Welding Sparks

Welding Technology

Career/Technical Certificate Continuing Education

Welding takes artistic skill and talent. With proper training, you can become a welding professional. Learn how to cut, contour, and bevel metal plates and structural shapes using torches, saws, shears, or other machine tools. We’ll train you in one of the largest, best-equipped welding training facilities in the region. 

Why study welding technology at San Jac?

In Texas, industries and communities are growing—especially in the petrochemical areas. As construction rates rise, so does the demand for talented welders. Our program is designed to meet the needs of the welding industry. 
San Jac Welder

Train in Modern Welding Labs

Build hands-on skills in welding labs designed to reflect real job environments. Train with industry equipment used in today’s workforce.

San Jac Student Welder

Learn by Doing

Practice shielded metal arc, gas metal arc, and flux core welding through hands-on training that prepares you for real projects.
San Jac Student Welder

Prepare for a High-Demand Trade

Skilled welders are needed across the Gulf Coast in construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, and petrochemical industries.

San Jac Student Welder

Build Skills Step by Step

Start with a certificate and continue toward the AAS degree, or begin directly in the degree program. Each option helps you grow your welding skills and industry knowledge.

Careers

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
 $53,758

 Opportunities

San Jac’s welding technology program teaches you how to weld carbon and stainless steel plate and pipe in all welding positions. You will learn the following welding processes:

  • Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) “Stick” 
  • Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) “MIG” 
  • Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) “TIG” 
  • Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) processes, plus Oxy-Fuels
Salary Source: Texas Wages
Video Welding Play Video

DEGREES & CERTIFICATES

Art-Welding, Occupational Certificate

Certificate
The Occupational Certificate prepares you for the AAS degree or Certificate of Technology program or to advance in your current career. The curriculum combines foundational welding techniques with hands-on metal fabrication and artistic welding skills used in creative and industrial settings.
Length 6 Months
If you're studying part-time, you can complete the 17 credits for this certificate in two terms.

Combination Welder, Certificate of Technology

Certificate
 

The Certificate of Technology prepares you for the degree program, a starting career in the field, or advancement in your current field. This program gives you intermediate and advanced welding experience in shielded metal arc (SMAW) and gas tungsten arc (GTAW) welding on plate and pipe. You’ll train to meet industry certification test requirements. Instruction includes plate and pipe welding positions on carbon steel.

Length 6 Months
If you're studying full-time, you can complete the 24 credits for this certificate in two terms.

Gas Shielded Welding, Certificate of Technology

Certificate
The Certificate of Technology prepares you for the degree program, a starting career in the field, or advancement in your current field. This program gives you entry-level welding experience in gas metal arc (GMAW) and gas tungsten arc (GTAW) plate and pipe welding. You’ll train to meet industry certification test requirements. Instruction includes plate and pipe welding positions on carbon steel.
Length 6 Months
If you're studying full-time, you can complete the 24 credits for this certificate in two terms.

Industrial Welder, Level 2 Certificate

Certificate
The Level 2 Certificate prepares you for the degree program, a starting career in the field, or advancement in your current field. The curriculum focuses on introductory, advanced, and high-tech welding skills used in manufacturing, industry, and research.
Length 1.5 Years
If you're studying full-time, you can complete the 42 credits for this certificate in three terms.

Welding Technology, AAS

Career/Technical

The Associate of Applied Science degree prepares you for a career in welding and metal fabrication. You’ll build introductory, advanced, and high-tech welding skills used in manufacturing, industry, and research. Training includes hands-on experience in multiple welding processes and techniques used in the field.

Length 2 Years
If you're studying full-time, you can complete the 60 credits for this program in four terms.

Welding, Continuing Education Courses

Continuing Education

Our welding program provides instruction for all positions on carbon and stainless steel plate and pipe, using the following multiple processes: 

  • Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) “Stick” 
  • Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) “MIG” 
  • Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) “TIG” 
  • Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) processes, plus Oxy-Fuels

You can start college with continuing education courses and apply them toward a certificate or degree.

Length Varies
The Continuing Education Division at San Jac offers you a variety of noncredit courses for workforce training and lifelong learning.

CAREER TRACKS

The content below shows a flowchart of the career tracks.

After San Jacinto College

As a program graduate, you’ll be prepared to pass the entry-level certification tests as required by industry. With a growing demand for qualified welders, you will be well-positioned to find employment as a welder.

Applying to San Jac

Sounds great, but how do I apply?

Ready to take the first step toward an exciting future? It’s time to apply to San Jac. We’ll guide you through the process and help you start building your future, today.

Your questions answered

Big decision, simple answers. Let’s clear it up.

Welding technology focuses on joining and cutting metal using specialized tools and techniques used in construction, manufacturing, and industrial work.

It combines hands-on work with technical skill and problem-solving. It’s a strong fit if you enjoy building, creating, and working with tools.

You’ll learn welding safety, blueprint reading, metal fabrication, and multiple welding processes used in the industry.

This includes:
  • shielded metal arc welding (SMAW/Stick)
  • gas metal arc welding (GMAW/MIG)
  • gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW/TIG)
  • flux-cored arc welding (FCAW)
Yes. You’ll spend time in welding labs practicing skills with industry equipment and completing hands-on projects.

Graduates may pursue careers as:

  • welders
  • fabricators
  • pipe welders,
  • welding technicians

You'll be able to work in industrial, manufacturing, and construction settings.

Yes. You can start with a welding certificate and continue toward the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, or begin directly in the AAS program. Either path helps you build welding skills and advance at your own pace.

You can also start with a continuing education class to see how you like welding. If you do, then apply your course towards a certificate or degree.

Yes. The program includes opportunities for external learning experiences. These include: internships, externships, practicums, or cooperative learning experiences at business and industry sites.

These experiences allow you to apply your welding skills in real work environments, gain hands-on industry experience, and build connections with employers while completing the program.

The Art-Welding certificate focuses on creative and fabrication-based welding skills.

You’ll learn the following:
  • metal fabrication
  • oxy-fuel welding and cutting
  • gas metal arc welding (GMAW/MIG)
  • metal sculpture welding techniques

This certificate is a strong fit if you are interested in artistic metalwork or fabrication.

The Combination Welder certificate provides intermediate and advanced training in shielded metal arc welding (SMAW/Stick) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW/TIG) on plate and pipe.

The certificate is designed to help prepare you for industry welding certification tests.

This certificate is a strong fit if you are interested in careers in:

  • construction
  • petrochemical facilities
  • pipe welding
  • fabrication
  • industrial maintenance.

Many employers in the Gulf Coast region look for welders with pipe welding and TIG welding experience because those processes are commonly used in industrial environments.

The Gas Shielded Welding certificate focuses on gas metal arc welding (GMAW/MIG) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW/TIG).  The certificate  is designed to help prepare you for industry welding certification tests.

You’ll gain hands-on experience welding plate and pipe and build skills used in industrial and manufacturing environments.

Many welders consider GMAW/MIG welding one of the most widely used production welding processes because it is efficient and commonly used in fabrication and manufacturing environments. GTAW/TIG welding is often valued for precision work and high-quality welds on pipe and specialty materials.

This certificate is a good option if you want hands-on experience with welding processes commonly used in:
  • manufacturing
  • fabrication shops
  • shipbuilding
  • industrial production.

You will also gain experience with oxyfuel and plasma cutting equipment.

Continuing education courses are short, focused classes designed to help you gain specific skills, stay current in your field, or prepare for new responsibilities without committing to a full degree program.

Many courses also lead to microcredentials that verify and showcase your specialized knowledge and skills.

Automotive Technology Student

Related Programs

See What Else is Out There
Did you know we offer over 200 programs and certificates? While Welding Technology may not be for you, maybe one of these will catch your interest.

Contact Us

Got questions? Reach out via phone or email and we’ll help make sure you’re choosing the right program for you.

For general questions, please call us at 281-998-6150. 
Ruben Howard
Dept Chair, Industrial Tech
Phone
(281) 998-6350x7435
Location
North
Joseph Zwiercan
Dept Chair, Industrial Tech
Phone
(281) 998-6150x1352
Location
Central