If you have been considering enrolling in welding training, finding the best welding school for you in your area can be quite the process. Searching for something like “welding school phoenix” or “welding school near me” can bring up dozens of results, but how do you sort out which one is the best welding school for you?
No one can tell you for sure one way or another — it depends on you, your goals, and your priorities — but there are some ways to whittle down your options.
What to Look for in a Welding Trade School
Once you have a list of potential welding schools to consider, you need to be able to compare the pros and cons to figure out which one is the best fit for you. There are multiple categories to look at:
Location and Facility
Because welding is such a hands-on career field, an ideal campus location would be local and easily accessible for you, either by car or public transportation, and close to major highways.
The campus itself should encompass both classrooms and practical training facilities that include modern tools that reflect what you’ll be working with in the real world. Quality safety equipment should also be available, and the lab space should be clean and well-ventilated.
Curriculum
This is probably the biggest factor to consider. A good welding school will have a program that prioritizes practical experience. Classroom work is essential, of course, but successful welders are made in the booth with hands-on practice using real-world tools.
The welding program should also cover a variety of welding techniques, including the core processes of MIG welding, TIG welding, stick welding, and flux-cored welding. Additionally, the curriculum should include instruction in oxyfuel cutting, shielded metal arc welding, and base metal preparations.
Certification
Not every welding position requires certification, but employers can sometimes prioritize job candidates who have it. The primary source of certifications is through the American Welding Society, and a good welding program will ready you to sit for exams like the Certified Welder Program (CWP).
Even more important: you shouldn’t select any welding school that doesn’t include OSHA 10 instruction and certification as part of the course.
Also, ideally, the best welding school will give you more opportunities to grow your welding skills over the course of your career. Things like weekend workshops sponsored by the school show a commitment to continuing student success.
Instructors
A school’s faculty is instrumental in the delivery and success of their program. Check to ensure that the instructors guiding you have a strong foundation of industry experience. At VTI, for example:
- Leon Zamora: Been in the welding industry for over 40 years and teaching welding for over 20 years
- Domingo Salinas: Been a certified AWS welder for over 20 years and has been teaching for two years
- Jaydee Cole: Been in the welding industry for 37 years and worked at the Palo Verde Nuclear power plant, commercial ships, tugboats, and ocean structural welding
- Fernando Lopez: Army veteran; been in the welding industry for 12 years
- Jody Bragdon: Served 11 years in the Army with 23 years of experience across the welding field
Support Services
Check on the school’s support teams and how they help both students and graduates. Financial aid is a big component of this, but the bigger factor might arguably career services and job placement. The best welding school will have connections to local employers and organizations, host career fairs, help you with your resume and interview skills, and work to match you with potential opportunities even after you graduate.
Depending on your priorities, the best welding school might also have flexible schedules that include both day and evening classes so that you can fit school around your current responsibilities.
What Are the Red Flags When Comparing Welding Schools?
As you’re going through this process, it helps to know what to watch out for:
- A high-pressure enrollment pitch, with admissions representatives encouraging you to sign up without giving you time to think
- Over-the-top promises in regard to things like guaranteed positions and starting pay, e.g., “You’ll make $75,000 or more straight out of the gate”
- Vague answers or sidestepping when you ask questions about things like the school’s job placement rate or tuition costs
- Not prioritizing actual, hands-on experience, either by having outdated equipment, crowded welding lab spaces, and/or very little time in the booth practicing your skills
- No emphasis on safety procedures and equipment and no inclusion of OSHA 10 as part of the curriculum
Questions to Ask When Looking for the Best Welding School
You can’t make a final decision on a welding school without visiting the campus yourself, preferably during the day when classes are happening. It’s not just to look at the facility; it’s also about the chance to talk with the staff, the instructors, even the students, and get answers to your questions.
Things to make sure you ask:
- What are your class sizes in the classroom? What about in the welding lab?
- What processes and techniques are covered in your programs?
- What equipment and supplies are included in the course?
- What’s the total cost of the program, including any fees?
- What percentage of your time will be spent actually welding versus in the classroom?
- What is your job placement rate? And what kinds of career support do you offer?
- Do you have contact information for recent graduates who are open to talking honestly about their experience?
- What kind of instructional style can I expect? What experience do your instructors have?
Ready to Get Started?
Vocational Training Institute is a welding school in Phoenix, AZ. Our program is focused, hands-on, and specifically designed to ready you for a new career in the welding industry. VTI was founded in 2010 by a U.S. Army veteran who recognized the need for fast-paced, practical education in the trades, informed by input from industry experts. Our faculty have real-world experience that they bring into the classrooms and workshops so you can benefit from their professional knowledge. If you’re ready to get started, contact VTI in Phoenix today.
