Which SF Bay Area Schools Offer Welding Training?

The San Francisco, CA, area offers both certificates and associate's degrees in welding. Read on to find out the associated costs and information about the schools offering these programs.

What You Should Know

Welding training in the San Francisco Bay area is most often found at 2-year schools and community colleges. You could earn a certificate in welding technology or welding equipment operation within 2-4 semesters. In 4-5 semesters, you might also complete an associate's degree program in welding or industrial technology. Associate's degree programs include general education requirements. Explore the following summaries to find a location and program that might fulfill your needs.

Welder Certificate Programs in the San Francisco Bay Area

Los Medanos College

Located in a midsize suburban area, this school's program offers training in a variety of welding and cutting processes, with an emphasis on proper set-ups and safety practices. The curriculum includes welding classes that range from basic to advanced. You could possibly meet the English, math and communications requirements through placement tests.

• Program: Certificate of Achievement in Welding Technology
• Program Length: 4 semesters (37 units)
• Tuition and Fees: $1,312 per academic year for in-state residents, $8,564 for out-of-state residents (for 2018-2019)
• Prerequisites: Recommended high school classes include physics, pre-algebra, mechanical drawing and English (writing and reading)
• Admission Requirements: Application and orientation
• School Type: 2-year, public; about 9,747 undergraduate students

Napa Valley College

This school is located in the small city of Napa and offers a program to prepare you for AWS qualification tests. In addition to your cutting and welding courses, you'll also complete machine shop practice, technical math, non-math descriptive physics and digital design.

• Program: Certificate of Achievement in Welding Technology
• Program Length: 72 weeks (about 3 semesters, full-time)
• Tuition and Fees: $1,142 per academic year for in-state residents, $6,758 for out-of-state residents (for 2018-2019)
• Admission Requirements: Application
• School Type: 2-year, public; about 5,503 undergraduate students

Santa Rosa Junior College

Located in a midsize city, this college's welding program includes industrial mathematics in addition to welding and machine tool technology courses. Upon completion, you should be able to identify welding symbols, interpret blue prints and be prepared to take the AWS Unlimited Structural Certification Test. You might then find employment as a welder, cutter, apprentice, production helper or assembler.

• Program: Welding Technology Certificate of Achievement
• Program Length: 9 months (about 2 semesters), full-time
• Tuition and Fees: $1,328 per academic year for in-state residents, $8,174 for out-of-state residents (for 2018-2019)
• Prerequisites: Beginning welding (or equivalent) or trade experience in arc or gas welding; high school classes in blueprint reading, mechanical drawing, technical math and general metals
• Admission Requirements: Application, placements tests (or testing scores from high school or another college), orientation and counseling
• School Type: 2-year, public; about 20,000 undergraduate students

Solano Community College

This school offers three types of certificates. The industrial technician program is meant to upgrade welders' skills and give advanced training in various types of welding. The welding technician program includes six types of welding and would prepare you for a job as a welder or welder helper. The welding equipment operator program includes an occupational work experience in which you'd earn credit while learning on-the-job with experienced welders.

• Program: Welding Industrial Technician Certificate of Achievement, Welding Technician Certificate of Achievement or Welding Equipment Operator Job-Direct Certificate
• Program Length: Industrial technician program is 23 units (approximately 2 semesters), welding technician program is 48 units (about 4 semesters) and equipment operator program is 9 units (1 semester plus 80 hours of supervised cooperative work experience)
• Tuition and Fees: $1,140 per academic year for in-state residents, $6,324 for out-of-state residents (for 2018-2019)
• Prerequisites: Prior or current employment as a welder needed for industrial technician program
• Admission Requirements: Application
• School Type: 2-year, public; about 9,378 undergraduate students

Welder Associate Degree Programs in the San Francisco Bay Area

Napa Valley College

This 2-year program includes all phases of welding, and the classes must be taken sequentially. In addition to courses directly related to welding technology, you'll complete three physical education classes, English composition and a social science elective.

• Program: Welding Technology Associate of Science
• Program Length: 4 semesters, full-time
• Tuition and Fees: $1,142 per academic year for in-state residents, $6,758 for out-of-state residents (for 2018-2019)
• Admission Requirements: Application and consultation with the coordinator of the program
• School Type: 2-year, public; about 5,503 undergraduate students

Solano Community College

This school's industrial technician program is meant to upgrade your welding skills and give you advanced training in various types of welding. In addition to the courses in the welding major, you'd also have general education requirements and some elective choices. The welding technician program covers six types of welding and would prepare you for a job as a welder or welder helper. You'd also have general education requirements in this program.

• Program: Industrial Technician Associate in Science or Welding Technician Associate in Science
• Program Length: Industrial technician program is 60 units, and welding technician program is 69 units (about 4-5 semesters, full-time)
• Tuition and Fees: $1,140 per academic year for in-state residents, $6,324 for out-of-state residents (for 2018-2019)
• Prerequisites: Prior or current employment as a welder for industrial technician program
• Admission Requirements: Application
• School Type: 2-year, public; about 9,378 undergraduate students

The San Francisco, CA, area offers welding programs at Solano Community College, Napa Valley College, Los Medanos College and Santa Rosa Junior College.