What Does Virginia Highlands Community College Offer for Welding Students?
Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon, Virginia offers an associate degree, 2 certificates and one other award in welding through its Welding Technology Program program. Tuition and fees for 2024–25 were $5,022 for a full-time year (in-state). The school awarded 35 welding credentials in 2024–25. It runs evening classes. Best for working adults who need evening classes.
Class Schedule and Certification Testing at Virginia Highlands Community College
Schedule. Two semesters for the day cohort and three semesters for the night cohort; evening coursework lets students continue employment. Aluminum Welding Level 4: 12 weeks, Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 4:45-8:15 p.m. (next start September 8, 2026).
Testing. Along with the Career Studies Certificate in Welding, graduates will also obtain the OSHA-10-hour General Industry certification.
Virginia Highlands Community College Welding Tuition: $5,022 a Year
- Tuition and fees
- $5,022 in-state, 2024–25
- Out of state
- $11,460 2024–25
- Books and supplies
- $1,800 2024–25 estimate
- Welding certificates awarded
- 35 2024–25
- Graduation rate
- 40% school-wide, Fall 2021 cohort
- Students enrolled
- 2,082 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.
Welding Degree and Certificates at Virginia Highlands Community College
| Award | Type | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Career Studies Certificate in Welding (Level 1, day or evening) | Certificate | |
| Career Studies Certificate in Advanced Welding (Level 2, day or evening) | Certificate | |
| Technical Studies in Welding, AAS (Level 3) | Associate | |
| Aluminum Welding Level 4 (NCCER, FastForward) | Other |
As listed on Virginia Highlands Community College's welding program page, reviewed September 25, 2026.
Plate, Pipe and Process Training at Virginia Highlands Community College
VHCC runs parallel day and evening welding cohorts through two stacked CSCs into a Technical Studies AAS, and adds a 12-week NCCER Level 4 aluminum plate-and-pipe course.
- Stick (SMAW)
- MIG (GMAW)aluminum GMAW/GTAW
- TIG (GTAW)aluminum GMAW/GTAW
- Flux-cored (FCAW)
- Pipe welding
- Oxy-fuel and plasma cuttingoxyfuel and plasma arc cutting
- Fabrication and blueprint reading
Where you'll Train: VHCC Campus
- VHCC campus
Check start dates, admission steps and the current course list on Virginia Highlands Community College's own site.
Visit vhcc.eduWhat 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 53 Miles of Abingdon
- Southwest Virginia Community College24 mi · $5,075/yr
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton25 mi
- Northeast State Community College27 mi · $4,782/yr
- Mountain Empire Community College43 mi · $5,007/yr
- Mayland Community College53 mi · $2,626/yr
Straight-line distance between campuses. All welding schools in Virginia
Virginia Highlands Community College Welding FAQ
Does Virginia Highlands Community College Have a Welding Program?
Yes. Virginia Highlands Community College offers an associate degree, 2 certificates and one other award in welding at VHCC campus. Training covers stick (SMAW), MIG (GMAW), TIG (GTAW), flux-cored (FCAW), pipe welding.
How Much Does Welding School Cost at Virginia Highlands Community College?
Virginia Highlands Community College's 2024–25 tuition and fees were $5,022 for a full-time year (in-state) and $11,460 out of state, with books and supplies estimated at $1,800. Welding students also pay for tools, gear and lab fees.
Does Virginia Highlands Community College Offer Night or Weekend Welding Classes?
Two semesters for the day cohort and three semesters for the night cohort; evening coursework lets students continue employment. Aluminum Welding Level 4: 12 weeks, Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 4:45-8:15 p.m. (next start September 8, 2026).
Can You Get Welding Certified at Virginia Highlands Community College?
Along with the Career Studies Certificate in Welding, graduates will also obtain the OSHA-10-hour General Industry certification.
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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