schools by State