What Do Welding Schools in Virginia Beach Cost?
- Most affordable: College of the Albemarle, $2,242 a year for residents (2024-2025). Highest: Tidewater Tech-Trades, $16,337.
- Advanced Technology Institute in Virginia Beach, 10 miles away, offers Maritime Welding Technology (Diploma) and Associate in Occupational Science, Trades Leadership with Specialization in Maritime Welding Technology.
- Tidewater Tech-Trades in Norfolk, 13 miles away, offers Combination Welding and Combination Maritime Welding.
- Tidewater Community College in Portsmouth, 19 miles away, offers Certificate - Welding and Welding Essentials.
- Welding classes in Virginia Beach: 3 of these welding schools publish their class schedules below.
- Welder pay in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area: a median $62,670 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Welding School Tuition Near Virginia Beach, Lowest First
| College | Distance | Tuition and fees | Welding awards | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of the AlbemarleElizabeth City, NC | 33 miles | $2,242 | 93 certificates | 35% |
| Tidewater Community CollegePortsmouth | 19 miles | $5,588 | 83 certificates | 32% |
| Advanced Technology InstituteVirginia Beach | 10 miles | $14,568 | 41 certificates, 30 associate | 79% |
| Tidewater Tech-TradesNorfolk | 13 miles | $16,337 | 257 certificates | 71% |
| Paul D Camp Community CollegeFranklin | 51 miles | 3 certificates |
Welding programs near Virginia Beach, sorted by resident tuition. 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 Virginia Beach for What You Need
Welding Schools in Virginia Beach: College of the Albemarle and 3 Others
College of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Offers a diploma and 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $2,242 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 93 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Stick · MIG · Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication · Robotic
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
A degree option on top of certificates.
Teaches Stick · MIG · TIG · Flux-cored · Pipe · Fabrication
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
Tidewater Community College, Portsmouth, Virginia
Offers 2 certificates in welding
- Tuition / year
- $5,588 in-state, 2024–25
- Welding awards
- 83 conferred 2024–25
Teaches Pipe · Cutting · Fabrication
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 Virginia Beach.
Certificate or Associate Degree Near Virginia Beach?
Tidewater Tech-Trades, Tidewater Community College and College of the Albemarle offer certificates only; Advanced Technology Institute also awards a welding associate degree, which adds general education and takes about two years full time.
- Advanced Technology InstituteMaritime Welding Technology (Diploma): 1,200 clock hours / 48 credit hours; Associate in Occupational Science, Trades Leadership with Specialization in Maritime Welding Technology: 1,500 clock hours / 60 credit hours
- Tidewater Community CollegeCertificate - Welding: 33 credits; Welding Essentials: 18 credits
- College of the AlbemarleWelding Technology – Diploma (D50420): 39-41 semester hours; Welding Technology – Basic Certificate (C50420I): 13 semester hours; Welding Technology – Advanced Certificate (C50420II): 17 semester hours
Welding Classes in Virginia Beach: When Programs Meet
- Advanced Technology InstituteStudents attend class five (5) hours per day, four (4) days per week on various schedules; diploma approximately 15 months, AOS approximately 18 months (including breaks and holidays).
- Tidewater Tech-TradesFull-time students could graduate in 33 weeks (Combination Welding) or approximately 48 weeks (Combination Maritime Welding).
- Tidewater Community CollegeCertificate: 3 semesters; Welding Essentials: 2 semesters.
Welder Pay Around Virginia Beach
Welder pay: annual wages for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area (3,740 jobs); U.S. median $53,750. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Questions About Welding Schools in Virginia Beach
How Much Do Welding Schools in Virginia Beach Cost?
College of the Albemarle charges the least, $2,242 a year for full-time residents in 2024-2025; Tidewater Tech-Trades charges $16,337. Books, tools and protective gear cost extra (College of the Albemarle budgets $1,203 for books and supplies).
How Long Does Welding School Take Near Virginia Beach?
Advanced Technology Institute lists Maritime Welding Technology (Diploma) (1,200 clock hours / 48 credit hours) and Associate in Occupational Science, Trades Leadership with Specialization in Maritime Welding Technology (1,500 clock hours / 60 credit hours), Tidewater Community College lists Certificate - Welding (33 credits) and Welding Essentials (18 credits) and College of the Albemarle lists Welding Technology – Diploma (D50420) (39-41 semester hours) and Welding Technology – Basic Certificate (C50420I) (13 semester hours).
How Much Do Welders Make in Virginia Beach?
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median $62,670 a year (BLS, May 2025), 17% above the U.S. median of $53,750. The top 10% earn more than $78,180.
What Is the Best Welding School Near Virginia Beach?
College of the Albemarle scores highest on program size, cost and completion among the welding schools within 60 miles, with 93 welding awards in 2024-2025. Advanced Technology Institute ranks second.
Welding Programs Near Virginia Beach but Farther Out
- Eastern Shore Community College, Melfa61 miles
- Roanoke-Chowan Community College, Ahoskie, NC64 miles
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Sources
- Official welding program pages of the 4 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.