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Those who want to earn a good salary and have many opportunities for career growth and development should strongly consider getting into welding.
If you are in San Antonio, TX, welders in your city earn an average base salary of $22.06 per hour.
But, with more experience and credentials, they can take home much more.
Those who have been in the industry for 10 years or longer can get paid as much as $40.16.
They can enjoy plenty of benefits, including 401(k), health and life insurance, paid time off, and advancement opportunities.
If you think the welding profession is your calling, you should start looking at welding schools now.
Below is a list of welding schools in San Antonio, TX for you to choose from.
1 South Texas Vocational Technical Institute
About the School
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute aims to help students achieve success by providing support, resources, and hands-on experience at an affordable cost.
They know that education is not just about textbooks so they have designed programs that are tailored to the abilities and capacities of their students.
With their dedicated staff, they are committed to teaching vital skills essential to entering the job market.
From mock job interviews to CV and resume help, they are there to ensure that their graduates can make their professional aspirations come true.
They are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, approved and regulated by the Texas Workforce Commission – Career Schools and Colleges, and have multiple locations across the state.
Courses Offered
The Welding Training Program is a combination program that prepares students in pursuit of a career in the field of construction and maintenance.
It is focused on hands-on learning and workplace safety.
The classes consist of lectures and demonstrations.
They also offer opportunities for students to take part in hands-on training to improve and solidify their skills.
Topics covered include:
- Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW)
- GMAW pipe welding techniques
- Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)
- Gas metal arc welding (GMAW)
- Flux core arc welding (FCAW)
Students will also learn about plasma arc cutting, CNC cutting, flat and horizontal welds, V-groove pile and pipe welds, open-groove welds in multiple positions, and stringer bead and weave bead construction.
Students will also learn about how to inter-pass temperature control, position padding, and safe equipment use.
The program takes 10 months to complete.
Address: 734 SE Military Dr., San Antonio, TX 78214
2 Southern Careers Institute – San Antonio North
About the School
Southern Careers Institute is an educational and training institution that offers high-quality education to help its students become marketable in their chosen fields.
Founded in 1960, they are accredited, approved, and licensed by various organizations and bodies, including:
- Council on Occupational Education
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulating
- Texas Workforce Commission, Career Schools, and Colleges
- Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
- Texas Health and Human Services
With multiple locations in Texas, such as Austin, Corpus Christi, Waco, Brownsville, and San Antonio, their top priority is to deliver instruction and training that gives their students the knowledge and skills that employers look for.
Courses Offered
The Welding Program provides hands-on welding training so that all students gain expertise in industrial, commercial, and small-business welding.
It covers Shielded Metal Arc Welding (stick welding), Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW/TIG), and Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW/MIG).
It also teaches metallurgy, machine setup, and welding safety.
With the help of industry-employed expert instructors, it aims to set students up with the important knowledge, hard skills, and soft skills for the workforce.
It takes 7 months to complete, and prepares students to test for the following certification examinations:
- National Center for Construction Education and Research Welding Level 1 and Level 2 Certificates
- National Center for Construction Education and Research Core Certificate
- OSHA-10
It also opens opportunities to work as welders, combo welders, pipe fitters, machine operators, assemblers, fabricators, sheet metal workers, and solderers.
Address: 6963 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78238
3 Propel Career Academy
About the School
Propel Career Academy is a trade school that provides hands-on training for those who want to start or advance their career in the fields of welding, electrical, and technology.
An approved career school and college by the Texas Workforce Commission, they offer classes Monday through Thursday.
From the Board of Trustees and Administration to the Faculty and Staff, they only have skilled, certified, and seasoned professionals on board.
They have more than 150 years of combined experience, and they are safety-focused, results-driven, and committed to quality.
Courses Offered
The Welding Fast Track Program features the core education requirements necessary to acquire a Welding Certification.
It provides hands-on working experience, allowing students to work in the trade while learning the trade.
It takes 10 months to complete, and covers:
- Welding Theory and Applications
- Welding Trade Training
- Safety training
- OSHA 10 training
All tools and materials are provided for actual projects.
Address: 4832 Whirlwind Drive #101, San Antonio, Texas 78217
4 St. Philip’s College Southwest Campus
About the School
St. Philip’s College is one of the country’s oldest community colleges.
Founded in 1898, they are regarded as the most diverse and the only college institution to be federally designated as both historically black and Hispanic-serving.
They are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to offer associate degrees, certificates, and diplomas.
As a comprehensive public community college, they strive to empower their diverse student body through quality instruction, student engagement, and community engagement.
Their core values are Students First, Respect for All, Community Engagement, Collaboration, Can-Do Spirit, and Data-Informed.
They have two campus locations in San Antonio, one on Martin Luther King Drive and another one on Quintana Road.
Courses Offered
The Welding Program aims to build their students’ knowledge base and skills in welding.
It is designed to prepare students to enter the workforce and get opportunities to start and advance their careers in shipbuilding, steel construction sites, oil field operations, maintenance shops, manufacturing facilities, and other welding-related industries.
There are 4 courses available: Welder/Welding Technologist, A.A.S., Inert Gas GTAW/GMAW Welder (MSGW) Level 1 Certificate, Structural/Pipe Layout Level 1 Certificate, and Entry-Level Welder, Level 1 Certificate.
Welder/Welding Technologist, A.A.S.
- This is a degree program.
- It requires 60 credit hours and takes 5 semesters to complete.
- Upon completion, graduates may work as welders, welder helpers, field foremen, fitters/welders, certified welders, shop foremen, or contractors.
Inert Gas GTAW/GMAW Welder (MSGW) Level 1 Certificate
- This is a certificate program.
- It requires 27 credit hours and takes 2 semesters to complete.
- Upon completion, graduates may work as welders, certified welders, welder helpers, fitters/welders, or shop foremen.
Structural/Pipe Layout Level 1 Certificate
- This is a certificate program.
- It requires 26 credit hours and takes 2 semesters to complete.
- Upon completion, graduates may work as certified welders, welders, fitters/welders, welder helpers, shop foremen, or contractors.
Entry-Level Welder, Level 1 Certificate
- This is a certificate program.
- It requires 18 credit hours and takes 2 semesters to complete.
- Upon completion, graduates may work as welder helpers.
Address: 800 Quintana Road, San Antonio, Texas 78211
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
|
#1 | South Texas Vocational Technical Institute |
|
#2 | Southern Careers Institute – San Antonio North |
|
#3 | Propel Career Academy |
|
#4 | St. Philip’s College Southwest Campus |
Read the full guide: How to Become a Certified Welder
Welding Schools by City
Welding Schools by State