Best Welding Schools in Oklahoma

The best welding schools in Oklahoma provide expert welding training in state-of-the-art facilities, paving the way for aspiring welders to pursue a promising career in welding.

Careers in welding offer many opportunities in a variety of industries. Oklahoma City is one of the most developed cities in the USA. The need for experienced welders is increasing in Oklahoma due to Oklahoma’s expanding industries. If you are looking for a secure job with a good salary, welding can be a great option.

In Oklahoma, you’ll discover numerous exceptional welding schools offering comprehensive programs to equip you with the necessary knowledge and hands-on experience for success in the welding industry. 

As you explore the best welding schools in Oklahoma, consider complementing your research by reading our article on Underwater Welding Schools in Florida. It’s a valuable resource for expanding your understanding of welding opportunities beyond state borders.

Requirements to Become a Welder

Education or training requirements for welding vary depending on the employer and job role. There are some training and certification options available to help you become a welder. These include:

1. Welding Certificate Program

Many community colleges and technical schools offer welding certificate programs that instruct and provide training in welding techniques. Some welding programs also include courses on welding safety, blueprint reading, and welding codes and standards.

2. Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)

The American Welding Society (AWS) offers the CWI certification program for welders who wish to become welding inspectors. To become a CWI, candidates must have welding experience and education, as well as pass both written and practical exams.

3. Pipe Welding Certification

Many employers often require pipe welders to be certified in pipe welding. To become certified, you must pass a welding test that assesses your skill to weld pipes according to specific criteria.

4. Welding Performance Qualification (WPQ)

WPQ certification demonstrates your ability to perform welding activities according to a certain standard. To obtain the WPQ, you must pass a welding test administered by your employer or a registered testing institute.

List of Top 11 Best Welding Schools in Oklahoma

1. Indian Capital Technology Center – Muskogee

• Type: Public 
• Established: 1970

Indian Capital Technology Center (ICTC) in Muskogee offers a welding program that will prepare you for entry-level welding careers. Their program follows criteria established by the American Welding Society (AWS), a leading industry group. 

You’ll get practical training in a variety of welding processes including Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), and Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) at this one of the best welding schools in Oklahoma. The program also covers cutting techniques and safety procedures. ICTC’s welding program can help you get started or advance your skills in the welding industry.

2. Oklahoma Panhandle State University

• Type: Public university 
• Established: 1909

Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU) offers a Welding Technology Certificate program that will provide you with the skills you need to start your welding career. This hands-on program emphasizes practical instruction and technical skills in welding processes. 

If you are looking to change careers or enter the welding field, this welding school in Oklahoma is a perfect option. OPSU also offers Associate of Applied Science degrees in drafting, industrial technology, and metal technology, which include welding and other essential skills.

3. Tulsa Welding School 

• Type: Private institution
• Established: 1949

Tulsa Welding School, founded in 1949, is a vocational school that prepares students for careers in welding, HVAC, refrigeration, and electrical. With campuses in Oklahoma, Florida, and Texas, they offer diploma and Associate degree programs with a focus on practical learning and preparing graduates for the workforce.

The welding school has high rates of financial aid awards and a focus on practical skills to help students begin careers in the metalworking field. Tulsa Welding School is the best place to study Welding. This welding school in Oklahoma has many excellent and experienced instructors who are former or active experts in the field.

4. Mid-Del Tech Center

• Type: Public 
• Established: 1965

The welding program at Mid-Del Tech Center prepares you for careers in structural welding, including opportunities in the construction and petroleum industries. The program teaches welding theory, construction, blueprint interpretation, and safety measures. You will be given practical training in Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Flux-cored Arc Welding (FCAW), and Gas Tungsten Arc arc Welding (GTAW). 

The welding program at this welding school in Oklahoma also prepares you for American Welding Society (AWS) certification and lets you participate in SkillsUSA, a student group where you can compete and develop leadership skills.

5. Great Plains Technology Center

• Type: Public 
• Established: 1971

Great Plains Technology Center offers a Combination Welder program that will prepare you for careers in welding in many construction and manufacturing sectors.  

You will receive practical training in multiple welding techniques, such as Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) along with learning about welding theory, safety protocols, blueprint reading, and metal properties.

The program at this welding school in Oklahoma emphasizes practical skills to produce high-quality welds that comply with industry standards and also covers the fundamentals of pipe welding. Furthermore, the welding program will provide you with the knowledge and experience you need to obtain industry certification and potentially begin your welding career.

6. Autry Technology Center

• Type: Public institution 
• Established: 1967

Autry Technology Center’s Welding Technology program prepares students for a welding career by providing practical instruction in gas and arc welding techniques, such as MIG, TIG, stick, flux core, and submerged arc welding. Training also covers welding theory, signal interpretation, blueprint reading, and pipe layout. 

Led by instructor Ryland Stonehocker, who has industry expertise in both shop labor and management, the program at this welding school in Oklahoma prepares students for success in the welding industry.

7. Meridian Technology Center

• Type: Public 
• Established: 1994

Meridian Technology Center offers a welding program that can prepare you for a career in this in-demand field. Whether you want to work for a large company or start your own business, the program teaches a variety of techniques including Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Gas Metal Arc Welding, Flux Cored Arc Welding, and Oxy-fuel Cutting. 

The welding school in Oklahoma has options ranging from entry-level programs to 2-year Associate of Applied Science degrees, and you can even earn certifications from NCCER and OSHA.

8. Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center

• Type: Public 
• Established: 1980

Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center is an excellent place to study welding. The institute has state-of-the-art resources and materials to help you succeed in your studies, and lecturers will assist you in any way you need. Welding programs are highly ranked and can be completed in a variety of ways.  

You have the option to choose between pipe-fitting welding, structural welding, and combination welding. At this welding school in Oklahoma, students learn from dedicated experts and skilled instructors, gaining practical knowledge and skills that will qualify them for entry-level careers in the industry.

9. Moore Norman Technology Center

• Type: Public Institution
• Established: 1972

Moore Norman Technology Center, established several years ago, aims to provide comprehensive education in vocational and technology fields. Renowned for its top-tier programs, the center takes a modern, future-focused approach to delivering programs. The welding program at this welding school in Oklahoma trains potential adult welders as well as local high school juniors and seniors. 

The Technology Center offers 1-year and 2-year program options. The 1-year program focuses on fundamental technologies, such as electric arc, oxyacetylene, TIG, and MIG welding, while the 2-year program covers advanced pipe welding, CNC plasma cutting, and robotic welding. Furthermore, the institution’s well-equipped laboratories provide students with hands-on experience with a variety of equipment, preparing them for a successful future in welding.

10. Gordon Cooper Technology Center

• Type: Public 
• Established: 1968

Gordon Cooper Technology Center offers a full-time Applied Welding Technology program that prepares you for a welding career. The program gives you practical experience in oxyacetylene welding and cutting, various electric arc welding techniques, and reading blueprints.

At this welding school in Oklahoma, classes are offered in the morning and afternoon, and high school students can earn maths credit while attending. You will graduate with industry-ready skills in many welding processes, safety rules, and terminology, qualifying you for welding-related job prospects.

11. Francis Tuttle Technology Center

• Type: Public 
• Established: 1979

Francis Tuttle Technology Center offers a welding program designed to prepare you for a career in this high-demand field. The program equips you with the skills to weld various metals, such as steel, aluminum, and stainless steel using various techniques, such as Shielded Metal Arc (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc (GMAW), and Gas Tungsten Arc (GTAW).

You will also learn to operate oxygen-acetylene and plasma-cutting equipment. The welding school in Oklahoma also has evening classes for those looking for a more flexible schedule. Overall, the program incorporates practical learning and prepares you to qualify for the American Welding Society’s D1.1 Structural Code. 

7 Types of Welding Jobs

• MIG Welder: MIG welders use an electric arc and inert gas to measure, cut, and assemble metal components. They enable safe and effective assembly in all operations as well as strong joints during and after project completion. They accurately interpret drawings and specifications to calculate the proper gas ratio.
• Sheet Metal Worker: Sheet metal workers fabricate, install, and maintain thin sheet metal goods. They weld thin sheet metals and equivalent materials, join metal seams, create support frames, and bolt items together.
• Tool and Die Maker: Tool and die makers analyze requirements, operate machines, and fit and assemble components to make dies. They cut, shape, and trim blocks to specific lengths and shapes, and use computer-aided design software to create new tools and dies.
• Welding Inspector: Welding inspectors ensure that welding-related activities meet quality and safety requirements. They ensure that materials are proper and in order, and they oversee repair operations according to established protocols.
• Master Plumber: Master plumbers plan preventive maintenance, repair, and monitor backflow preventers. They service and repair common plumbing components.
• Pipefitter: Pipefitters oversee and manage the design, construction, installation, and maintenance of pipe systems. They weld, solder, and use welding equipment or clamps to attach pipes to fixtures.
• Fabricator: Fabricators as well as welders create, cut, and shape metal. They assess engineering blueprints and perform effective welding on a variety of metal objects.

FAQs.

Conclusion 

Welding schools in Oklahoma play a vital role in meeting the state’s growing demand for talented welders. These programs provide learners with the knowledge and credentials needed to pursue employment in a variety of industries, including construction, manufacturing, and oil and gas. Oklahoma welding schools bridge the gap between eager students and a thriving job market by teaching various welding techniques and safety measures.