Portsmouth, VirginiaPublic, 2-Year

Tidewater Community College Welding Program

2 certificates, $5,588 a year in tuition and fees, with training in pipe welding, oxy-fuel and plasma cutting, fabrication and blueprint reading.

What Does Tidewater Community College Offer for Welding Students?

Tidewater Community College in Portsmouth, Virginia offers 2 certificates in welding. Tuition and fees for 2024–25 were $5,588 for a full-time year (in-state). The school awarded 83 welding credentials in 2024–25. Best for training for pipe welding work.

Plate, Pipe and Process Training at Tidewater Community College

TCC teaches welding at its Portsmouth Campus through a three-semester, 33-credit certificate that runs from oxyfuel cutting to pipe and tube welding for shipyard, marine and refinery work, plus an 18-credit hands-on-only Welding Essentials option.

  • Pipe welding
  • Oxy-fuel and plasma cuttingoxyfuel welding and cutting
  • Fabrication and blueprint reading

Tidewater Community College Welding Tuition: $5,588 a Year

Tuition and fees
$5,588
in-state, 2024–25
Out of state
$12,296
2024–25
Books and supplies
$1,500
2024–25 estimate
Welding certificates awarded
83
2024–25
Graduation rate
32%
school-wide, Fall 2021 cohort
Students enrolled
16,884
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.

2 Welding Certificates at Tidewater Community College

AwardTypeLength
Certificate - WeldingCertificate33 credits
Welding EssentialsCertificate18 credits

As listed on Tidewater Community College's welding program page, reviewed September 25, 2026.

When Tidewater Community College Welding Classes Meet

Schedule. Certificate: 3 semesters; Welding Essentials: 2 semesters.

Where you'll Train: Portsmouth Campus

  • Portsmouth Campus

Check start dates, admission steps and the current course list on Tidewater Community College's own site.

Visit tcc.edu

What Welders Earn in Virginia

Across Virginia, the median welder wage is $59,180 a year, from $42,520 at the 10th percentile to $79,630 at the 90th, with 10,100 welders employed. The national median is $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

5 More Welding Schools Within 79 Miles of Portsmouth

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

Tidewater Community College Welding FAQ

Does Tidewater Community College Have a Welding Program?

Yes. Tidewater Community College offers 2 certificates in welding at Portsmouth Campus. Training covers pipe welding, oxy-fuel and plasma cutting, fabrication and blueprint reading.

How Much Does Welding School Cost at Tidewater Community College?

Tidewater Community College's 2024–25 tuition and fees were $5,588 for a full-time year (in-state) and $12,296 out of state, with books and supplies estimated at $1,500. Welding students also pay for tools, gear and lab fees.

How Long Is the Welding Program at Tidewater Community College?

Certificate - Welding: 33 credits. Welding Essentials: 18 credits.

Does Tidewater Community College Offer Night or Weekend Welding Classes?

Certificate: 3 semesters; Welding Essentials: 2 semesters.

How Much Do Welders Make in Virginia?

The median welder wage in Virginia is $59,180 a year, and the middle half earn between $49,020 and $65,400 (BLS, May 2025).

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How Much Do Welders Make in Virginia?

Virginia welders earned a $59,180 median in May 2025, $28.45 an hour. See pay in Hampton Roads, Richmond, Roanoke and more, plus related welding careers.

More on Welding in Virginia

Sources

  1. tcc.edu: Welding program page, reviewed September 25, 2026
  2. NCES College Navigator, IPEDS unit 233772
  3. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025