Your Guide to Welding Programs at Cerritos College

Cerritos College in Norwalk, California, is a public community college offering stackable welding credentials: short certificates of achievement and an Associate of Science in Welding. The campus hosts AWS and Los Angeles City certification testing, so code qualifications can be earned on site.

That access matters in Southern California, where structural and union job calls often require current AWS or LA City paperwork before a welder can step onto a job. Short certificate blocks let students bank a portable credential early instead of waiting for a two-year degree. The bigger calculation is not tuition alone, but how quickly required welding classes and test sessions sequence across terms.

Cerritos College Welding Programs at a Glance

Welding trade schools in California are shifting toward shorter, stackable training blocks, and Cerritos College in Norwalk has organized its welding program around that model. Students can work toward five Certificates of Achievement or an Associate of Science in Arc Welding, giving them a compact skills credential or a broader degree path depending on their goals.

Hands-On Training and Certification Access

The department spends much of its time in the shop rather than the lecture hall. Students train in modern welding booths and can sit for AWS and Los Angeles City welding certification tests on site. That setup lets a student finish coursework and move directly into the credential exam without arranging testing elsewhere.

Built for Beginners and Working Welders

Cerritos College does not require previous welding experience to start. A true beginner can enter the program, learn safety and basic process work, and progress toward more advanced certificates. At the same time, experienced welders who need to update a skillset or prepare for a specific certification can enter at a level that matches their background.

Program Options at a Glance

• Five Certificates of Achievement covering distinct welding skill areas
• An A.S. in Arc Welding for deeper career preparation
• Modern welding booths with a hands-on training emphasis
• On-site AWS and LA City certification testing
• No previous welding experience required

The next sections break down the exact certificate names, enrollment steps, and what to budget for welding school cost and fees.

Eight Welding Certificates and the A.S. Degree at Cerritos College

Cerritos College structures its welding credentials so students can earn short certificates first, shortening overall welding school duration, and apply those courses toward an associate degree. The current catalog lists five welding Certificates of Achievement rather than the eight sometimes cited in older or broader program lists, so the options below reflect the official catalog we reviewed.

Current Welding Certificate Options

One pattern stands out: WELD 149, WELD 159, WELD 120, and WELD 200 appear across several awards, which gives students a common foundation. The more specialized credentials add courses such as WELD 222 in the combination and structural tracks, and WELD 240L and WELD 250L in the aerospace track.

Associate Degree: Arc Welding (A.S.)

The catalog lists the degree as Arc Welding (A.S.), with a 19-unit major that matches the Welding Fabrication and Layout certificate course pattern: WELD 149, WELD 159, WELD 120, WELD 170, and WELD 200. Some program materials refer to this as the Welding Fabrication and Layout A.S., but the catalog entry appears under Arc Welding (A.S.). In addition to the 19 major units, the A.S. requires completion of Cerritos College's general education requirements; those courses may affect overall welding school cost, and the specific options should be confirmed with a counselor.

Because of the naming discrepancy between "Arc Welding (A.S.)" and "Welding Fabrication and Layout A.S.", students should confirm the degree title that will appear on the transcript when they meet with Cerritos College counseling. The A.S. pathway still allows students to use overlapping certificate coursework, so the time spent earning a certificate can count toward the degree.

Cerritos College Welding Admissions and Enrollment Checklist

Cerritos College welding is open-entry: you do not need a high school diploma, GED, or prior welding experience to begin. The steps below cover the general application path and first-semester course choices; contact the welding department or counseling for current details.

• Confirm open-entry eligibility

  No high school diploma, GED, or previous welding experience is required. Beginning welding classes are open to all students and have no prerequisites.
• Submit the Cerritos College application

  Complete the college application online at www.cerritos.edu or in person at the Admissions office to receive your student number. Select “ARC WELDING – CT (CERTIFICATE)” as your intended major/program.
• Check math and reading placement

  There is no separate welding placement test or competitive admission, but standard math or reading placement may influence which support courses you take. Prior welding experience is not required.
• Choose first-semester welding courses

  New students may start with any of four beginning options: WELD 100 Welding Fundamentals (2.5 units), WELD 120 Beginning Arc Welding (5.0 units), WELD 130 Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (5.0 units), or WELD 160 Welding and Metal Fabrication Safety (1.0 unit). WELD 100 can be combined with WELD 120 or WELD 160 for a fuller start. The Arc Welding Certificate roadmap also lists WELD 149 Welding Shop Math (4.0 units, Fall/Spring) with WELD 120 as a first-semester sequence.
• Talk with a counselor or instructor

  For advising, call Counseling at (562) 860-2451, Extension 2231, or use Online Counseling. Welding instructor Johnny Nunez is at [email protected], Extension 2949; Welding Department Chair Albert Allen is at [email protected], Extension 2970. The welding department line is (562) 860-2451, Extension 2900.

Cerritos College Welding Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

How much does Cerritos College welding actually cost after tuition, lab fees, and your own safety gear? The short answer: California residents pay a low per-unit fee, but hands-on fees and personal protective equipment add several hundred dollars before you finish a certificate.

Base Enrollment and Nonresident Tuition

California residents pay $46 per unit in enrollment fees for the 2026 academic year. Welding classes typically run 1 to 5 units, so one class costs roughly $46 to $230 before any lab or campus fees. Nonresident students in fall and spring pay a nonresident tuition rate and capital outlay fee that, combined with the $46 enrollment fee, comes to about $446 per unit. Summer nonresident rates may be slightly different, so check the applicable term's official fee schedule before budgeting.

Lab and Materials Fees

Hands-on welding sections carry a lab/material fee. Current Cerritos College welding information lists $125 for hands-on courses, though some FAQ pages list $100 per welding lab. The fee covers consumables such as electrodes, base metals, and shielding gases when that fee is applied. Because official pages do not show one uniform amount, verify the fee for your exact section in the current class schedule or with the welding department.

New welding students are responsible for their own safety equipment. Cerritos estimates roughly $120 to $200 for personal protective gear, including items like a welding helmet, gloves, and eye protection. Campus health, parking, and student ID fees are separate.

Estimating a Certificate Total

Cerritos does not publish one fixed total for every welding certificate. A conservative way to estimate is to multiply your required units by $46 for California residents, then add the lab fee for each hands-on course. For example, if a certificate requires 12 units, base enrollment fees would be $552. Four hands-on courses at a $125 lab fee would add $500, before PPE and campus fees. If the same program uses $100 lab fees, that portion drops to $400. Use your program's official unit count to refine this, not a generic average.

Financial Aid and the California College Promise Grant

Cerritos welding students may qualify for federal financial aid through the FAFSA. The California College Promise Grant, formerly the Board of Governors Fee Waiver, can waive the $46-per-unit enrollment fee for eligible California residents. It does not automatically cover nonresident tuition, lab/material fees, tools, or personal protective equipment unless stated in your specific award. Cerritos does not publish a named welding-only scholarship or tool grant in the official materials reviewed. Contact Cerritos Financial Aid at 562-860-2451 ext. 2397 to confirm your eligibility before relying on any aid in your budget.

How Long Does the Cerritos College Welding Program Take?

Full-time enrollment and part-time enrollment lead to different timelines at Cerritos College, and the controlling variable is less about credit load and more about how welding courses sequence across fall, spring, and summer terms.

Certificate Timeline

The 2026 Arc Welding Certificate is 19 units. Cerritos sequences the certificate over three semesters for a typical full-time fall start, not two consecutive semesters. The advanced lab, WELD 210L, is a third-term course offered in fall or spring, so a student who begins in fall commonly finishes in fall of the following year. WELD 120 is listed for fall, spring, and summer, while WELD 149, WELD 159, and WELD 210L are shown as fall and spring offerings. A spring start may proceed spring, summer, and fall only if the required courses line up, and that is not guaranteed. Part-time students taking a reduced load should plan for four or more semesters; Cerritos does not publish an official part-time duration.

New-student guidance lists WELD 100, WELD 120, WELD 130, and WELD 160 as possible entry courses, so a student may begin with a different first course than the certificate roadmap's recommended pairing. With WELD 120 at 5 units, WELD 149 at 4 units, WELD 159 at 4 units, WELD 200 at 4 units, and WELD 210L at 2 units, full-time students typically combine these courses with additional welding coursework or general education to maintain 12 to 15 units in some terms.

Associate Degree Timeline

The Associate of Arts in welding requires 60 applicable semester units, including general education, electives, and at least 18 major units. At a full-time pace of 12 to 15 units per semester, that works out to roughly four to five semesters, about two academic years. A part-time load of 6 to 9 applicable units generally points to seven to ten semesters, or about 3.5 to 5 years. These are planning estimates, not Cerritos-published schedules for the welding major, because actual time depends on placement, general education choices, prerequisites, summer enrollment, and section capacity.

Scheduling, Evenings, and Summer

Cerritos College's welding instruction is based at the Norwalk campus in Norwalk, CA. The college lists evening and weekend as possible delivery modes, but meeting days, hours, and sections vary by term and are not guaranteed for every welding course. Students considering an evening-only or weekend-only plan should confirm the current class schedule. For schedule questions, contact the welding department at (562) 860-2451, Ext. 2900.

On-Site AWS and LA City Certification Testing at Cerritos

On-site certification testing means a student can attempt industry-recognized welding credentials at Cerritos College's Norwalk campus instead of traveling to a separate testing facility. The welding department describes a credential pathway that includes AWS, ASME, API, and state welding certifications, with special emphasis on Los Angeles City welding certifications. Course-specific listings make two AWS credentials¹ and the LA City structural exam the clearest options.

What Can Be Taken On Site

• AWS Aluminum Welding Certification: Listed as obtainable at the end of the semester in the relevant aluminum welding course.
• AWS Structural Steel Welding Certification: The structural steel course prepares students to pass the 3G SMAW Certification.
• LA City Structural Steel License Exam: WELD 220 prepares students for the written exam required for the Los Angeles City license.

The SMAW certification lab catalog description connects that course to both Los Angeles City and AWS structural steel welding certifications, so the on-site focus is practical and test-oriented rather than purely academic.

How the Process Works

Cerritos College builds testing preparation into the welding sequence. The aluminum certification is described as obtainable at the end of the semester in the associated course, meaning students may complete the credential as a culminating step after they have logged the required lab work. Similarly, the structural steel course is designed around passing the AWS structural steel certification, and WELD 220 runs students through the material needed for the LA City written exam. No separate off-campus application is described for these embedded credentials, but students should confirm current eligibility and scheduling details with the welding department.

Booth Time and Unpublished Details

Course materials emphasize hands-on lab work in welding booths, but they do not specify whether open booth hours are available outside scheduled class time. Students who want extra practice should ask the department directly.

Pass rates and testing fees for AWS or LA City certification are not published in the pages reviewed here. For current fees, retest policies, and scheduling, contact Cerritos College's welding department or testing office before enrolling.

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