A welding career is a highly specialized profession that offers hands-on engagement, and creative opportunities. It can also provide job security and mobility, plus promising potential for career advancement. Welders are needed in a variety of industries, making them highly valuable for the overall economy.
Performing the duties of a welder requires in-depth knowledge of the profession and necessary skills. Interested people can acquire both at a reputable welding school. At Pennco Tech, our Welding program at the Bristol, PA, campus introduces aspiring welders to the fundamentals of the role with a combination of classroom learning and hands-on training. Here, we explore the factors that affect the cost of welding school and why it’s an important investment in your future.
Understanding the Cost of Welding School
One concern for anyone interested in a trade program is cost. Understand that multiple factors can affect cost. Students who qualify might obtain financial aid, which may help cover part of the cost of attendance for welding school. However, some types of financial aid, like loans, need to be paid back. Students can explore scholarships to help pay for their training as well.
About Our Welding Program in PA
Becoming a welder requires job-specific skills. Our full-time day program can be completed in as few as 26 weeks, students enrolled in the Welding program at Pennco Tech will learn how to become skilled welders and gain the necessary requirements to qualify for entry-level roles in the profession. To accommodate student’s busy lives, the program is offered during the day and in the evening.
During the welding program, students will receive 900 hours of training on key procedures, techniques, and safety measures. The program is divided into two parts:
- WLD 101: Welding Fundamentals (450 hours)
- WLD 102: Advanced Welding (450 hours)
While enrolled, students will be led by dedicated instructors who are experts in the field. Instructors will teach students how to perform a wide range of welding techniques, such as:
- Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW)
- Gas Metal Arch Welding (GMAW/MIG)
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW/TIG)
- Plasma Cutting
- Proper welding equipment/tools
In addition, students will learn critical skills needed to be successful in their role, such as reading blueprints and welding symbols, alloy identification, fabrication, and shop safety best practices.
An Investment in Your Future
When you enroll in the Welding program at Pennco Tech, you’re not just paying for high-quality education, you’re investing in your future. Those who choose to become welders can be rewarded with comfortable compensation. According to research compiled by Indeed, the average salary of a welder in Pennsylvania is $48,770. The average welder salary in New Jersey is $54,249 in New Jersey. The initial financial commitment of welding school can pay off in the long run.
Students who complete the Welding program at Pennco Tech will be ready to pursue a variety of roles in different industries. The roles students may pursue include:
- Brazer
- Cutter
- Fabrication Welder
- Fitter/Welder
- Welder-Helper
- Industrial and Maintenance Welder
- Shielded Metal Arc Welder
- Solderers
Although employment is not guaranteed, our career services department helps with landing a welding job after completing the training program. Through multiple professional resources, students can make promising relationships that can lead to potential employment opportunities. Our career services department is available to students and alumni from the first day they arrive on campus and well after graduation.
Financial Assistance Available
To ease the financial commitment of welding school, Pennco Tech is pleased to offer financial aid to qualified students. Our financial aid office aims to assist students and their families by providing a wide range of financial support services. We work closely with students so they have a clear understanding of what it will cost to enroll in the Welding program.
We strive to make quality education more affordable with the following financial aid programs:
Pennco Tech also offers a $1,000 scholarship when high school seniors enroll in the Welding program the same calendar year they graduate.
Invest in Yourself by Enrolling in Welding School
Begin your quest to become a welder by enrolling in the Welding program offered at Pennco Tech’s Bristol, PA, campus. Serving our communities by training tomorrow’s workforce for over 50 years, we are committed to providing you with real-world education that you can apply to entry-level positions in the welding industry. The program’s curriculum is designed to create career-ready graduates.
Students wondering about the cost of welding school can speak to a financial aid representative about the options available. To learn more about our welding school or to schedule an in-person tour of our campus, contact us today at Pennco Tech.