Where Can You Take Welding Classes in Bristol After Work?
- Night or weekend sections: Virginia Highlands Community College and Mayland Community College.
- Northeast State Community College in Blountville, 12 miles away, offers Industrial Technology - Concentration: Welding/Metal Fabrication (A.A.S.) and Combination Welding (technical certificate).
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton in Elizabethton, 14 miles away, offers Shielded Metal Arc Welder and Gas Metal Arc Welder.
- Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon, VA, 15 miles away, offers Career Studies Certificate in Welding (Level 1, day or evening) and Career Studies Certificate in Advanced Welding (Level 2, day or evening).
- Welding classes in Bristol: 2 of these welding schools publish evening or weekend sections.
- Welder pay in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area: a median $55,690 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Welding Classes in Bristol: 2 Colleges Teach Evenings or Weekends
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-ElizabethtonFull time, day classes; typical length 12 months (1,296 clock hours)
- Virginia Highlands Community CollegeTwo 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).
- Mountain Empire Community CollegeCertificate sequence runs First Year Fall, Spring and Summer plus a Second Year Fall course; AAS runs two years including a summer term.
- Southwest Virginia Community CollegeDiploma: 2 years - 4 semesters; Welding CSC and Advanced Welding and Fabrication CSC: one year - two semesters; Welding Fundamentals and Semi-Automated Welding CSCs: one semester.
- Mayland Community CollegeDiploma Requirements, Evening Program (43 Credit Hours)
Compare Welding Programs Near Bristol
| College | Distance | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast State Community CollegeBlountville | 12 miles | $4,782 | 51 certificates | 33% |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-ElizabethtonElizabethton | 14 miles | 28 certificates | ||
| Virginia Highlands Community CollegeAbingdon, VA | 15 miles | $5,022 | 35 certificates | 40% |
| Mountain Empire Community CollegeBig Stone Gap, VA | 36 miles | $5,007 | 55 certificates | 48% |
| Southwest Virginia Community CollegeCedar Bluff, VA | 39 miles | $5,075 | 45 certificates | 46% |
| Mayland Community CollegeSpruce Pine, NC | 45 miles | $2,626 | 26 certificates | 46% |
| Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical CollegeCumberland, KY | 52 miles | $4,728 | 244 certificates | 47% |
Welding programs near Bristol, sorted by straight-line distance. Tuition: 2024–25 full-time resident rate. Awards: welding credentials conferred (IPEDS, via NCES College Navigator). Graduation rate is college-wide. Blank cells have no federal figure.
Best Welding Schools in Bristol for What You Need
Welding Schools in Bristol: Southeast Kentucky Community &Amp; Technical College and 6 Others
Southeast Kentucky Community &Amp; Technical College, Cumberland, Kentucky
Offers a diploma and 11 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,728 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 244 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication
Mountain Empire Community College, Big Stone Gap, Virginia
Offers an associate degree and 3 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,007 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 55 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Northeast State Community College, Blountville, Tennessee
Offers an associate degree and a certificate in welding
- Tuition / year
- $4,782 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 51 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Mayland Community College, Spruce Pine, North Carolina
Offers a diploma and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $2,626 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 26 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton, Elizabethton, Tennessee
Offers a diploma and 3 certificates in welding
- Welding awards offered
- 4 certificates and degrees
- Welding awards
- 28 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication
Southwest Virginia Community College, Cedar Bluff, Virginia
Offers a diploma and 4 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,075 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 45 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Virginia Highlands Community College, Abingdon, Virginia
Offers an associate degree, 2 certificates and one other award in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,022 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 35 conferred 2024–25
A degree option on top of certificates.
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Cutting
Tuition and welding awards: NCES College Navigator, 2024–25. Programs and processes: each school's own welding page, reviewed September 2026. Distances are straight-line from Bristol.
Certificate or Associate Degree Near Bristol?
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton, Southwest Virginia Community College and Mayland Community College offer certificates only; Northeast State Community College, Virginia Highlands Community College and Mountain Empire Community College also award a welding associate degree, which adds general education and takes about two years full time.
- Northeast State Community CollegeIndustrial Technology - Concentration: Welding/Metal Fabrication (A.A.S.): 63 credit hours; Combination Welding (technical certificate): 26 credit hours
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-ElizabethtonShielded Metal Arc Welder: 432 clock hours; Gas Metal Arc Welder: 432 clock hours; Gas Tungsten Arc Welder: 432 clock hours
- Mountain Empire Community CollegeWelding, AAS (718-02): 67 credits; Welding, C (995): 50 credits; Welding Operator I, CSC (221-995-01): 16 credits
- Southwest Virginia Community CollegeWelding (Diploma): 70 minimum credits; Welding (CSC): 29 minimum credits; Advanced Welding and Fabrication (CSC): 28 minimum credits
- Mayland Community CollegeWelding Technology Diploma (D50420): 43 credit hours
- Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical CollegeCombination welder diploma: 48-55 credit hours; Arc cutter certificate: 5 credit hours; Gas welder certificate: 4 credit hours
Welder Pay Around Bristol
Welder pay: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area (450 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Questions About Welding Schools in Bristol
How Much Do Welding Schools in Bristol Cost?
Mayland Community College charges the least, $2,626 a year for full-time residents in 2024-2025; Southwest Virginia Community College charges $5,075. Books, tools and protective gear cost extra (Mayland Community College budgets $1,194 for books and supplies).
How Long Does Welding School Take Near Bristol?
Northeast State Community College lists Industrial Technology - Concentration: Welding/Metal Fabrication (A.A.S.) (63 credit hours) and Combination Welding (technical certificate) (26 credit hours), Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton lists Shielded Metal Arc Welder (432 clock hours) and Gas Metal Arc Welder (432 clock hours) and Mountain Empire Community College lists Welding, AAS (718-02) (67 credits) and Welding, C (995) (50 credits).
How Much Do Welders Make in Bristol?
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA metro area earn a median $55,690 a year (BLS, May 2025), 4% above the U.S. median of $53,750. The top 10% earn more than $69,130.
What Is the Best Welding School Near Bristol?
Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the welding schools within 60 miles, with 244 welding awards in 2024-2025. Mountain Empire Community College ranks second.
Are There Night Welding Classes Near Bristol?
Yes. Virginia Highlands Community College and Mayland Community College publish evening or weekend sections: 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).
Welding Programs Near Bristol but Farther Out
- Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, Hudson, NC64 miles
- McDowell Technical Community College, Marion, NC64 miles
- Wilkes Community College, Wilkesboro, NC65 miles
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Guides, Careers and Pay
Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 7 welding schools above (each college name links to its page), reviewed September 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions and College Navigator.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.