4 Best Welding Schools in El Paso, TX

About the School

Sun City Welding Academy is the leading welding school in El Paso.

They specialize in industrial pipe welding for the Oil and Gas industry.

They also focus on commercial and residential industries.

Committed to their core values — Safety, Quality, and Efficiency — they want to teach key knowledge and skills necessary to jumpstart an exciting and lucrative career in welding.

They have dedicated and experienced welding professionals as instructors, and use only tested and proven teaching strategies to ensure success.

Courses Offered

The Welding Curriculum is made not only for experienced welders but also for those with zero experience in the field.

With all classes conducted in person, it provides hands-on training and experience to prepare students for their welding careers.

It covers the following courses:

Introduction to Welding:

• Includes oxygen/acetylene cutting, basic trade skills, and fundamentals of welding
• Takes 80 hours or 4 weeks to complete
• Costs $2,500

Plate SMAW:

• Teaches the methods to burn a welding rob in a straight line on a vertical, horizontal, flat, and overhead position
• Takes 160 hours or 8 weeks to complete
• Costs $3,500

Pipe SMAW:

• Teaches the techniques to weld an open butt groove pipe using a stick rod in multiple positions
• Takes 160 hours or 8 weeks to complete
• Costs $4,000

Plate-Pipe SMAW:

• Teaches the techniques to weld an open butt groove plate and pipe via the stick process in multiple positions
• Takes 240 hours or 12 weeks to complete
• Costs $6,500

Pipe GTAW:

• Trains how to weld an open butt groove pipe using TIG in multiple positions
• Takes 160 hours or 8 weeks to complete
• Costs $4,500

Pipe Combination Welder:

• Trains how to weld an open butt groove pipe in a vertical, horizontal, or overhead set position using both SMAW and GTAW
• Takes 320 hours or 16 weeks to complete
• Costs $7,000

Pipe Combo Welder 480:

• Teaches the techniques to weld and open butt groove on Plate and Pipe on SMAW and GTAW
• Also trains how to weld on a thick schedule pipe for a full penetration weld using SMAW and GTAW
• Takes 480 hours or 24 weeks to complete
• Costs $15,000

About the School

Western Technical College is a locally-owned college founded in 1970.

Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, their mission is to provide quality training and education in a caring and professional environment.

They are committed to being there for their students and their communities every step of the way so they can achieve success in their chosen careers.

From day one, they welcome everyone with warmth and accept them whether they are locals, from other parts of the country, or even from across the border.

They are also approved and regulated by the Texas Workforce Commission and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Courses Offered

The Welding Program consists of 20% classroom training and 80% hands-on training.

Classes are taught by experienced and certified welding instructors who fully understand welding instruction, welding training, safety procedures, and other requirements.

They provide opportunities to train on new and modern equipment in their inside and outside shop areas.

With classes scheduled during the day, afternoon, and evening, the program can be completed in 13 months.

Upon completion, students can test for the following welding certifications offered by the American Welding Society:

• Structural Certifications – 2G, 3G, 4G (POSITIONS) SMAW (STICK), 1/4” PLATE, OPEN V GROOVE
• Pipe Certifications – 6G (45* Position) 4” sch. 40 pipe – SMAW, 6G (45* Position) 4” sch. 40 pipe – SMAW / GTAW Combo

Career opportunities include pipe welder, machine operator, pipe fitter, fabrication welder, sheet metal worker, structural welder, arc welder, combination welder, MIG and TIG welder, and machinist ironworker.

About the School

El Paso Community College provides educational opportunities and support services to students who want to achieve success and be valuable members of the economy and society.

Established in 1969, they want to improve their community through education.

They began with 901 students and have now served more than a million students.

With the vision of becoming a progressive educational leader to transform the future, they are committed to offering affordable and high-quality education to open many career opportunities.

They have multiple locations in El Paso — the Valle Verde campus, the Mission Del Paso campus, the Northwest campus, the Rio Grande campus, the Transmountain campus, and the Administrative Services Center.

Courses Offered

The Welding Program teaches welding techniques and processes used in the welding industry.

It introduces the different types of metals, tools, and equipment used to perform welding processes.

The curriculum covers the following topics:

• Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), and Oxy-Fuel Welding (OFW)
• Welding Procedures
• Welding Math
• Welding Codes and Inspection
• Pipe Welding
• Metal Preparation
• Blueprint Reading
• Shop/Job Site Safety and OSHA 10

It requires 38 total credit hours and takes 3 semesters to complete.

Upon successful completion, students can prepare to enter the workforce as Commercial/Industrial AWS Certified Welders and earn $30,000 to $65,000 annually.

About the School

Center for Employment Training is a private postsecondary institution that promotes human education and development by providing support services and training to gain marketable skills.

Open to people of all backgrounds and educational levels, they have been teaching a wide range of trade skills since 1967.

From day one, they provide their students with hands-on training to prepare them for the real world.

They are accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and licensed by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.

They are also approved and regulated by the Texas Workforce Commission Career Schools and Colleges.

They have multiple locations in California, one in Alexandria, Virginia, and one in El Paso, Texas.

Courses Offered

The Welding Fabrication Program is a hands-on welding job training program that teaches the knowledge and skills necessary to be a welder.

It covers the following topics:

• GMAW and FCAW
• GTAW
• Oxy-Fuel Process
• Blueprint Reading and Interpretation
• Basic Computers
• Shop and Welding Safety

It also provides training for job preparation (resume, job interviews, etc.) and customer service.

It requires 900 hours and can be completed in 8 to 9 months.

The full program costs $15,500.