Visalia, CaliforniaPrivate for-Profit, Under 2-Year

Advanced Career Institute Welding Program

A certificate, with training in stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW).

What Does Advanced Career Institute Offer for Welding Students?

Advanced Career Institute in Visalia, California offers a certificate in welding through its Welding Training Program program. The school awarded 274 welding credentials in 2024–25. Best for training for pipe welding work.

Plate, Pipe and Process Training at Advanced Career Institute

A 38-week clock-hour program offered in four daily time slots (including a 7-11 PM night session) with AWS qualification tests through 6G pipe plus NCCER, AWS SENSE and NOCTI testing.

  • Stick (SMAW)
  • MIG (GMAW)
  • TIG (GTAW)
  • Flux-cored (FCAW)
  • Pipe welding
  • Oxy-fuel and plasma cuttingoxy-acetylene cutting and brazing
  • Fabrication and blueprint reading

Advanced Career Institute by the Numbers: 274 Welding Awards in 2024–25

Welding certificates awarded
274
2024–25
Students enrolled
664
school-wide, Fall 2024

Tuition and fees are for a full-time year. Awards count welding credentials conferred. Graduation rate and enrollment cover the whole school. Source: NCES College Navigator.

The Advanced Career Institute Welding Certificate

AwardTypeLength
Certificate of Completion (Welding)Certificate760 clock hours (38 weeks)

As listed on Advanced Career Institute's welding program page, reviewed September 25, 2026.

Class Schedule and Certification Testing at Advanced Career Institute

Schedule. Four daily sessions: 6:00 AM-10:00 AM, 10:30 AM-2:30 PM, 2:30 PM-6:30 PM, 7:00 PM-11:00 PM; runs year-round.

Testing. They also have the opportunity to take two AWS welder performance qualification tests, with qualifications available in the horizontal, vertical, overhead, and 6G pipe welding positions.

3 Campuses Teach Welding at Advanced Career Institute

  • Visalia
  • Fresno
  • Bakersfield

Check start dates, admission steps and the current course list on Advanced Career Institute's own site.

Visit advanced.edu

What Welders Earn Around Visalia

Welders in the Visalia, CA metro area earn a median $46,850 a year. Across California, the median welder wage is $58,060 a year, from $44,520 at the 10th percentile to $81,940 at the 90th, with 26,060 welders employed. The national median is $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

5 More Welding Schools Within 53 Miles of Visalia

Straight-line distance between campuses. All welding schools in California

Advanced Career Institute Welding FAQ

Does Advanced Career Institute Have a Welding Program?

Yes. Advanced Career Institute offers a certificate in welding at Visalia, Fresno, Bakersfield. Training covers stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW), flux-cored (FCAW), pipe welding.

How Long Is the Welding Program at Advanced Career Institute?

Certificate of Completion (Welding): 760 clock hours (38 weeks).

Does Advanced Career Institute Offer Night or Weekend Welding Classes?

Four daily sessions: 6:00 AM-10:00 AM, 10:30 AM-2:30 PM, 2:30 PM-6:30 PM, 7:00 PM-11:00 PM; runs year-round.

Can You Get Welding Certified at Advanced Career Institute?

They also have the opportunity to take two AWS welder performance qualification tests, with qualifications available in the horizontal, vertical, overhead, and 6G pipe welding positions.

How Much Do Welders Make in California?

The median welder wage in California is $58,060 a year, and the middle half earn between $48,480 and $70,400 (BLS, May 2025).

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How Much Do Welders Make in California?

California welders earned a median $58,060 in May 2025. See pay in all 25 metro areas, from $64,320 in San Francisco to $46,850 in Visalia.

More on Welding in California

Sources

  1. advanced.edu: Welding Training Program program page, reviewed September 25, 2026
  2. NCES College Navigator, IPEDS unit 480019
  3. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025