Welding Technology

The Welding Technology program offers training in the basic skills and knowledge needed in the operation of welding equipment through basic and advanced welding techniques. Students will gain the knowledge and performance potential to work in the industrial, commercial, or private sector as entry-level welders, and will learn proper safety procedures in the operation, care and maintenance of machinery and instruments related to their vocation.

Topics include oxy-fuel and plasma cutting, welding, and brazing, shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), CNC plasma cutting table, and CNC press brake operations. Classroom instruction is integrated with lab assignments to provide each student with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in the welding field. The program covers 972 clock hours and 37 credit hours in two sixteen-week terms and one five-week summer term. The summer term includes a 60-hour directed studies course where students apply the knowledge learned in the program.

Welding could take you all over the world. NWTI’s graduates have gone from never welding before to welding for an aerospace company or traveling all over the US working on plant shut downs. In 11 short months you can become a certified welder and start your new career. NWTI has partnerships with many great companies looking for people who are eager to learn and willing to work hard.

• Students practise for the AWS welding certification test, with the option of testing in the SMAW, GMAW, FCAW or GTAW process; program fees include a $125 certification exam in the second semester.
• Training covers CNC plasma cutting table and CNC press brake operations.
• Welding Technology is part of NWTI’s articulation agreement with Northwest Arkansas Community College.

Northwest Technical Institute is open to all persons who have completed high school or its equivalent and meet required entrance test scores. Enrollment is not complete until the following have been received and reviewed by the school:

• Completed Application for Enrollment
• $10.00 Application Fee
• Official transcripts of high school credit and graduation and/or GED scores, and official transcripts of previous post-secondary education
• Accuplacer® or ACT® exam scores (taken within the last three years). A $10.00 fee is assessed before taking the Accuplacer exam at NWTI.
• Immunization records

Federal Student Aid and Northwest Technical Institute reserve the right to evaluate the validity of a student’s high school diploma if the institution or FSA has reason to believe that the diploma is not valid or was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education. Due to limited space in certain programs, students may be required to complete an admissions interview as part of the selection process.

Minimum entrance scores. Students applying to Automotive Service Technology, Diesel Truck Technology, Electronics and Automation Technology, Information Systems, Industrial Maintenance and Ammonia Refrigeration Technology, and Welding Technology must submit minimum scores from one of the approved exams: ACT® Reading Comprehension 10 and Math 16, or Next Generation Accuplacer® Reading Comprehension 224 and Arithmetic 222 (or Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics 220).

Immunizations. Act 141 of 1987 requires that full-time students born on or after January 1, 1957 provide NWTI with two immunization records dated after the first birthday against measles and rubella, or an authorized waiver (religious or health reasons only) signed by the appropriate official.

Classes meet Monday through Friday, 8:00am – 3:00pm. The program runs two sixteen-week terms plus a five-week summer term. Semester I covers Intro to Welding, Welding Concepts, Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Gas Metal Arc Welding and Technical Mathematics I; Semester II covers Technical Communications I, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, Advanced Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Welding Techniques and the Welding Application Lab; the 60-hour Directed Study is completed in the summer.

Application enrollment dates. Application enrollment runs February 1 – May 31 and August 1 – November 1, with semester starts in fall 2026 and spring 2027.

2026-2027 calendar. New Student Orientation is August 10 and the fall semester begins August 17, 2026 (ending December 14). Spring orientation is January 12 and the spring semester begins January 19, 2027 (ending May 17). The summer semester runs May 19 – June 23, 2027, with graduation on June 24. For financial-aid purposes the academic year is two 16-week semesters and a 5-week summer term.

Estimated cost. The estimated cost of the program, including in-state tuition, fees, books and supplies, is $7,850.

Tuition. For 2026-2027, diploma-program tuition is $85.00 per credit hour in-state and $90.00 per credit hour out-of-state. Fees include a $10.00 application fee, and per-semester administrative ($75), facilities ($75), student support ($170) and technology ($140) fees for full-time students. Welding program fees are a $200 textbook fee (fall), a $400 lab fee, a $325 consumable fee and a $400 tools and equipment replacement fee (each fall and spring), and a $125 certification exam fee in the second semester.

Financial aid. The Financial Aid Office administers Title IV funding, the Pell Grant, as well as state aid programs; federal aid may cover school expenses, including tuition and fees, books, and supplies. To determine financial need, complete the FAFSA — NWTI’s school code is 014044. The Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be paid back. NWTI chooses not to take part in the Federal Direct Loan program; students interested in an alternative loan can apply for the Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loan® for Career Training.

Paying your bill. Payments are due the first day of class each semester, but NWTI allows students up to the census date (11th day of class in fall and spring, 5th day in summer) to pay or arrange payment. In extenuating circumstances, a Tuition Installment Plan may be granted for fall and spring, with a 25% down payment. Arkansas citizens aged 60 or older are exempt from tuition for credit courses.

Refunds. Diploma tuition is refunded 100% before the first class meeting, 75% during the first week, 50% during the second week, and not after the second week.

A Northwest Technical Institute Welding Technology graduate is qualified for a variety of job positions, including:

• Entry-level welder
• Production welder
• Pipeline welder
• Aerospace welder
• Repair welder at a job shop
• Automotive, trucking and motorcycle industry welder
• Ship welder
• Entrepreneur

Welding is a fun and challenging career with lots of exciting job opportunities, and now is the best time to start a welding career because of the high demand and good pay opportunities.

Associate degree pathway. NWTI does not offer associate degrees, but Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) will accept up to 30 hours of elective credit toward an Associate of General Studies or an Associate of Applied Science from this NWTI diploma once the diploma is completed.

The program’s objectives are to learn proper safety procedures in the operation, care, and maintenance of machinery and instruments; develop good working habits necessary to obtain and sustain employment; learn welding and metal fabrication techniques; and develop awareness of the importance of work ethic and high-quality workmanship.

Academic requirements. Students must maintain a 2.0 or greater cumulative grade point average and a 70% (2.0) grade in each welding course. A student below 70% in any course may be exited from the program and will be encouraged to reapply the following year. Grades are posted to the Campus Portal periodically.

Dress code. Appropriate, reasonable dress and appearance are required. Personal protection such as hoods and gloves are the responsibility of the student, and students will not be able to train without proper safety equipment.