Your Guide to Tarrant County College Welding Programs

Welding Program Options and How Long They Take

TCC offers three welding credentials: a 22-credit Basic Welding Certificate, a 20-credit Advanced Welding Certificate, and a 60-credit Welding Technology AAS. The shorter certificates focus on hands-on welding skills, while the AAS adds general education and broader technician preparation.

The Three Credential Paths

• Basic Welding Certificate: 22 credits. A first-year completion option for entry-level welding skills; full-time students can typically finish in about two semesters, or 8 months.
• Advanced Welding Certificate: 20 credits. Offered at the South and Northwest campuses; full-time enrollment generally fits into about two semesters, or 8 months.
• Welding Technology AAS: 60 credits. Combines welding courses with general education and prepares students for technician, inspection, and supervisory roles; full-time completion is generally about four to five semesters, or 16 to 20 months.

The Basic Welding Certificate is built around courses such as WLDG 1428, WLDG 1430, WLDG 1312, WLDG 1417, and WLDG 1434. The Advanced Welding Certificate is identified at the South and Northwest campuses in recent TCC documents, but TCC does not publish a fixed term-by-term sequence for that credential.

Estimating Part-Time Completion

Part-time timelines are not published as fixed figures, but credit totals and common 6 to 8 credit loads produce reasonable estimates of welding school duration. A part-time Basic Welding Certificate often takes about 12 months. The Advanced Welding Certificate may take 12 to 16 months. The AAS typically takes 32 to 40 months part time. These timelines assume continuous fall and spring enrollment. Because course availability and prerequisites can vary, students should confirm the semester schedule with a TCC advisor.

Career Preparation and Stacking

The three options lead to different levels of preparation. The Basic Welding Certificate covers entry-level process skills and can serve as a practical starting point. The Advanced Welding Certificate deepens technique for students who already have exposure or want faster specialization. The AAS goes further by adding general education and preparing students for weld inspection and supervisory qualification. Students who want to start working quickly often choose a certificate, while those aiming for technician or supervisory positions may prefer the AAS. Since the Basic Certificate is structured as a first-year completion option, it can function as a stackable entry point for students who plan to continue into the Advanced Certificate or AAS.

TCC Welding Campus Locations and Training Facilities

Where the Program Is Based

TCC, one of the welding schools in Texas, has its 2026-2027 Welding Technology program officially listed at TCC Northwest and TCC South. The AAS and advanced certificate appear in the catalog for both locations, while the Alliance-area facility operates as a Northwest instructional site, not a separate credential location. Because the college does not publish location-by-location availability for every certificate or course, students should confirm specific offerings by campus before registering.

Northwest Campus and CEATL

Northwest welding is housed at the Erma C. Johnson Hadley Northwest Center of Excellence for Aviation, Transportation and Logistics, also known as CEATL, near Alliance Airport at 2301 Horizon Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76177. The center was opened to help meet regional workforce demand. Northwest's published curriculum includes SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, and GTAW, with a typical full-time sequence placing SMAW in first-year fall, GMAW in first-year spring, FCAW in second-year fall, and GTAW in second-year spring. TCC has not published a complete 2026 booth count or equipment list for this site, so prospective students should ask about current lab capacity.

South Campus

South Campus is also an official welding location. TCC lists a program contact for South, Doug Barnett, at [email protected]. The college has not published South's address, booth count, lab square footage, or a comparable facility description in the same detail as Northwest, and it has not confirmed that every major process is scheduled at South every term. Students who live closer to South should contact the department directly to verify which courses and credentials are available that semester.

Choosing Your Campus

If you want the most documented process sequence and a newer aviation- and transportation-focused training setting, Northwest at CEATL is the stronger published fit. If South is a shorter commute, email the South contact to verify current scheduling. Since evening, weekend, or accelerated options are not consistently published across locations, check directly with TCC before committing.

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Tuition, Fees, Tools, and Financial Aid

The central tradeoff is not just tuition per credit. It is what you will actually pay after books, tools, protective gear, and certification testing are added , the full welding school cost , especially if you do not qualify for Tarrant County residency rates.

Per-Credit Tuition and Published Program Totals

TCC's FY2026 schedule uses $74 per semester credit hour for Tarrant County residents. Out-of-district Texas residents pay $136 per credit, and out-of-state or non-resident alien students pay $315 per credit. The Welding Technology page lists in-county program totals of $4,440 for the 60-credit AAS, $1,628 for the 22-credit Basic certificate, and $1,480 for the 20-credit Advanced certificate. Those totals are described as tuition and fees and exclude textbooks and other materials.

Multiplying the credit-hour rates by the credit requirements gives rough tuition-only estimates. An out-of-district 60-credit AAS would be around $8,160 before fees, tools, or books. TCC does not publish a single out-of-state welding program total in the available materials, so contact the business office for that figure.

What TCC Does Not Break Out

The program page groups welding books, tools, protective equipment, and certification testing under "textbooks and other materials" without itemized prices. No TCC-specific 2026 welding book cost, tool cost, PPE cost, or welder certifications fee is published in the available sources. Students should budget separately for these items and ask the program coordinator for a current list before enrolling.

Financial Aid Options

• FAFSA: File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to apply for federal grants, loans, and work-study.
• Texas Public Educational Grant: Need-based aid for eligible Texas residents.
• TCC Foundation scholarships: May help cover tuition or materials.
• Workforce training grants: Available to eligible career and technical students.

Use TCC's Net Price Calculator for a personalized estimate after aid. The calculator starts with posted costs and applies grants and scholarships, but you will still need a current materials list from the program to fill in the books, tools, and certification gaps.

TCC Welding FAQ: Costs, Length, and Jobs

Here are quick answers to common questions about TCC welding credentials, costs, certification testing, and campus options. Because tuition and schedules change, always confirm the latest details directly with the college before enrolling.

How long does the TCC welding program take?

TCC offers three welding credentials: a 22-credit Basic certificate, a 20-credit Advanced certificate, and a 60-credit Welding Technology AAS. The Basic and Advanced certificates each take about 8 months full time; the AAS takes about 16 to 20 months. Actual time depends on full-time or part-time enrollment and which credential you choose, so confirm your schedule with an advisor.

How much does the TCC welding program cost?

TCC's Welding Technology page publishes tuition-and-fee totals for each welding credential. For Tarrant County residents, those totals are $1,628 for the 22-credit Basic certificate, $1,480 for the 20-credit Advanced certificate, and $4,440 for the 60-credit AAS. The college also lists a 60-hour SMAW course at $897, with a possible $299 rate for eligible residents after completion. Confirm current tuition and fees directly with TCC.

Does TCC offer welding certification testing on site?

Welding qualification testing is part of the credit curriculum. TCC lists WEL 141 and WEL 142, Welder Qualification Tests I and II. The 60-hour SMAW continuing-education course includes an AWS exam fee. However, available sources do not state that every certification test is offered on campus or that TCC is an AWS Accredited Test Facility.

Can I start TCC welding with no prior experience?

Yes, TCC's welding program is designed for beginners. The Basic Welding Certificate starts with entry-level welding skills, and the college's 60-hour introductory course is marketed to career changers and those adding a skill. No prior welding experience is required, though you should check admission, placement, and safety requirements.

Does the TCC welding program qualify for financial aid?

Credit-bearing welding certificates and degrees may qualify for federal and state financial aid, including Pell Grants, student loans, and TCC scholarships. Continuing-education courses often have separate funding options. Submit the FAFSA and speak with TCC's financial aid office to determine eligibility based on your enrollment status and program length.

Which TCC campus should I choose for welding?

The best campus depends on where welding courses are scheduled and your commute. TCC offers welding training through its Northwest and South campuses in Fort Worth. Check current course sections and facility hours before applying, and contact the campus welding department to confirm which credentials are available at each location.