Welding Technology is a Certificate program offered by Withlacoochee Technical College in Inverness, FL. The program takes 1,050 clock hours to complete, with a total tuition of $3,066.
Program Overview
The program prepares students for employment as a welder or fabricator. Instruction includes learning experiences in the joining and cutting of metal materials with the different welding and cutting processes which industry requires.
Laboratory experiences include the welding of many different joint designs and fabrication of projects such as frames, trailers, and tanks. Classroom activities include learning basic metallurgy, shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) (STICK, ARC), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) (TIG, Heliarc), gas metal arc welding (GMAW) (MIG), flux cored arc welding (FCAW), submerged arc welding (SAW), oxyacetylene processes (welding, brazing, soldering, cutting), plasma arc cutting (PAC), pipe welding, welding inspection, welding certification, blueprint reading, and the theory of welding and cutting processes. Related instruction includes safety, basic shop skills, employability skills, and entrepreneurship.
Program. Welding Technology is a 1,050-hour Career and Technical Education certificate program (Florida program number J400400) at Withlacoochee Technical College in Inverness. A certificate of completion and/or licensure eligibility is issued to each student who successfully completes the competencies and meets the basic skills requirement for the program.
What sets this Program apart
Mission. The mission of the Welding Technology program is to prepare students to be informed, responsible, and productive members of the Welding profession who will be able to flourish in an increasingly complex occupation and who believe learning is a lifelong process.
Accredited college. Withlacoochee Technical College is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, celebrating 41 years of accreditation, and is an approved training site of the Florida State Board of Cosmetology, Florida State Board of Nursing, Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, Florida Board of Massage Therapy, Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and HVAC Excellence. All programs offered at WTC are approved and regulated by the Florida Department of Education.
Articulation. Many of WTC’s programs have articulation agreements with the state’s college system: depending on the program of study, a student who completes a particular program can earn up to 15 credits toward an associate degree in a related field.
Admission Requirements and Process
Post-secondary admission. Students 16 years or older are eligible to apply for admission to many of WTC’s programs. The admissions process must be completed before enrollment and, with a few exceptions, programs are open for enrollment in August and January of each school year. Most programs admit students on a first-come, first-served basis; if the program is full, a waiting list is maintained.
Enrollment process. The enrollment process includes completing the online application, testing and counseling (if required), meeting with an advisor, and paying the nonrefundable enrollment fee. Student Services will arrange tours of the campus and/or appointments with instructors to view the classroom/shop areas.
Residency. Two forms of documentation providing at least 12 consecutive months of residency prior to enrolling, and a completed Residency Affidavit, are needed to qualify for in-state tuition. Honorably discharged veterans and other students using educational assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs may qualify for an out-of-state fee waiver.
Transfer of credit. Students who attended other accredited technical centers may submit copies of their records at the time of application; records are reviewed by counselors in conjunction with individual instructors to determine if credit can be transferred.
General Requirements
- At least 16 years oldStudents 16 years or older are eligible to apply for admission to many of WTC’s programs.
- Proof of Florida residencyProvide two forms of documentation showing at least 12 consecutive months of residency prior to enrolling, and complete the Residency Affidavit.
- Transcript or CASAS resultsProvide an official transcript from high school, a college diploma, or CASAS results.
- Basic skillsMeet the basic skills levels for the program to exit as a full program completer.
- Meet with an advisorComplete testing and counseling (if required) and meet with an advisor before enrolling.
Application Process
- 1Gather your documentsTwo forms of documentation providing at least 12 consecutive months of residency, a completed Residency Affidavit, and an official transcript from high school, a college diploma, or CASAS results.
- 2Complete the online applicationComplete the WTC online application, choosing the Career Technical Application as the form type.
- 3Apply for financial aidApply for the Federal Pell Grant with the FAFSA (WTC school code is 016258).
- 4Check your emailCheck your email for further instructions, then complete testing and counseling (if required), meet with an advisor and pay the nonrefundable enrollment fee.
Program Schedule
Schedule. Start Date: August, January. Time: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 2:15 pm.
Enrollment. Post-secondary students enroll in this program on a full-time basis. Dual enrollment students enroll in this program on a part-time or full-time basis depending on their high school schedule. The typical student would complete this program in 1050 hours.
Calendar. WTC uses a two-session calendar. The fall session, for most programs, starts in the beginning of August and ends in December; the spring session starts in January and ends in May. Short programs and licensure programs may start earlier or later than this schedule, and some programs, such as the Florida Law Enforcement Academy, are offered in the evenings and on weekends. Unless otherwise specified for the program, full-time post-secondary students attend class Monday through Friday with a scheduled 30-minute lunch break.
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Attending an accredited school means its training has been reviewed against independent standards that protect students.
This school: Withlacoochee Technical College is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
- A reliable indicator of educational quality
- Reviewed against independent standards
- Recognized by employers and licensing boards
Accreditations
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Tuition and fees. The 2026-2027 Post-Secondary Cost Sheet for Welding Technology (1,050 hours) lists:
- Enrollment Fee (non-refundable): $40.00
- Registration Fee (non-refundable): $30.00 + $30.00 (Session 1 + Session 2)
- Activity Fee (non-refundable): $30.00
- Tuition: $1,533.00 + $1,533.00 (Session 1 + Session 2)
- Lab Fee: $1,100.00 + $1,100.00 (Session 1 + Session 2)
- Florida Masonry Membership Fee (valid for 12 months): $40.00
- National Center for Construction Education and Research Exams: $87.00
- American Welding Society Testing: $500.00
Total for tuition and fees: $2,860.00 (Session 1) and $3,163.00 (Session 2).
Rates. Post-secondary students are assessed college fees and program tuition and fees which vary based on the number of clock hours in the program and instructional requirements; the in-state rate is $2.92 per clock hour, and students must meet residency requirements to qualify for in-state tuition rates. Some students may require additional hours to complete a program; additional blocks of time are available and tuition will be charged accordingly. All prices are subject to change pending vendor changes, legislative actions and/or district approval.
Paying. All payments are made in Student Services / Cashier’s Office; cash, check, Visa or Mastercard are accepted. Dual enrolled or shared high school students pay no tuition or fees.
Financial aid. Financial assistance is meant to supplement the efforts of the student and/or the student’s family and is available to eligible students. The following sources may be available to WTC students: Federal Pell Grant (WTC school code is 016258), Veterans’ Educational Benefits, State-based Scholarships and Grants, and Community-Based Scholarships. WTC does not provide student loans. The finalized FAFSA application and supporting documentation must be received by the WTC Financial Aid Office prior to the May 15th deadline to be eligible for approval and award.
Net Price Calculator. WTC publishes the federal Net Price Calculator, which uses student-entered and institution-provided data to estimate a net price at WTC.
Cost of attendance. Student budgets (cost of attendance) are a calculation component for determining financial aid assistance and are not the actual program cost; WTC’s COA is based on estimated costs over a 10-month period and includes average tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses.
Curriculum
Program content for the 1,050-hour program, as published on the program page and program information sheet:
- Oxyacetylene
- OAW arc welding
- FCAW flux core welding
- Basic understanding of pipe welding
- Brazing & cutting
- GMAW MIG welding
- GTAW TIG welding
WTC publishes the program content and its total length but no course-by-course hours, so no course table is shown.
Career Outcomes
Industry certification. The industry certification for this program is through the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Welding Levels 1– 3. Additional certifications can be earned through the American Welding Society (AWS).
Occupations. The program’s cost sheet lists Standard Occupational Classification code(s) 51-9198, 51-4121.
Learn more. The program information sheets point students to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics to learn more about the career field.
What to expect as a Withlacoochee Technical College student
Helpful information.
- Must be able to handle working in the heat (no AC)
- Must wear boots, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt
- Ability to lift 50 lbs
- Possess good depth perception
- Ability to climb a ladder
- Must be able to handle loud noises
- Ability to perform in stressful situations
Work-based learning. Opportunities to participate in work-based learning include customer work.
Basic skills. Students are required to meet basic skills levels to exit the program as a full program completer. The required scores to exit this program are Computation (Mathematics) 9 and Communications (Reading or Language Arts) 9.
Certificate. To earn a Certificate of Program Completion from WTC a student must pass all courses and OCPs in the program, settle all school debt, and meet Florida Basic Skills requirements for the program; licensing programs have more rigorous attendance and grade requirements.
Safety and insurance. Participating in any lab or clinical setting can be dangerous in nature and involves many risks of injury, so it is important to follow teacher instructions and safety rules and wear proper safety attire. WTC strongly encourages students to purchase some type of accident insurance; the Citrus County School District has arranged for low-cost accident insurance to be available to students.
Activities. Students are encouraged to participate in student organizations such as SkillsUSA, which promotes career development and leadership skills; WTC has an active chapter of the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) and a Trailblazers group for students in programs nontraditional to their gender.
Campus. Withlacoochee Technical College is located on State Road 44 in Inverness, approximately 75 miles north of Tampa; the campus consists of several buildings located on forty acres near the center of town. WTC is a public institution authorized by the State of Florida and operated by the Citrus County School District, and has an authorized assessment center on campus for ability tests, certification or licensure exams, and GED® exams.
Testimonials
Other Programs at Inverness
Withlacoochee Technical College in Inverness, FL also offers these 21 programs at 1201 W. Main Street, Inverness, FL 34450.
- Applied CybersecurityCertificate · 750 clock hours
- Computer Systems & Information TechnologyCertificate · 900 clock hours
- Correctional OfficerCertificate · 445 clock hours (approximately four months)
- CosmetologyCertificate · 1,200 clock hours
- Crossover from Correctional Officer to Law Enforcement OfficerCertificate · 518 clock hours
- Crossover from Law Enforcement Officer to Correctional OfficerCertificate · 223 clock hours
- ElectricityCertificate · 1,200 clock hours
- Equivalency of Training (EOT) - Correctional OfficerOther · About one week
- Equivalency of Training (EOT) - Law Enforcement OfficerOther · About one week
- Firefighter and EMT Combined AcademyCertificate · 792 clock hours (approximately 6 months)
- Florida Law Enforcement AcademyCertificate · 770 clock hours
- Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning/RefrigerationCertificate · 1,350 clock hours
- Industrial Machinery and Controls TechnicianCertificate · 1,200 clock hours
- Massage TherapyCertificate · 750 clock hours
- Master Automotive Service Technology 1Certificate · 1,050 clock hours (10 months)
- Master Automotive Service Technology 2Certificate · 750 clock hours (7 months)
- Medical AssistingCertificate · 900 clock hours
- Practical NursingCertificate · 1,350 clock hours
- Professional Culinary Arts & HospitalityCertificate · 1,200 clock hours
- Professional Nursing (LPN-RN)Certificate · 900 clock hours (approximately 12 months)
- Welding Technology - AdvancedCertificate · 750 clock hours