Florida welders earn a median annual wage of $44,462, and projected job growth is 8%. For a trade that rewards booth time and certification, that demand is real but not automatic.
Southern Technical College offers welding training across several Florida campuses through its Associate of Applied Science in Welding Technology. Schedules, cost, admissions, and certification testing differ by campus. Cost after aid and graduation outcomes remain the figures to verify before committing.
Southern Technical College Welding Programs at a Glance
Southern Technical College's welding training is built around one on-campus credential: the Associate of Applied Science in Welding Technology.
Credentials Available
- Associate of Applied Science in Welding Technology: the primary published credential, available at Auburndale, Orlando, Sanford, and Tampa.
- Diploma programs: some campus pages show a Diploma Programs section, but the college's welding-specific pages do not publish a separate welding diploma title or curriculum.
- Certificate: no official Southern Technical College welding source lists a welding certificate, so confirm current credential options with an admissions representative.
The associate degree appears on the college's official welding program page and on campus pages in Auburndale and Orlando. Students who need a shorter entry point should ask the campus whether a diploma or certificate pathway is currently offered.
Core Welding Processes
The 2024-2025 catalog states the program is designed to fuse technological, professional, and technical skills so graduates can work as competent welders and business professionals. The same catalog excerpt names fillet and groove welding and metal arc shield welding as core skills, and notes that students may be eligible to sit for certifications in basic and intermediate welding skills.
Welding processes at this level commonly cover SMAW (stick), GMAW (MIG), GTAW (TIG), and FCAW (flux-cored arc welding). Southern Technical College's published materials specifically mention metal arc shield welding, a stick-based process, but do not break out MIG, TIG, or flux-cored processes course by course. For an introduction to welding, prospective students who want a process-by-process list should request the current course sequence from the campus.
On-Campus Format and Key Skills
The associate degree is delivered on campus, not online, which supports a structured mix of classroom theory and hands-on welding booth or lab time. The program's technical focus points to substantial shop practice, though booth-hour counts are not published on the program page. The Orlando campus at 1485 Florida Mall Ave., Orlando, FL 32809 is one location to see the facilities, but welding lab times should be confirmed separately.
Typical welding technology programs also include blueprint reading, metallurgy, safety procedures, and welding codes. Southern Technical College's available materials do not itemize these topics, but the certification eligibility for basic and intermediate welding skills suggests the curriculum prepares students for code-oriented, supervised work. Because the catalog excerpt does not list every course, treat the process names and skill topics here as a starting point, not a complete syllabus.
The college's on-campus delivery means students work with instructors in person, which can be important for weld inspection and technique correction. Ask about lab-to-lecture ratios and whether evening or weekend welding sections are available at your preferred campus.
Welding Program Formats, Lengths, and Schedules
Southern Technical College lists three welding credential paths: the Structural Welding Certificate, the Combination Welding Certificate, and the Welding Associate of Applied Science. Lengths and credit requirements differ, while all three programs focus on Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Gas Metal Arc Welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, and Flux Core Arc Welding. Schedule options are not published on the school site, so contact admissions for current day, evening, or part-time offerings.
| Credential | Program Length | Credit/Clock Hours | Schedule Options | Key Skills Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combination Welding Certificate | Three semesters | 41 credit hours | N/A | Covers SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and FCAW processes, including advanced open groove and pipe welding |
| Structural Welding Certificate | Two semesters | 29 credit hours | N/A | Covers SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and FCAW; does not include advanced open groove and pipe welding |
| Welding Associate of Applied Science | Four semesters | 60 credit hours | N/A | Prepares for entry-level welding roles with skills in SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and FCAW |
Florida welders earn a median annual wage of $44,462, with projected job growth of 8%, according to state labor data cited in a 2026 Randstad welding job posting for Daytona Beach. That demand makes welding a practical trade to enter now.
What Welding School Costs at Southern Technical College
Financial Aid Options and Admissions Requirements
How much can welding school at Southern Technical College actually cost after aid, and what does it take to get admitted? Financial aid is available to students who qualify, and admission hinges on an interview, an enrollment agreement, and proof of high school completion.
Paying for Welding School
For the 2026 school year, Southern Technical College lists federal, state, military, and scholarship-based funding paths, but does not publish welding-specific award amounts or guarantee that every welding student will qualify. Welding school financial aid eligibility depends on your FAFSA results, program, enrollment status, and individual aid package.
- Federal aid: Eligible students may use the Federal Pell Grant, William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans, and Federal PLUS loans.
- Florida aid: Florida Bright Futures, Florida Student Assistance Grant, and Florida Prepaid are listed as state options for qualifying residents.
- Workforce scholarships: CareerSource Central Florida tuition scholarships may be available. Southern Technical College is an approved provider, but students must contact CareerSource directly to confirm scholarship use at the school.
- Military and veteran benefits: STC is approved for veterans training. Students using Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill or Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment may be able to attend while VA payment is pending if they provide a Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class and submit a written certification request. Exact 2026 benefit amounts and course approval depend on individual VA eligibility.
- Payment plans: A payment plan is available, but published sources do not list installment terms, fees, or a required down payment for the welding program.
Admissions Requirements
The school does not establish a minimum age or a required placement test for Welding Technology. The key prerequisite is standard high school completion or an equivalent credential before the first day of attendance.
Accepted proof includes a high school diploma, GED certificate, official transcripts, a home-school affidavit, or a DD Form 214 for certain veterans. Southern Technical College does not list prior welding experience, a minimum GPA, a physical exam, or an industry credential as welding program prerequisites.
How to Apply
Start by requesting information or scheduling a campus visit at the Florida campus you plan to attend. From there, you will interview with an admissions representative, submit a completed enrollment agreement, and provide proof of graduation before the first day. Then meet with financial aid to review your award letter and finalize aid eligibility before registration.
Welding Certifications and Accreditation at STC
Accreditation is an independent review that verifies a school meets baseline standards for academics, operations, and student support. For Southern Technical College, the institutional accreditor is the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). This matters because ACCSC recognition allows eligible students at the college to access federal financial aid. Older catalogs reference a prior accreditor, ACICS, but current Florida DOE listings and Southern Technical College materials identify ACCSC as the active institutional accreditor, so students should rely on the ACCSC status for current financial aid and transfer questions.
Institutional and State Oversight
Southern Technical College also holds a license from the Florida Department of Education's Commission for Independent Education. That state license allows the college to operate at its Florida campus locations. ACCSC accreditation is institutional rather than program-specific; it does not by itself certify a welding shop's curriculum. When a school does not hold a welding-specific programmatic accreditation, the institutional and state approvals serve as the main quality markers for the welding program.
Welding Certifications Students May Prepare For
The published sources reviewed do not confirm a specific third-party welding credential that Southern Technical College's welding program guarantees. Common welding certifications in Florida include American Welding Society (AWS) qualifications and National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) credentials, but the college has not published a current list tying its welding curriculum to those exams. Because certification options can change, welding students should ask a campus admissions representative which specific exams are built into the program and whether test fees are included.
On-Campus Testing and Curriculum Integration
The available materials do not verify whether welding certification testing such as bend test for welding is administered on campus. Some welding schools schedule exams at the end of a module or coordinate with a local testing center, but Southern Technical College's current catalog does not specify that arrangement for welding. The college does publish programmatic accreditation for other health-focused programs, such as ABHES for Surgical Technician at Tampa and Port Charlotte and CAAHEP for Diagnostic Medical Sonography at Tampa. That shows the institution pursues program-specific approvals where applicable. ACCSC reviews factors such as completion rates, graduate employment, and student services, not just classroom content. For welding, the safest path is to request the current welding syllabus or speak with an instructor before enrolling. Students should also confirm whether certification exam fees are included in tuition or charged separately, because that can affect welding school cost.
Related Articles
What Welders Earn in Florida
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports wage and employment estimates for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers in Florida. Earnings vary by metro area, certification, and experience, so statewide medians do not reflect every local market. For current figures, check the latest Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release.
| Metric | Florida Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (OEWS) |
|---|---|
| Median annual wage | Varies by metro area and certification; exact figure available in latest OEWS |
| Employment | Varies by metro area; exact figure available in latest OEWS |
| Top earners (90th percentile) | Exceed the statewide median; exact figure available in latest OEWS |
Job Placement and Career Outcomes for STC Welding Graduates
Southern Technical College does not publish a welding-specific job placement rate or graduate wage outcome for 2026. That means you cannot rely on a single official number to judge the program's results. Instead, verify outcomes yourself through the school's disclosures, direct questions, and outside sources.
Start with official Southern Technical College consumer information
Check the college's website for consumer information and program pages. Look for "gainful employment" disclosures, placement rate reports, and employer partner lists. The Welding Technology A.A.S. page names possible career settings: automotive repair facility, bridge construction, building construction for schools, stadiums, and arenas, oil pipelines, ship yard, theme park construction, and welding shop. That is a list of possible pathways, not a measured placement outcome, so treat it as career context rather than proof of results.
Ask the welding department for current data
Contact the welding department directly and request placement and wage data in writing. Ask how many students complete the program, pass certification tests, and find welding jobs within six or twelve months. Ask for the most recent year's results and how they are calculated, including the number of graduates included. Also ask about employer partnerships: which local shops, contractors, or unions hire from the program, and whether those relationships are formal or informal. Be specific: ask for the number of graduates in the most recent cohort, the share who completed the program, and the median wage among those employed in welding roles.
Cross-check with independent sources
Use the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for Welders to see national and Florida wage and employment trends. Check state workforce agencies for regional demand and median wages. The American Welding Society (AWS) publishes industry outlooks and credential information that can help you understand what employers expect. Third-party review sites can show student experiences, but their employment and earnings figures for STC are not welding-program-specific and should be treated as general institutional context, not official program outcomes.
Verify claims during campus visits
When you visit, ask to see the welding lab and equipment. Ask instructors or current students which employers hire graduates, what starting wages look like, and whether the school helps with job placement. Cross-check any placement claims against state licensing boards or employer job postings. If a number seems high, ask for the methodology and how many graduates it covers.
Because STC's published welding pages do not include a program-level placement rate, your own diligence is the most reliable way to judge outcomes.
How to Contact and Apply to Southern Technical College
Welding education increasingly starts with a quick inquiry rather than a long paper application. Southern Technical College uses that model, with an online Request Information form, main phone line, and email published on its official contact page. For the most current phone number and email address, check the college's website directly, because campus contact details can change.
Application Steps
- Request info: Fill out the online form or call the admissions office. Select the welding program and the campus you are interested in, such as Orlando or Tampa.
- Submit application: Complete the application with your chosen program and start date. An admissions advisor can help if you have questions.
- Meet with admissions: A short meeting reviews your goals, prior education, and whether the program is a good fit.
- Complete financial aid: If you plan to use federal aid, file the FAFSA and work with the financial aid office on grants, loans, or payment plans.
- Attend orientation: Before classes begin, orientation covers safety, schedule, tools, and campus expectations.
Campus Tours and Current Contact Details
Prospective welding students can schedule a campus tour at the welding locations to see booth time, equipment, and classrooms in person. Use the tour request option on the website or call the campus directly. Because phone numbers and email addresses may differ by campus, rely on the contact information Southern Technical College publishes rather than third party listings. The online form is usually the fastest way to start.