How to Become a Welder in Virginia
- Train at one of the 20 welding schools in Virginia that award welding credentials; a certificate takes months, an associate degree about two years.
- Practice the core processes: GTAW, GMAW, SMAW, blueprint reading, plus blueprint reading and cutting.
- Pass a weld test: an employer's procedure test or the AWS Certified Welder test at an accredited facility.
- Start work: Virginia welders earn a median $59,180 a year, with the top 10% above $79,630 (BLS, May 2025).
Where to Train as a Welder in Virginia, Starting With Advanced Technology Institute
| # | College | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Advanced Technology InstituteVirginia Beach | $14,568 | 41 certificates, 30 associate | 79% |
| 2 | New River Community CollegeDublin | $4,979 | 67 certificates | 50% |
| 3 | Tidewater Tech-TradesNorfolk | $16,337 | 257 certificates | 71% |
| 4 | Central Virginia Community CollegeLynchburg | $5,157 | 101 certificates | 45% |
| 5 | Southside Virginia Community CollegeKeysville | $5,007 | 73 certificates | 42% |
| 6 | Patrick & Henry Community CollegeMartinsville | $5,002 | 61 certificates | 42% |
| 7 | Mountain Empire Community CollegeBig Stone Gap | $5,007 | 55 certificates | 48% |
| 8 | Danville Community CollegeDanville | $4,992 | 46 certificates | 39% |
| 9 | Tidewater Community CollegePortsmouth | $5,588 | 83 certificates | 32% |
| 10 | Southwest Virginia Community CollegeCedar Bluff | $5,075 | 45 certificates | 46% |
| 11 | Brightpoint Community CollegeChester | $5,082 | 58 certificates | 38% |
| 12 | Virginia Highlands Community CollegeAbingdon | $5,022 | 35 certificates | 40% |
| 13 | Northern Virginia Community CollegeManassas | $5,891 | 10 certificates | 33% |
Tuition is the 2024–25 full-time resident rate and graduation rate is college-wide (NCES College Navigator). Welding awards are credentials conferred in welding (IPEDS). Blank cells mean no federal figure for that college.
Virginia Programs That Train Welders
Tidewater Tech-Trades, Norfolk, Virginia
Offers 2 other awards in welding
- Tuition / year
- $16,337 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 257 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Central Virginia Community College, Lynchburg, Virginia
Offers an associate degree, 2 certificates and one other award in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,157 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 101 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
Southside Virginia Community College, Keysville, Virginia
Offers 2 certificates and one other award in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,007 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 73 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Fabrication
Danville Community College, Danville, Virginia
Offers a diploma, 2 certificates and one other award in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,992 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 46 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication
New River Community College, Dublin, Virginia
Offers 4 certificates and one other award in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,979 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 67 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Advanced Technology Institute, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Offers an associate degree and a diploma in welding
- Tuition / year
- $14,568 all students, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 71 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
Tuition and welding awards: NCES College Navigator, 2024–25. Programs and processes: each school's own welding page, reviewed September 2026.
How to Become a Welder in Virginia, Step by Step
Pick a Certificate or an Associate Degree
A certificate concentrates on shop time and gets you to entry-level work fastest. An associate degree adds advanced processes, metallurgy, inspection and general education, which helps if you're aiming for pipe work, inspection or supervision later. Virginia colleges conferred 852 welding certificates and 11 associate degrees in 2022–23.
Learn the Processes Employers Test
Virginia programs on this page most often list GTAW, GMAW, SMAW, blueprint reading, FCAW, PIPE. Structural work leans on stick and flux-core; pipe and precision work add TIG.
Pass a Weld Test
The AWS Certified Welder program tests you on a specific procedure and code at an AWS Accredited Test Facility, with no education or experience prerequisites. Many employers run their own procedure test instead, so ask which one the jobs you want require.
Build Experience and Pay
Pay grows with the processes and positions you can pass tests in. After years on the job, some welders move into inspection through the AWS Certified Welding Inspector program, which requires work experience plus three exams.
Compare welding careers · Welding certification guide · Compare welding schools in Virginia
Welder Salary in Virginia: The Staunton Area Pays the Most
For pay by metro area and by welding job, see Welder Salary in Virginia.
| Metro area | Median pay | Top 10% earn more than | Welding jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staunton–Stuarts Draft | $64,470 | $85,360 | 390 |
| Virginia Beach–Chesapeake–Norfolk | $62,670 | $78,180 | 3,740 |
| Washington–Arlington–Alexandria | $60,670 | $114,440 | 2,000 |
| Richmond | $57,710 | $83,920 | 1,260 |
| Blacksburg–Christiansburg–Radford | $57,650 | $62,820 | 250 |
| Charlottesville | $57,420 | $78,720 | 90 |
| Roanoke | $56,040 | $63,800 | 940 |
| Kingsport–Bristol | $55,690 | $69,130 | 450 |
| Winchester | $54,690 | $64,290 | 120 |
| Lynchburg | $51,970 | $77,780 | 610 |
Welder salary: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Virginia (10,100 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
How to Become a Welder in Virginia: FAQ
How Much Do Welding Schools in Virginia Cost?
Full-time tuition and fees for 2024–25 at the Virginia colleges on this page run from $4,979 to $16,337 for residents, before books, tools and protective gear.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Welder in Virginia?
Virginia programs publish awards from short certificates to associate degrees. For example, Central Virginia Community College lists Technical Studies - Welding, AAS (68 credits) and Welding Fundamentals, CSC (20 credits); Southside Virginia Community College lists Welding Certificate (38 credits) and Welding CSC (Career Studies Certificate) (18 credits); Danville Community College lists Welding (D) (65 minimum credits) and Welding Technology (C) (39 minimum credits).
How Much Do Welders Make in Virginia?
BLS estimates a median of $59,180 a year for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Virginia (May 2025), across 10,100 jobs. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,520 and the top 10% earn more than $79,630.
What Is the Best Welding School in Virginia?
On federal data for program size, cost and completion, Advanced Technology Institute ranks first among Virginia colleges with verified welding programs, followed by New River Community College. The best fit depends on the credential you want and the campus you can reach.
Do I Need a Certification to Work as a Welder?
Many employers test welders on their own procedure before hiring. The American Welding Society's Certified Welder program is a performance test with no education or experience prerequisites, taken at an AWS Accredited Test Facility.
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More on Welding in Virginia
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 13 Virginia colleges above (each college name links to its page), reviewed September 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022–23 and College Navigator.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- American Welding Society, Certified Welder program.