Arclabs Welding School: Welding Programs, Costs, and Campus Guide

Welder demand in the Southeast has tightened as manufacturers, utilities, and construction firms compete for a limited supply of qualified hands. Arclabs Welding School addresses that gap with certificate programs built around supervised booth time and AWS welder qualification testing, not general classroom theory alone.

Students train at Arclabs' Piedmont, South Carolina campus and at its other welding program locations. The focus stays on the specific skills employers ask for: stick, MIG, TIG, and pipe welding across multiple positions.

Because the certificate, not the clock, remains the credential employers actually check, Arclabs builds every program toward the test environment welders will face on the job.

Certificate, Diploma, and Associate Degree Programs at Arclabs

Arclabs does not currently award diplomas or associate degrees. All three program types listed below lead to certificates, and the Advanced Welding and Master Welder programs are also VA-benefit eligible.

Arclabs Tuition and Fees: 2027 Costs by Program

How much does welding school cost at Arclabs in 2026, and what is included in that price? The school's published figures show two primary program price points. Books and supplies are built into tuition, while welding tools are a required separate expense.

Published Tuition and Fees

- Advanced Welding Program: $22,500 tuition. The catalog lists no separate fee line for this program. - Master Welder Program: $29,500 tuition plus $1,200 in required fees, for a published subtotal of $30,700 before tools. Both programs list books and supplies at $0 separately because those costs are included in tuition.

Required Welding Tools

Arclabs requires students to have a tool kit for welding lab work, and tools must be approved for use in the welding lab. The school's catalog does not publish a price for the tool kit. Ask the campus for the current required tool list and estimated tool cost before budgeting.

Total Cost at a Glance

Published totals before the required tool kit are: - Advanced Welding Program: $22,500. - Master Welder Program: $30,700 after tuition and fees. The $8,200 difference between the two published totals comes from the Master Welder Program's higher tuition and its $1,200 fee. The catalog does not break out campus-specific tuition, so these figures appear to apply across Arclabs locations. Because tool kit prices are not listed, confirm the full cost with your intended campus before enrolling. The figures above come from the school's published catalog as of 2026, so request a current cost sheet because program prices can change between catalog editions.

Financial Aid and Scholarships for Arclabs Welding Students

Paying for welding school usually comes down to a tradeoff between keeping out-of-pocket costs low and getting into the workforce quickly. For many students, federal aid and scholarships are the bridge that makes enrollment possible.

Federal Aid Eligibility

Arclabs accepts federal student aid for the 900 Hour Advanced Welding Program and the 1300 Hour Master Welder Program. Eligible students who complete the FAFSA can access Pell Grants, Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG). To qualify, students generally need U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status, a high school diploma or GED, Selective Service registration for men, and any requested documents.

Scholarships and Workforce Funding

The school's Welding Now Scholarship provides a tuition discount up to $1,000 for students who still have a financial gap after other aid. It is awarded first come, first served and may vary by campus. Arclabs also points to the DeWalt Grow the Trades Scholarship as a tool-buying resource, though the school's published material does not specify an award amount. Students in South Carolina and Texas may also qualify for WIOA funding through state-approved training status, and all locations accept GI Bill and Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation benefits.

What Students Pay

The Arclabs College Scorecard profile lists net price at $26,608 for a 6-month program. Third-party data reports about 72% of students receive federal grant aid, with an average federal grant of $5,853 and an average Pell Grant of $5,789. Because awards vary by FAFSA data, family income, and program, contact the Arclabs financial aid office for exact award amounts, payment plans, and eligibility before enrolling. Staff can also help complete the FAFSA and set up payment plans. Use the net price as a starting point, not a final bill.

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Is Arclabs Welding School Accredited? ACCET and AWS Approvals

Accreditation is not one blanket credential. It helps to separate institutional accreditation, which can make a school eligible for federal financial aid, from professional approvals such as AWS test-facility status, which signal that a school is set up for welder qualification exams.

ACCET institutional accreditation

Arclabs states that it is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training, or ACCET. ACCET is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a national accrediting agency for career and technical programs, and its published scope covers non-collegiate continuing education and training programs.¹ Arclabs describes its accreditation as applying to postsecondary career and vocational welding programs. That distinction matters for two reasons. Federal financial aid eligibility generally requires enrollment at an accredited welding school, and employer recognition is often stronger when a school holds a recognized national accreditation rather than a state license alone. For career-changers, this means the school has been reviewed by an accreditor that focuses on career education and training, not only by a general academic body.

AWS Accredited Test Facility

Arclabs also describes itself as an AWS Accredited Test Facility. This status is separate from ACCET accreditation and speaks to the testing environment and the American Welding Society's recognition of the facility. Having tests on campus can shorten the path from training to a recognized welder qualification. In practice, students who are ready to test may be able to complete AWS welder qualification exams on site rather than arranging off-site testing. Students should still confirm current testing schedules at the campus they plan to attend.

South Carolina approval

In South Carolina, Arclabs reports licensure by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education as a nonpublic postsecondary institution. This state approval authorizes the school to operate in the state and is separate from ACCET accreditation. State licensure does not by itself make a school eligible for federal aid, which is why both layers are worth checking. Because Arclabs also lists Texas locations, prospective students outside South Carolina should verify the approval or exemption status for their specific campus. Students attending any location should ask whether the campus falls under the same state approval or a separate Texas authorization.

Verify before enrolling

Accreditation and test-facility status can change. Independent sources did not provide a 2026 AWS registry entry or a 2026 state renewal letter, so ask admissions to confirm current ACCET scope, AWS test-facility status, and state approval for the campus and year you plan to start.

Admissions Requirements and How to Apply to Arclabs

Arclabs keeps the entry process straightforward, but requirements and required paperwork differ slightly for beginners, experienced welders, and veterans.

• Age and education prerequisites

  You typically need a high school diploma or GED and must be at least 18 years old, or 17 with parental consent. You should be able to meet the visual and physical demands of welding training.
• No diploma or GED?

  If you do not have a high school credential, Arclabs points to the Career Pathways Program through Broady Academy. After completing that diploma pathway, you can enroll in the Arclabs welding program.
• Application steps

  Complete the Enrollment Agreement, submit required supporting documentation, and pay any required fees or deposits. The school does not publish a standard deposit amount in its admissions materials, and a third-party $350 booth hold fee is not confirmed as official. You must also visit or tour the campus before starting class.
• Required documentation

  Submit official high school or GED transcripts unless you are enrolling in a seminar that has no diploma/GED requirement. Homeschool students supply homeschool transcripts plus state-specific documentation, and foreign transcripts need a credential evaluation. Veterans should include military service transcripts and all post-secondary transcripts.
• Start dates and schedules

  Arclabs does not publish one fixed start date; timing depends on program, campus, and class schedule. Day classes run Monday through Thursday from 7:00am to 3:30pm and Friday from 7:00am to 1:00pm, while part-time night classes run Monday through Friday from 6:00pm to 11:00pm. Programs can be completed in as few as six months with over 95% hands-on training.
• Can experienced welders skip introductory courses?

  Arclabs does not list a formal test-out policy. However, the Master Welder Program serves both beginners and welders with some experience; beginners start with core fundamentals before moving into advanced structural or pipe welding. Some advanced courses recommend prior GTAW knowledge and hands-on experience rather than requiring them.

AWS Certification Testing at Arclabs: What You Can Qualify For

What AWS welder qualification tests can you actually take at Arclabs, and which program prepares you for them? Arclabs tests welders through an AWS Accredited Test Facility (ATF), so the weld is evaluated by a third-party Certified Welding Inspector and AWS issues the certification after records are verified.¹ The school's ATF can run tests under AWS, ASME, and API code standards, including structural steel qualifications under AWS D1.1.² This means the test you take at Arclabs is not an internal school exam; it is the same third-party evaluation used across the industry.

Tests by Program Length

• 120 Hour Pipe Welding: Students must pass 3G and 4G weld tests. The course prepares students for a typical pipe welding qualification test used in construction and industrial work.
• Advanced Welding and GTAW101: Both require qualification tests in 3G and 4G.
• 900 Hour Advanced Welding: Eligible students may take one AWS welder certification test after completing all modules. The test is elective, and students must be enrolled in the 900-hour program, attend at least 700 hours, and meet attendance standards.
• 900 and 1,300 Hour Programs: Eligible for up to three Arclabs certification tests. Included tests cover GMAW/FCAW on 3G 3/8-inch plate. The 1,300-hour program also includes SMAW/GTAW 6G pipe welding position on a monster pipe coupon.²

Pass Rates and Certification Value

After a weld test, the student receives a pass/fail notification based on the Certified Welding Inspector's evaluation. Arclabs does not publish numeric pass rates, first-time pass data, or completion-to-certification percentages for these tests. Even without a published school rate, AWS welder certifications are widely recognized in the industry and are often listed as a requirement by employers hiring for structural and pipe welding jobs. That distinction matters when you are comparing programs: certification is issued by AWS, not by the school.

Arclabs Job Placement and Graduate Employment Rates

Some welding schools advertise a guaranteed job after graduation. Arclabs takes a different approach: it prepares graduates to compete for openings, but it does not publish a 2025-2026 job placement rate and does not guarantee employment.

What Arclabs Does and Does Not Publish

Arclabs' own materials say the school "strives to have job placement for all our graduates," but the school explicitly states there is no job placement guarantee. As of late 2026, Arclabs has not published a numeric 2025-2026 placement rate or graduate employment rate on its website. Federal education data also does not list a verified Arclabs placement percentage for that period. One third-party profile reports that 96% of Arclabs graduates were employed one year after graduation, but the school does not label this as a school-published placement rate, and no five-year employment figure is shown. Treat that 96% figure as a directional data point, not an official Arclabs outcome.

Career Services and Employer Access

Arclabs' career services team helps students with resume development, employment searches, and interview preparation. Graduates also receive 20 free hours of booth time specifically for employer welding tests, which can be a practical bridge to hiring decisions. The school hosts on-campus employer presentations, employer interviews with students, and employer weld testing for graduates. Arclabs states it works with both local and national employers to help graduates find positions, although it does not publish a fixed list of employer partners. This means outcomes can vary by student effort, location, and local industry demand. For prospective students, the clearest placement signal may be the depth of the career services support and the ability to weld-test directly with employers on campus, rather than a single reported rate.

What This Means for Applicants

Prospective students should ask the admissions team for the most current job placement numbers, if those figures have been updated since this profile was written. Students who prioritize a formal placement rate may want to compare multiple schools and request written outcome reports during campus visits.

Welding Pay by Metro Area in South Carolina

South Carolina metro-level welder pay is not published in the current BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics extract. For context, the highest-paying metro for welders in the available national data is Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at $78,170 median annual wage.

From Application to Certification: Your Arclabs Timeline

The path from applicant to employed welder at Arclabs follows a clear sequence. Each stage builds on the one before it, from meeting admissions requirements to completing your program and passing qualification tests.

Frequently Asked Questions About Arclabs Welding School

These are the questions prospective students ask most often about Arclabs Welding School. Answers reflect published program and campus information as of September 2026, and costs and offerings vary by location.

How much does Arclabs Welding School cost?

Published program costs vary by campus and program. Texas Workforce Commission records list about $9,100 for the Fort Worth program¹, while Arclabs' profile lists about $20,300 for Houston. Arclabs' 2024 catalog shows Advanced Welding at $20,300 and Master Welder at $26,400, plus a $50 application fee and a $1,200 Master Welder lab fee. Confirm current costs with the campus you plan to attend.

How long is the Arclabs welding program?

Program length depends on the credential and schedule. Arclabs lists Specific Process Welding at 280 hours, Welding at 400 hours, Advanced Welding at 900 hours, and Master Welder at 1,300 hours; a 70-hour Welder Upskill Seminar is also available. The school says completion can take as few as six months, but welding school duration varies with attendance and program pace.

What programs does Arclabs Welding School offer?

Arclabs offers hands-on welding training tracks that include Specific Process Welding, Welding, Advanced Welding, and Master Welder, along with a 70-hour Welder Upskill Seminar. The 2024 catalog says the advanced program is 95% hands-on. Offerings vary by campus, so check with your intended location for current enrollment options.

Is Arclabs Welding School accredited?

Yes. Arclabs is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET). The 2024 catalog states branch campuses are NCCER Accredited Training Units, and Arclabs is an AWS Accredited Test Facility. ACCET is institutional accreditation; NCCER covers training units; AWS approval covers testing.

Where are Arclabs Welding School campuses located?

Arclabs lists campuses in Hanahan, SC (933 Commerce Circle); Columbia, SC (700 Gracern Road); Piedmont/Greenville-area, SC (2615 Highway 153); Rock Hill, SC; Houston, TX (9510 North Houston Rosslyn Road); Fort Worth, TX (2821 Cullen Street)¹; and San Antonio, TX. Confirm with the school whether campus-level program offerings match your training goal.

Does Arclabs help with job placement?

Arclabs provides job placement assistance after graduation, according to its student resources. The school says it strives to help all graduates find jobs but does not guarantee placement. Enrollment in or completion of a welding program does not guarantee employment, so treat placement support as an aid rather than a promise.