Aviation Institute of Maintenance: Welding Programs & Specializations

Aviation Institute of Maintenance offers welding training through its Combination Welding trade program, which prepares students for AWS 3G-4G performance exams and OSHA 10 safety training. The hands-on curriculum is built around welding booth time and skill development, and students can complete a certificate or diploma pathway depending on campus.

Offered at selected AIM campuses rather than all locations, the program gives career-changers and entry-level students a focused route into structural welding without an aviation-specific prerequisite. Because scheduling, tuition, and credential options vary by campus, prospective students should verify local program availability early.

Welding Programs and Schedules: Certificate, Diploma, and Associate Options

What welding programs does Aviation Institute of Maintenance offer, and how long does each option take?

AIM's official program materials currently list one welding-focused pathway: Combination Welding. It is an on-campus trade program structured as a diploma/certificate-track offering rather than a separate certificate, diploma, and associate degree sequence. For students comparing credential levels, here are the published program facts.

What the Combination Welding Program Includes

• Program name: Combination Welding
• Length: 8 months, approximately 33 weeks
• Credits: 24
• Delivery format: On-campus
• Credential level: Diploma/certificate-track trade program

This program emphasizes entry-level welding fundamentals, metal fabrication, repair, and preparation for AWS-related certification testing. Students spend a significant share of the scheduled hours in hands-on lab and welding booth settings, not in online lecture-only coursework.

Certificate, Diploma, and Associate Options

Students often search for separate certificate, diploma, and associate tracks. As of 2026, AIM's official welding pages do not show a standalone welding certificate or a welding associate degree under the Aviation Institute of Maintenance name. The Combination Welding program is the single welding-focused offering in the materials we reviewed. Its 8-month, 24-credit structure is closer to a certificate or diploma than to an associate degree.

A similarly named Welding Technology associate program belongs to Aims Community College, not Aviation Institute of Maintenance. If you need an associate degree specifically, verify the institution carefully before applying.

How the Schedule Compares

Because AIM's welding program is on campus, the 8-month schedule moves quickly into hands-on work. Associate degree welding programs at other schools often add general education courses, which can extend total time beyond eight months; this credential-length difference is explained in How Long Is Welding School. AIM's published length assumes full-time enrollment and does not include scheduling changes for part-time or interrupted study. The school lists the program at specific AIM campuses, so confirm the welding lab schedule for your preferred location before applying.

Tuition, Fees, and Total Cost for AIM Welding Programs

Published cost estimates for the Welding Technology Associate of Applied Science at Aims Community College are shown below. The college publishes one set of estimates for the A.A.S.; separate certificate or diploma cost totals are not listed in the available 2026 materials, and costs may vary by campus. Figure totals reflect tuition, lab/course fees, and a minimum $500.00+ other-cost amount and are subject to change.

Financial Aid and Scholarships for Welding Students

American Welding Society scholarships for welding students range from $1,000 to $10,000 or more as of 2026, according to a welding scholarships guide, and Aviation Institute of Maintenance also offers a Scholarship Match Program that can add up to 10% of program cost.

Federal Aid and the FAFSA

Federal aid starts with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Completing it determines eligibility for need-based Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), and federal Direct Loans; Pell Grants generally do not have to be repaid if conditions are met. AIM's financial aid office lists Pell Grants, FSEOG, Direct Loans, and veterans or military assistance among the options it reviews with welding students.³ Welding school financial aid eligibility can depend on the specific campus and program, so students should confirm with the aid office rather than assume every welding location participates.

AIM Scholarship Match Program

AIM's Scholarship Match Program allows current or future students to apply outside scholarships to tuition and school costs. AIM matches those awards dollar for dollar up to 10% of the program's total cost, including fees and books. To remain eligible, students enrolled at an AIM campus need to maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA and 70% attendance, follow the Code of Conduct, maintain satisfactory academic progress, keep payments current, and meet professional image standards. Students should ask the financial aid office whether the match applies to their specific welding program and how it interacts with federal aid.

Third-Party Welding Scholarships

The American Welding Society (AWS) offers national, district, and section scholarships for students in technical school, community college, or university welding programs. Many AWS awards have a March 1 deadline, and amounts can range from about $2,500 to $3,500 for named scholarships such as the Airgas Jerry Baker Scholarship, the Arsham Amirikian Welding Scholarship, and the John C. Lincoln Memorial Scholarship.⁴

Next Steps

Start by submitting the AIM application with a high school diploma or GED, completed form, and identification. Then complete the FAFSA using the AIM campus and program information. Finally, contact the financial aid office for a personalized estimate and discuss outside scholarships, veterans or military benefits, and the Scholarship Match Program before enrolling.

Salary Insight: What Could You Earn After Welding School?

Welders are compensated according to skill level, certifications, and experience.

Accreditation and Institutional Approvals for AIM

Aviation Institute of Maintenance is institutionally accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized agency, a status that supports federal financial aid eligibility and helps employers recognize the school's credentials among accredited welding schools.¹

Institutional Accreditation

Aviation Institute of Maintenance holds institutional accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, commonly called ACCSC.¹ ACCSC is a national accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.¹ In 2023, ACCSC accreditation renewals were noted for the Norfolk, Virginia and Chicago, Illinois campuses², and the school was named an ACCSC School of Excellence for 2022-2023. This institutional accreditation is the foundation for AIM's ability to offer federal grants and student loans to eligible students, and it extends to the programs offered at the institution, including welding at participating campuses.

FAA Certification Is Not the Same as Accreditation

AIM's aviation maintenance programs carry Federal Aviation Administration certification where applicable.¹ That approval is specific to aviation maintenance training and is not the same as institutional accreditation. ACCSC evaluates the institution as a whole, from curricula and faculty to student services and outcomes.

Welding Program Approval Status

The welding program at AIM does not currently list a separate specialized or programmatic accreditor in recent state filings. The most recent California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education report marks that category as not applicable for welding.³ This does not mean the welding program lacks oversight. The program operates under AIM's institutional accreditation and applicable state approval. Students who need welding credentials recognized by a specific trade association, union, or employer should ask the campus directly whether any additional third-party recognition is required.

Why Accreditation Matters

Accreditation affects two practical areas. First, U.S. Department of Education recognition is required for AIM to disburse federal grants and loans.¹ Second, employers often use institutional accreditation as a baseline when reviewing a graduate's transcript. For welders, employer recognition may depend more on earned certifications, such as American Welding Society credentials, than on programmatic accreditation.

Admissions Requirements and How to Apply

A high school diploma or GED is the primary education requirement for the Combination Welding Trade Program at Aviation Institute of Maintenance. From there, admission moves through a focused online application rather than a lengthy multi-step screening process.

Basic Admission Criteria

• Education: A high school diploma or GED is the main prerequisite listed for the Combination Welding program.
• Age: One program-specific source lists a minimum age of 18 for Combination Welding; the school's general admissions information does not repeat that age condition.
• Exams: Published admission steps do not mention an entrance exam or placement test, which keeps the pre-enrollment process direct.

Applicants who hold a GED should be prepared to submit official documentation along with the rest of the application.

Application Process and Required Documents

Prospective students start with an online application. During the process, they should be ready to provide proof of education and identification documents. Admissions staff may request transcripts after an initial review, and AIM guidance encourages applicants to highlight any prior welding, fabrication, or mechanical experience they have. Prior experience is not stated as mandatory.

A formal interview is not listed as a requirement in the school's published admissions steps. A campus visit is also not required as part of the initial application, although applicants can contact the campus directly with questions. Most campuses accept the same core documents, but individual locations may request additional items after review.

Program-Specific Preparation and Start Dates

For welding applicants, some AIM program materials call out basic math skills, including fitter math, and an interest in mechanical systems as relevant preparation. A separate physical ability requirement is not spelled out in the admissions materials reviewed, but welding training involves active shop and booth work, so applicants should be ready for hands-on learning.

The Combination Welding page lists an 8-month duration and a next start date of September 28. Enrollment deadlines are not stated in the admissions pages reviewed, so applicants should contact the campus they plan to attend to confirm cutoff dates and upcoming cohorts.

Campus-Specific Notes

Because AIM serves students across multiple campuses, program pages may list slightly different requirements or start dates. Confirm the details for your chosen campus before submitting documents, especially if you are bringing transfer experience or need to coordinate with financial aid timelines.

How Welding Certification Usually Works After AIM Training

AIM's Combination Welding Trade Program prepares students for the AWS 3G-4G performance exams and OSHA 10 safety training, but the school's published materials do not state whether those exams are administered on-site or included in tuition. Confirm the current policy with admissions before enrolling.

Which AIM Campuses Offer Welding Programs?

Aviation Institute of Maintenance offers its Combination Welding program at selected campuses only, not at every AIM location. The campuses below appear in AIM materials as offering welding. Scheduling, start dates, and program details can vary by campus, so prospective students should confirm current availability with the specific campus.

Employer Connections and Graduate Outcomes at AIM

Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) positions career preparation as a core part of its welding training, but prospective students should know that welding-specific placement and salary outcomes are not published on the school's program pages. For the most accurate picture, contact admissions or career services at the campus you plan to attend.

Career Services and Job Search Support

AIM offers general career support that can help welding students prepare for the job market. Services typically include résumé and cover letter help, interview coaching, job search guidance, and assistance identifying openings for welding and fitting jobs in fabrication, construction, and related trades. Because the school operates multiple campuses, the exact level of support may vary by location, so confirm what is available at your intended campus before enrolling.

Employer Connections

The school does not publish a fixed list of employer partners specifically for welding graduates. Some campuses may work with welder staffing companies, local manufacturers, maintenance operations, or contractors, but those connections are not detailed in a national directory. Ask the campus career services office which employers have hired recent welding completers, whether any career fairs or on-campus recruiting events are scheduled, and whether local employers return to the same campus for repeat hires.

Graduate Outcomes and Placement Data

AIM does not publish program-level employment rates, earnings, or job placement percentages for welding completers in a format that lets you compare campuses or programs side by side. The lack of published data does not mean graduates are not finding work, but it does mean you should not rely on general school marketing when making an enrollment decision.

Request these items from admissions before you commit: - Placement rate: What percentage of welding completers found employment in the field within six or twelve months? - Starting wages: What is the typical hourly or annual pay for recent welding graduates? - In-field employment: How many graduates work in welding or a closely related trade versus an unrelated job? - Employer list: Which local employers have hired AIM welding graduates in the past two years?

Alumni Network and Ongoing Support

AIM's broader alumni network may offer informal referrals and mentoring, but published alumni outcome data specific to welding is limited. Staying in contact with instructors and career services after graduation can be valuable, because local employers often look to the same campus for their next welding hire.

Related Articles