5 Best Welding Schools in San Antonio (Duration, FAQs) | 2023

Welding is a good career path if you love to acquire technical skills and can work very hard.

There is currently a high demand for welders worldwide, and recent statistics suggest that the demand will only continue to rise.

A welding degree is compulsory for anyone wanting to work as a welder in the industry.

This post will go through 5 of the best welding schools in San Antonio after providing valuable information regarding the welding profession in San Antonio.

Is Welding a Good Career Path in San Antonio?

Becoming a welder in San Antonio is an excellent step to take. Welders in San Antonio are exposed to several jobs that facilitate their professional development.

Also, welders in San Antonio enjoy several travel opportunities, which are still subject to the nature of their job. Many jobs are available for welders in this city, from construction to the aerospace industry.

Additionally, the median yearly income of welders in San Antonio is about $34,000. However, the salary of welders in this city differs according to welding specialty, experience, and place of work.

Welding is a fascinating profession in which no two days on the job are the same. All of this combines to make welding an attractive profession in San Antonio.

How to Become a Certified Welder in San Antonio

To work as a welder in San Antonio, you must obtain a certificate from the American Welding Society (AWS).

The conditions for this certification are a completed application, a pass mark in the minimum physical strength limit assessment, and a good performance on the practical welding test.

If you don’t pass the AWS welder certification test, the supervisor can decide if you need to re-sit the test straightaway or devote more time to train before retaking the test.

Immediately you scale through the exam, you can hope to receive your certification card in one to two months.

How Long Does it Take to Study Welding in San Antonio?

You need about six months to 2 years to complete a welding school in San Antonio.

While a certificate in a single specialty area will last for about three months and a year, an associate degree in welding technology lasts about two years to complete.

What is the Cost of Welding Schools in San Antonio?

No two welding schools in San Antonio have the exact cost of education. It is understood that some schools charge up to $20,000 for their welding programs.

This should not discourage you from obtaining a welding degree because the high fees of some welding schools are because they offer more than just basic welding training.

So, check for the side benefits a welding school offers before choosing.

What are the Best Welding Schools in San Antonio?

Here are the five best welding schools in San Antonio:

1. St. Philip’s College

St. Philip’s College is one of the best welding schools in San Antonio.

This school offers a welding program that trains students to take up jobs related to steel construction steels, ship-building, ranch-related welding, oil field operations, and lots more.

The comprehensive nature of this program exposes students to welding techniques such as GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, SMAQ, and Oxy-Fuel.

The American Welding Society recognizes the welding program that St. Philip’s College offers.

Furthermore, the curriculum of this program enables students to develop the technical skills needed to perform welds in critical areas like manufacturing operations and aircraft welding.

The learning facilities at St. Philip’s College, where students practice their skills, are very advanced, and the devices there are very sophisticated.

Some of the programs that are offered at this school include; Welder/Welding Technology, Entry-Level Welder Level 1 Certificate, Structural/Pipe Layout Level 1 Certificate, and the Inert GTAW/GMAW Welder (MSGW) Level 1 Certificate.

St. Philip’s College is undoubtedly an A-list school for welding education.

2. Career & Technical Education Center

Career & Technical Education Center offers a two-year welding technology program that empowers students with the foundational knowledge of welding and fabrication.

The AWS courses they take in this school expose them to maths and problem-solving skills useful in welding.

Graduates of the Career & Technical Education Center welding program are well-respected worldwide because they possess abilities that set them apart and make them less than graduates of most welding schools worldwide.

The curriculum of this welding program is Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Integrated which is the hallmark of any top-notch welding program.

In addition, students enrolling in the welding program at Career & Technical Education Center also take career and financial management courses that are valuable for running a successful welding business.

3. South Texas Vocational Technical Institute

South Texas Vocational Technical Institute is one of the best welding schools in San Antonio.

The integrated welding program this school offers suits aspiring welders vying for a career in the construction and maintenance industry.

Students in this program develop skills to function in a team structure and work independently when needed.

Some of the areas of training in this program include Gas metal arc welding (GMAW), Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), Flux core arc welding (FCAW), and lots more.

In addition to classroom education, South Texas Vocational Technical Institute students engage in practical coursework that boosts their skills.

Other areas of specialties that students in this program include; CNC cutting, stainless steel grooves, flat and horizontal welds, GMAW pipe welding techniques, GMAW stringer bead preparation, v-groove pile and pipe welds, position padding, and lots more.

4. Mt. San Antonio College

Mt. San Antonio College is another welding school in San Antonio that is highly recommended for welding training.

The comprehensive nature of the academic curriculum at this school empowers students with the skills they need to secure jobs in a wide range of industries connected to welding and fabrication.

Graduates of the welding program offered by Mt. San Antonio College are widely respected worldwide and don’t even struggle to get a job.

It is understood that a large number of the welding program alums of this prestigious institution are presently working in the automotive aftermath, lighting, aerospace, and construction industries.

Furthermore, several welding classes at Mt. San Antonio College feature 60 minutes of lectures on the safety techniques of welding processes and devices.

The remaining minutes of the class, about 3 to 6 hours, are then used for practical learning.

Mt. San Antonio College provides an Associate degree in the welding program and four certificates in welding programs. It runs one of the best testing facilities for building and Safety in the world.

Mt. San Antonio College is, without a doubt, an A-list school for welding education.

5. Southern Careers Institute

Southern Careers Institute is another top-class institution for welding education in San Antonio.

This school offers a rich welding program that empowers students with the skills and knowledge they need to secure high-ranking welding jobs.

Seasoned industry instructors coordinate the welding program at Southern Careers Institute.

Students take classes that expose them to the practical knowledge of Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW/TIG).

Furthermore, Southern Careers Institute offers a welding program that aligns with industry credentials and empowers students with technical skills that make them suitable for any job they vie for.

Students are well prepared to take the following certification exams; National Center for Construction Education and Research Welding Level 1 Certificate, National Center for Construction Education and Research Welding Level 2 Certificate, and the National Center for Construction Education and Research Welding Core Certificate.

Anyone that completes the welding program at Southern Careers Institute is ready to take on any of the following jobs; Boilermaker, Manufacturing Assembler, Material Handler, Robot Operator, Sheet Metal Worker, Machine Operator, Combo Welder, and others.

Southern Careers Institute is a school to consider for acquiring quality welding education in San Antonio.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Welding Schools in San Antonio

How many years are needed to complete a welding program in San Antonio?

A welding program in San Antonio takes only two years to complete.

Who do I need to become a welder in Texas?

To become a welder in Texas, you must hold a certificate from a welding school.

Can welding be classified as a job or profession?

Welding is a profession. This profession focuses on merging materials such as metals under very high temperatures.

What skills must a welder have to succeed?

To succeed as a welder, you must possess the following skills; physical stamina, physical strength, manual dexterity, and attention to detail.

Conclusion

Becoming a top-notch welder in San Antonio is not hard if you enroll in a welding program at an A-list college.

This post is believed to be very valuable in helping you choose a welding school to attend.

It is essential to understand that even after you complete a welding program in San Antonio, you still need to acquire an American Society Certification to work as a welder in this city.

However, you will easily pass the AWS exam if you get to study at any of the schools that feature on the list above, as their curriculum aligns with the curriculum of this examination.

Awesome one; I hope this article answers your question.

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Abasiofon Fidelis
Abasiofon Fidelis

Abasiofon Fidelis is a professional writer who loves to write about college life and college applications. He has been writing articles for over 3 years. He is the Content Manager at School and Travel.

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