Advanced Welding Technology is a Certificate Of Completion program offered by Advanced Career Institute in Bakersfield, CA. The program takes 38 weeks to complete, with a total tuition of $17,132.
Program Overview
Advanced Career Institute trains students to weld at the professional level — from reading blueprints and understanding metalworking to passing American Welding Society (AWS) performance qualification tests. No prior experience is required. Whether someone is starting from scratch or switching into the trades, ACI’s Welding program covers the practical skills employers in construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and more are actively looking for.
This is ACI’s sole welding program — a comprehensive, entry-level course for students with little to no prior welding experience. It covers the full range of welding processes used in today’s workforce, along with the safety, math, and trade knowledge employers expect on day one.
Students who complete the program receive a Certificate of Completion from ACI. They also have the opportunity to take two AWS welder performance qualification tests, with qualifications available in the horizontal, vertical, overhead, and 6G pipe welding positions.
What sets this Program apart
Hands-On Training from Day One. Students spend the majority of their time at the welding booth. The program is built around practical, lab-based training so graduates leave with real shop experience — not just classroom knowledge.
Experienced Instructors. ACI’s welding instructors bring real-world shop and field experience into the program. Students learn safety practices, welding techniques, and industry standards from professionals who have worked in the trade.
Five Welding Processes in One Program. The curriculum covers Oxy-Acetylene, SMAW (Stick), GMAW (MIG), FCAW (Flux Core) and GTAW (TIG). All of these methods are taught with both ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
AWS Qualification Testing Preparation. Students who complete the program have the opportunity to test for AWS welder performance qualifications in the horizontal, vertical, overhead, and 6G positions.
Admission Requirements and Process
Admission to ACI and the Advanced Welding Technology program includes completion of the Institution admission requirements and the physical ability to carry out the tasks associated with the welding industry. Admission to the institution is open to all individuals who are past the age of compulsory attendance in the State of California and provide a U.S. High School Diploma, GED, a recognized state equivalent or pass this institution’s Entrance Examination. Students enrolling in the Advanced Welding Technology program must have a High School Diploma, GED, or a recognized state equivalent to be eligible for any federal financial aid.
General Requirements
- Minimum ageYou must be past the age of compulsory attendance in the State of California (18).
- High school diploma or entrance examProvide a U.S. High School Diploma, GED, a recognized state equivalent or pass this institution’s Entrance Examination; a diploma, GED or state equivalent is required to be…
- Physical abilityYou must have the physical ability to carry out the tasks associated with the welding industry.
- Identification documentsProvide a copy of a valid driver license or photo identification card and a copy of your Social Security card.
- English proficiencyEnglish is the sole language of instruction, so you must be able to read and write English at the level of a graduate of an American high school.
- Facility tourFor all on campus programs each student is required to tour the facilities prior to enrollment.
Application Process
- 1Meet admissions requirementsReview and meet the admissions requirements for your chosen program.
- 2Complete the pre-application and interviewComplete the ACI pre-application and interview process with an Admissions Officer.
- 3Provide your documentsProvide a valid driver’s license/photo identification card, high school diploma (or equivalent), and social security card.
- 4Complete financial aid formsComplete Financial Aid forms (if you qualify); the student must make financial arrangements with the Financial Aid Office before enrolling.
- 5Attend orientationAttend orientation; every student in an on-campus program is required to tour the facilities prior to enrollment.
- 6Complete the entrance examination and paperworkComplete the entrance examination (if required) and other required paperwork, and obtain a copy of the school catalog/student handbook.
- 7Sign your enrollment formsComplete and sign your enrollment forms, including the school enrollment agreement and disclosure forms.
- 8Begin trainingBegin training on your scheduled start date.
Program Schedule
Program length. 760 clock hours / 49 quarter credit hours, a 38 week program.
Class times (Monday through Friday). Morning 6:00 AM–10:00 AM; Daytime 10:30 AM–2:30 PM; Afternoon 2:30 PM–6:30 PM; Evening 7:00 PM–11:00 PM. Class times are subject to change.
Start dates. The 2026 academic calendar lists Bakersfield welding class starts on November 10, 2026, December 24, 2026.
- November 10th, 2026
- December 24th, 2026
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Cost of attendance. Tuition is $17,132 and the registration fee is $250, for total charges of $17,382 (2026 California School Catalog & Student Handbook, Vol. 26 v1.2, Current Fee Schedule p.91). Tuition includes all books, supplies and materials needed for the program. The Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) fee is assessed upon enrollment and is included in the charges above.
Registration fee. A $250 non-refundable registration fee applies to students who commence class; ACI retains only $100 of it if a student does not commence class.
Financial aid. Advanced Career Institute is approved by the US Department of Education as an institution eligible to participate in the Title IV federal student financial assistance programs. Available aid includes Federal Pell Grants, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, private loans, institutional payment plans, VA benefits (including GI Bill®), WIOA and Department of Rehabilitation funding. Students enrolling in the Advanced Welding Technology program must have a High School Diploma, GED, or a recognized state equivalent to be eligible for any federal financial aid. To be considered for Federal Financial Aid, a student must complete the FAFSA; ACI’s federal school code is 042089.
Net Price Calculator. ACI publishes a Net Price Calculator for the Advanced Welding Technology program on its Consumer Information page.
Curriculum
The following courses are required to obtain a certificate in this program: 240 lecture clock hours (24 quarter credits) and 520 laboratory clock hours (25.16 quarter credits), 760 clock hours in total (2026 California School Catalog & Student Handbook, Vol. 26 v1.2, pp.73-75).
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Career Outcomes
The program prepares students for entry-level welding positions across a wide range of fields, including: Construction; Agriculture; General Purpose Machinery; Commercial and Industrial Machinery; Equipment Repair and Maintenance; Architectural and Structural Metals Manufacturing; and Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing.
Welding graduates can work across a range of industries in California and Nevada, including construction, manufacturing, agriculture equipment repair, and pipeline work. Job types vary by specialty:
- Structural welding, building and repairing frames for construction and heavy equipment
- Pipe welding, joining pipe systems for utilities, refineries, and agriculture
- Fabrication welding, building custom metal parts and structures in a shop setting
- Maintenance welding, repairing equipment and machinery on-site for manufacturers or farms
School Performance Fact Sheet, calendar years 2023 & 2024 (published December 1, 2025). As filed with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education for this program at the Bakersfield campus:
On-time completion.
- 2023: 56 of 79 students available for graduation completed on time (71% on-time completion rate)
- 2024: 86 of 101 students available for graduation completed on time (85% on-time completion rate)
Job placement in the field.
- 2023: 56 of 65 graduates available for employment were employed in the field (86% placement rate)
- 2024: 61 of 85 graduates available for employment were employed in the field (72% placement rate)
What to expect as a Advanced Career Institute student
Hands-On Curriculum & Training. Advanced Career Institute has formulated its curriculum to meet the needs of students who are career-focused. Our hands-on curriculum and training are designed to help students adapt quickly. They experience a smooth transition from study to practical application in their new career.
Class Size. Classes generally range in size. However, ACI monitors enrollment for each class in order to keep class sizes as small as possible.
Short-Term, Accelerated Programs. Our on-going class starts throughout the year, and options for daytime or evening classes, give students flexibility.
Family Atmosphere. At ACI we pride ourselves in our commitment to provide a family atmosphere for people of all walks of life that fosters personal growth, empowerment through knowledge, and an everlasting sense of belonging to each of our campuses.
Campus Address
Why Accreditation Is Important
Advanced Career Institute is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE), a national institutional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and is approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). ACI holds memberships with the American Welding Society (AWS) Recognized Curriculum and the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER).
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide
Accreditations
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