Welding Technology

The Welding Technology program prepares individuals for employment in the field of welding. Instruction is provided in various processes and techniques of welding including oxyfuel cutting, arc cutting, shielded metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, flux-cored arc welding, gas metal arc welding, pipe-welding, plasma arc cutting, blueprint reading, weld symbols, and joints. Graduates will be prepared for entry-level employment as a welder, metal fabricator/assembler, pipefitter, tool/die maker, sheet metal worker, boilermaker, etc.

Our welding technology program emphasizes the development of real hands-on skills in layout and fitting. Students also take advantage of Penn Commercial’s on-site, modern welding facility. Our goal is to prepare individuals for employment in the field of welding through extensive exposure to welding practices and principles that build the potential for a rewarding career in a variety of industries.

Industry qualifications tested on campus. Students are prepared for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the American Welding Society (AWS), and the American Petroleum Institute (API) qualifications and will test in these areas as they progress through the program. All testing is completed on campus and evaluated by an outside quality control consultant; the fee for one attempt at each test is included in the cost of the program.

Weld shop. Precision TIG machines, power wave machines, Power MIG machine, 10 booths, exhaust system, cutting tables and torches, grinding tables, metal/steel storage area, gas cylinders and storage area, grinders, and a variety of tool and safety equipment.

Penn Commercial welcomes prospective students interested in its training programs. Prior to signing an enrollment agreement, all applicants are required to review the comprehensive School Catalog and consumer disclosure information. Admission to any of Penn Commercial’s programs requires a high school diploma or GED certificate, and you’ll be asked to sign a release form to obtain your official transcripts so we can confirm that this has been achieved.

Applicants may sign an enrollment agreement and receive conditional acceptance prior to submitting all required documentation. However, enrollment is not complete, and classes cannot commence until all admission requirements, including proof of high school graduation or equivalency, have been fulfilled. High school seniors who submit applications prior to graduation and meet all other admission criteria will be conditionally accepted.

Classes can be scheduled any time Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Students are scheduled for CPR during their first quarter of classes.

The next start date is January 4, 2027.

2026 tuition and fees. The school’s 2026 Tuition and Fees Schedule lists the following for this program (program total $23,537):

• Tuition: $16,926
• Books / supplies: $1,600
• Lab fee: $3,300
• Professional liability insurance: $26
• CPR and welding qualification fees: $1,500
• Graduation fee: $75
• Application fee: $25
• Registration fee: $85

What the fees cover. The application fee includes the cost of the entrance exam and the administrative fee to process applications; the registration fee includes the key fob, photo ID badge, high school transcript charges and overall matriculation; the lab fee/consumables covers lab supplies, equipment and maintenance, electronic library system, software licensing, campus internet and technology, and clinical rotation fees; the graduation fee includes degree/diploma preparation and the ceremony.

Financial aid. Penn Commercial is an eligible institution approved by the United States Department of Education for participation in various Title IV programs. Students who want to apply for federal aid (and state aid, if applicable) must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year at studentaid.gov; Penn Commercial’s FAFSA school code is 004902. Various types of aid for the eligible student may include: PA State Grant, Federal Pell Grant, Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford/Ford Loan, Federal PLUS Loan, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study, Pennsylvania Targeted Industry Program Grant, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) and other agency funding, Department of Public Assistance, Trade Assistance Act Benefits, Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, private loans, institutional payment plans, employer reimbursement and scholarships.

Veterans. Penn Commercial is approved for the training of veterans and will not impose any penalty on a covered individual because of the delayed disbursement of funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33.

Scholarships. The Stanley S. Bazant Scholarship may be awarded for students entering a technical program of study at Penn Commercial (deadline May 1); it amounts to 25% of tuition per quarter.

Payment. For current students who make monthly payments, tuition is due by the second of every month; a twenty ($20) dollar late fee is applied to payments received after the due date. Tuition and fees may be subject to increase with 60-days written notice.

Living expenses. The school’s cost-of-attendance chart lists, per 9-month period (minimum): room and board $4,500 for a student living with a parent or $9,000 for a student not living with a parent; personal expenses $1,800; transportation $2,700. Program costs need to be added to these figures to calculate the cost of attendance.

Graduates will be prepared for entry-level employment in industries such as manufacturing, specialty trade contractors, repair and maintenance, merchant wholesalers and construction, as:

• Welder
• Metal fabricator/assembler
• Pipefitter
• Tool/die maker
• Sheet metal worker
• Boilermaker

Student achievement rates. As reported by Penn Commercial to ACCSC in the school’s 2025 Annual Report, for the Welding Technology cohort (10/2022 - 9/2023): graduation rate 73% (8 of 11); employment rate 75% (6 of 8).

Who hires our grads. Aerotek, CB Mining, Gillen Construction, GMS Mine Repair, Heartland Fabrication, Job-Fab, PA Transformer Tech., Pipefitter Local Union, Shale Tank Solutions, W.G. Tomko Inc. and many more.

Schedule. Welding Technology classes for the 12-month diploma (78 quarter credits) can be scheduled any time Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Students are scheduled for CPR during their first quarter of classes, and core courses must be passed with a grade of C or better.

Orientation. All incoming students, and returning students who have been absent for six months or more, are required to attend orientation before classes start. During orientation you become acquainted with the campus, meet key administrative staff, instructors and fellow students, and learn about important policies and procedures. If you cannot attend the scheduled orientation, your admission representative can arrange an alternative date/time before classes start.

Attendance. All students are expected to attend all scheduled classes, including clinical and externship rotations, in a regular and punctual manner. Attendance is recorded in fifteen-minute increments and becomes part of the student's permanent academic record, and there is no distinction between an excused and an unexcused absence. Students who exceed attendance thresholds may be placed on attendance warning and probation, and a student is withdrawn after fourteen consecutive calendar days of non-attendance.

Class size. Class sizes vary by program. Lecture/lab classes typically maintain a student-to-teacher ratio of 9:1, and laboratory/shop classes provide hands-on training using industry-standard equipment.

Dress code and ID. Strict adherence to the dress code is mandatory in all classrooms, laboratories and clinical settings; each program's specific dress code is communicated during enrollment. Students must display their photo identification badge at all times on campus and at externship or clinical sites, and every student receives a personalized key fob to enter and exit the building.

Graduation. To graduate, students must complete all required coursework with a passing grade, accumulate the credits or clock hours required for their program, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, complete 100% of any required externship or clinical hours, fulfill all financial obligations, complete the exit interview process if applicable, and adhere to their program's attendance policies.