Skip to main content
Kansas Promise Scholarship logo on blue background

Your tuition could be paid for!

This program is eligible for the Kansas Promise Scholarship. See if you qualify.

Welders are essential for buildings, bridges, equipment and so much more! Prepare for your future with a certificate or Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding from Johnson County Community College. Work with your hands, be creative and live almost anywhere in the world when you choose this reliable career.

What Will I Learn about Metal Fabrication/Welding?

At JCCC, our metal fabrication and welding courses teach you the skills, techniques and resources to have a successful career in this trade.

As a welder, every day is different. You might do any of the following on a given day:

  • Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify specification conformance
  • Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly
  • Lift materials or workpieces using cranes or other equipment
  • Operate welding equipment (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW or SAW)
  • Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences
  • Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements
  • Operate cutting equipment (oxyacetylene, plasma, CAC-A, saws and metal shears)

Students in our welding program can choose between two options:

Metal Fabrication and Welding Certificate

Complete our 29 credit-hour certificate in as little as two semesters as a full-time day student. You will learn about safety, metal and workplace skills, while gaining experience working with materials and equipment. In this program, the focus is on stick, MIG (metal inert gas) and TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding.

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Metal Fabrication and Welding Technology Earn an associate degree in Metal Fabrication and Welding Technology in just two years as a full-time student at JCCC. In addition to the certificate courses and general education credits, students will learn about flux core welding, machine tooling and fabrication practices.

Why JCCC's Metal Fabrication/Welding Program?

JCCC’s Metal Fabrication/Welding training allows you to learn in small, hands-on classes from seasoned instructors who have years of experience in the field.

Most of our faculty are certified welding inspectors (CWI). This ensures that they have the knowledge to prepare students for welding certification and qualification tests that are used by companies in the hiring process. These include:

  • OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) 30-hour General Industry Safety & Health course completion card
  • AWS (American Welding Society) SENSE (Schools Excelling through National Skills) Level1
  • AWS SENSE Level2

You also will learn about the AWS SENSE, a comprehensive set of minimum standards and guidelines for welding education programs.

After completing your degree, your record stays on the AWS registry for three years at no cost to you.

If you’re considering transferring to a four-year school to further your education, look into our transfer agreements with Ottawa University, Pittsburg State University, and Kansas State University.

What Makes a Successful Metal Fabrication/Welding Student?

The Metal Fabrication/Welding program is intended to give you the welding skills needed to be successful in the industry. To reinforce the soft skills expected, you will also often have your grades affected by:
  • Following all safety rules.
  • On-time attendance to class
  • Ability to stay on task during classes (leave your phones in the car!)
  • Turning in assignments before deadlines set by instructors
  • Ability to explain concepts covered in text books
  • Ability to follow written and verbal instructions in various formats
  • Ability to adjust to different procedures in different classes
  • Ensuring that all required equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE) is purchased and maintained
  • Ability to see work being performed. We strongly recommend taking the Jaeger J2 at 12” eye exam.
You should have an eye exam and, if needed, prescription glasses within the last 12 months. Prescription safety glasses are available from many optometrists and can be more comfortable than wearing an extra set over prescription glasses. These safety glasses MUST have the ANSI Z87 markings and appropriate lenses. The welding industry commonly uses the Jaeger test as a standard to ensure welders and inspectors have acceptable vision to see welds and their flaws.
Justin L., JCCC graduate

"I thought the Welding program was great. The new lab is an awesome perk, but the best part was that the instructors seemed genuinely interested in helping students get jobs in the industry. Scott Crompton was the best; he helped me get my current job as a welder."

Daytime classes require department approval See how to apply

Certified welders have many job opportunities. In fact, almost every trade needs a welder. Welders are needed to:

  • Build bridges and buildings
  • Manufacture foodservice and medical equipment
  • Do maintenance and repair welding
  • Work on pipelines
  • Operate welding robots
  • Maintain aerospace equipment

The possibilities are limitless with a welding career. More than 80 percent of manufactured goods use welding. Skilled welders, cutters, steel fitters and brazers are in high demand as metropolitan areas grow and aging infrastructure needs repairing and replacing across the country.

To increase your employment opportunities, you also will learn some “soft” skills, such as business management and verbal and written communications.

The U.S. Department of Labor compiles statistics on the careers involving welding. You'll find information specifically related to careers in Kansas, including salary information and the job prospects.

Download the Welding Program Outlook (PDF) for employment projections and salary information.


Need help with career decisions? Visit the Career Development Center.

The cost of going to college can drastically impact your ability to succeed. At Johnson County Community College, we want our students to be able to afford a program that they love. That’s why we’re constantly working to make tuition more affordable for you.

Here’s what JCCC has to offer:

Textbook and other supply costs vary depending on your courses.

There are several things to consider when budgeting for college. Visit our Cost of Attendance page for detailed information.

Resources and Tools at JCCC

Being a student at JCCC means you have access to a range of services and resources to help you succeed. We offer professional tutoring and small, personalized class sizes. When you attend Johnson County Community College, your education truly matters.

The cost of going to school can be daunting. Fortunately, our Financial Aid office is here to help you through the process. Our counselors can help you find ways to fund your schooling, including scholarships and student loans, both of which can help to reduce the cost of your tuition every semester.

If you need help discovering what your passion will be post-graduation, our Career Development Center and Academic Counseling services are great support tools.

You can also further your education by transferring to a four-year school. JCCC is here to help make the transition to another college program easy and stress-free.