Advanced Welding Technologies

Advanced Welding Technologies

Become a Career-Ready Welder

Looking for a career-ready degree? You’ve found it with the Advanced Welding Technologies program at Kirkwood.

Join passionate, certified instructors at one of the top weld testing and instructional facilities in the state and learn on top-of-the-line technology, including virtual reality welding.

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Kirkwood offers more than $3 million in scholarships for students each year. 

Students in this program may be eligible to have half their tuition paid for by the Kibbie Grant.

When you graduate, you'll be able to:

  • Demonstrate proper safety P.P.E. and knowledge of safe practices.
  • Read, interpret and design print reading specifications.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of inspection to ensure tolerances, techniques, and practices used adhere to a standard of craftsmanship.
  • Demonstrate the application of and a thorough understanding of welding principals as they relate to GMAW.
  • Demonstrate the application and a thorough understanding of welding principals as they relate to GTAW.
  • Demonstrate the application and a thorough understanding of welding principals as they relate to SMAW.
  • Demonstrate the application and a thorough understanding of welding principals as they relate to FCAW.
  • Demonstrate the application of and a thorough understanding of multiple cutting processes.

Completion of a program conference is required to be admitted to the program. You’ll learn more about the program as well as specific admissions requirements.

Program Costs

Advanced Welding Technologies

School Year: 2024–25

Program Entry Semester: Fall

Fall Spring Summer Fall Spring Total
Credit Hours per Semester 19 15 6 18 18 76
In-State Tuition $4,123 $3,255 $1,302 $3,906 $3,906 $16,492
Technology Fee per Semester $50 $50 $50 $50 $50 $250
Clinical Expenses (mileage, lodging, screenings, etc.) $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Conferences/Seminars $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Course Resources (textbooks, software, etc.) $270 $416 $50 $149.50 $246.25 $1,131.75
Course/Section Fees $250 $250 $50 $270 $220 $1,040
Laptop (required devices) $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Testing Fees $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Third Party Credentials $509 $225 $0 $0 $250 $984
Tool Sets $1,350 $0 $0 $0 $0 $1,350
Uniforms $300 $0 $0 $0 $0 $300
Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Total Estimated Cost $6,852 $4,196 $1,452 $4,375.50 $4,672.25 $21,547.75

 

Costs provided are estimated and based on the following current tuition rates: $217 (In-State), $290 (Out-of-State), $400 (International).

Fees and costs are subject to change.

To view all costs associated with attending college visit our Tuition and Costs page.


Program Requirements

To get into the Advanced Welding Technologies program, you must complete the following, in addition to Kirkwood’s steps to become a student:

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What career could this lead to?

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Kirkwood's welding program requires you to study:

  • OSHA 10 - General Industry
  • Adult First Aid with CPR
  • Forklift 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7
  • 6G pipe carbon steel certifications
  • 3G vertical up with backing
  • Open-root certifications
  • The National Career Readiness Certificate

You can earn certifications to American Welding Society codes in several welding processes, including shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding and, gas tungsten arc welding.

The specialized skill sets you’ll learn will prepare you to earn SENSE 1 and SENSE 2 level credentials from the American Welding Society after just two years.

Students in Kirkwood's Advanced Welding Technologies program, as well as those pursuing the Entry-Level Welder Diploma, are encouraged to join the Kirkwood chapter of SkillsUSA, a workforce development organization for students with nearly 400,000 members nationally. 

SkillsUSA is one of eight recognized members of the National Coordinating Council for Career and Technical Student Organizations (NCC-CTSO). CTSOs are co-curricular groups that help students in career and technical education programs further their knowledge and skills by participating in activities, events, and competitions.

Several of our programs are specifically set up to meet core requirements and smoothly transfer to a four-year school. That means you can start at Kirkwood and earn a bachelor’s degree in your field. Our transfer-level programs are:

  • UNI: Bachelor of Arts - Technology Management
  • University of Iowa: Bachelor of Applied Studies

Entry-Level Welder Diploma*


*State and federal aid may be used for the diploma on its own or as part of the degree program above.

Provides specialized skill sets and training that aligns with industry regulated practices in the field of welding. Our curriculum aligns with the AWS (American Welding Society) SENSE level accreditation. We offer third party AWS (American Welding Society) certifications allowing our students to be more prepared and employable for industry.



Questions?

Industrial Technologies
101 Jones Hall
319-398-4983
indtech@kirkwood.edu