3 Best Welding Schools in Tucson, AZ

About the School

Pima County JTED provides top-notch Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs to their community.

Through their award-winning courses and programs, they help boost their students’ chances at success.

Each year, they serve 22,000 sophomore, junior, and senior high school students.

They believe that those who successfully complete a CTE program have a greater chance of achieving success.

For this reason, they are ready to fully support them so that they can earn high school and college credits, state licenses, and industry certifications.

Courses Offered

The Welding Technologies program is open to Grade 11 and Grade 12 students.

It teaches the skills and processes essential in shielded metal arc welding.

It involves hands-on work that is valuable in construction and other field welding applications.

In Year 1, the course covers Basic Arc and Oxyacetalylene, Arc Welding, and Applied Technical Math.

Year 2 covers Gas Metal Arc Welding, Blueprint Reading & Estimates, Gas Tungsten Welding, and Student College Success.

Upon completion, students earn the following certifications:

• American Welding Society (AWS) D1.1 Structural Steel Certification in SMAW 2F
• American Welding Society (AWS) D1.1 Structural Steel Certification in SMAW 3G, 4G

They can get opportunities to work as welders, cutters, brazers, or solderers.

About the School

Desert Metal Craft provides a safe and collaborative learning environment where students can learn about blacksmithing and metalworking.

Whether you are a beginner or an expert, their team of expert blacksmiths, artists, metallurgists, and metal workers are there to work with you and help you develop key trade skills.

They offer classes tailored for all ages: Junior (ages 7 to 12), Youth (ages 13 to 15), and Adult (ages 16 and above).

They want to stay true to their tagline, “Where Ancient Art Meets Modern Science,” so their mission is to provide opportunities for their community to learn the science and better understand metalcraft.

Courses Offered

There are different welding programs available at Desert Metal Craft.

The Welding for Beginners class teaches the basic processes, steps, and techniques used in Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW).

It costs $495, and covers the following:

• Welding terminology
• Proper welding procedures
• Welding positions
• Welding equipment operation
• Safety and environmental practices
• Five weld joints
• Mild steel welding
• Joint preparation
• Shielding gases

The TIG 100 class introduces students to the TIG welding process.

It costs $575, and covers the following:

• Working with stainless steel, aluminum, and specialty steel
• Multiple types of machine setups
• Fusion welding technique
• Adding filler rod to welds
• Safety

The Intermediate Welding class teaches the basic processes and techniques involved in Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW).

It costs $495, and covers the following:

• Welding terminology
• GMAW equipment
• Proper welding procedures and positions
• Welding equipment operation
• Shielding gases
• Weld joints
• Joint preparation
• Mild steel welding
• Safety and environmental practices

The Welding for Women program is a two-day course offered to women only.

For four hours per day, it teaches students how to design their own fabricated metal sculpture.

It costs $495, and covers the following:

• MIG welding
• Design
• Shaping
• Cutting
• Fabrication

About the School

Pima Community College is committed to providing the students of Pima County with high-quality programs that teach and train skills that are in-demand in various industries today.

As an educational institution, they offer a broad range of two-year programs that allow students to transition into four-year programs successfully.

Although their tuition costs are lower, they strive to maintain the quality of their instruction at the highest levels.

They want their students to be fully ready to face the challenges of the real world and get plenty of opportunities for career growth.

Across the state, they have multiple campuses.

Their Downtown Campus, which is found in the heart of the city, supports many general education, business, and industry courses, including welding.

Courses Offered

The Welding Technology program is open to anyone interested in welding.

Whether you are thinking of starting a career as a welder or you already have years of experience in welding, it teaches important welding knowledge and skills for career growth and development.

All classes consist of lectures and hands-on training.

Students learn not only the basics but also advanced welding processes and techniques.

From cutting and oxygen fuel welding to welding machine operating and automated robotic welding, it prepares them for successful employment in the welding industry.

Associate of Applied Science in Welding & Fabrication:

• The program has a total of 61 credits.
• It takes 4 semesters to complete.
• It aims to teach students how to successfully perform welding operations through the use of appropriate welding processes and equipment, identify and read blueprints, weld and cut various metals to industry standards, and develop skills that meet or exceed industry certifications.

Basic Welding Certificate:

• The program has a total of 16 credits.
• It takes a semester to complete.
• It aims to teach students how to properly perform shielded metal arc welding in construction and other applications, interpret verbal orders and blueprints, and observe safe work habits.

Fabrication Welding Certificate:

• The program has a total of 28 credits.
• It takes 2 semesters to complete.
• It aims to teach students how to successfully perform shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), flux core arc welding (FCAW), and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW).
• Upon completion, it expects students to be able to do welds and cuts that meet industry standards, demonstrate knowledge and skills that meet or exceed industry certifications, and observe safe work habits.