Welcome to our selection of the best welding schools in the state of Rhode Island!
Here you will discover information about the skills needed for this profession and the schools that can prepare you for your first job in the field.
As a welder, you will spend your workday joining metals using a variety of techniques and processes.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, welders in Rhode Island earned $44,320 per year, on average, as of May 2023.
Before being ready to start your welding career, you have to complete a technical and hands-on training program that teaches you the skills needed for this profession.
While in welding school, students typically learn about:
- Materials used in welding and their application
- Welding symbols
- Bevel two pieces of metal properly for a welding application
- Types of welding joints performed in pipe welding
- Welding processes
- Welding safety
- And more
Most programs teach the following processes: SMAW/Stick, GTAW/TIG, GMAW/MIG, and FCAW/Dual Shield.
Program duration varies between a few months and a few years, depending on the school and the format you choose.
A certificate program is typically only a few months long, while an associate degree takes two years to complete.
We invite you to read our list and choose the format that best meets your needs.
#1New England Institute of Technology
About the School
The New England Institute of Technology offers a transformative educational experience and an industry-aligned, hands-on approach that prepares students for real-world success.
The institute offers a Welding Engineering Technology Associate Degree, AS.
Students enrolled in this program get the intensive, experience-based education they need to begin a career in the industry through the Associate of Science in Welding Engineering Technology degree program.
The program gives them the opportunity not only to hone their welding skills but also to learn about computer-aided design, building design, how to read blueprints, and other theories and best practices.
Students can complete an associate degree in as few as 18 months.
The curriculum is approved by the American Welding Society and provides students with SENSE certification.
The program is offered on the Access Road campus in Rhode Island.
In addition to welding and pipefitting, students also take courses in industrial Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety procedures and policy to prepare for the realities of working on a job site.
The program includes coursework in metallurgy, structural design, blueprint reading, computer-aided design and drafting, and many other related topics.
Contact Information
- Address: 1 New England Tech Boulevard, East Greenwich, RI 02818
- Phone: 401-739-5000
- Website: https://www.neit.edu
#2Lincoln Tech
About the School
Lincoln Tech has a campus located near the cities of Providence, Pawtucket, and Warwick.
The programs help address the needs of healthcare and trade employers in the Rhode Island area and beyond.
A wide variety of career training programs is available at the school.
Courses Offered
The Welding Technology program available at Lincoln Tech covers the following skills and techniques:
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- Flux Core Arc Welding
- Tungsten Arc Gas Welding
- Metal fabrication techniques
- Welding plate metal, carbon steel plates, aluminum, and stainless steel
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 622 George Washington Highway, Lincoln, RI 02865
- Phone: (401) 334-2430
- Website: https://www.lincolntech.edu
#3Providence Career & Technical Academy
About the School
Providence Career & Technical Academy offers a Maritime Welding program that prepares students for direct entry into the workforce.
The following post-secondary Associate Degree Certificates and Licensure programs are available:
- Electric Boat RT Structural Welder
- Electric Boat Pipe Weld
- Electric Boat RT Pipe Welder
- Electric Boat Nuclear Welder
- Journeyman Welder
- Welding Machine Repair Technician
Students learn four arc welding processes and three thermal cutting processes, as well as a variety of hand and power tools.
They also learn the skills and tools for designing welded structures.
Contact Information
- Address: 655 Winding Brook Drive, Glastonbury, CT06033
- Phone: 555-555-5555
- Website: https://pcta.providenceschools.org
#4Regional Career Center at CHS
About the School
Regional Career Center at CHS offers an Advanced Welding, Shipfitting & Manufacturing program.
This is a multifaceted program that includes training in maritime welding & shipfitting and advanced computer-aided design and manufacturing.
The welding facility was designed with help from the school’s industry partners at Electric Boat and is outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment.
This program includes a career exploration section that incorporates guest speakers and field trips to various businesses and post-secondary training sites.
Students in the advanced senior program may be eligible for off-campus internships.
The following credentials are available:
- American Welding Society Certificates
- OSHA 10 for Marine Trades
- CCRI 2 Elective Credit
- NEIT up to 10 Credits
- Priority candidate for employment at Electric Boat
Contact Information
- Address: 40 Reservoir Road, Coventry, RI 02816
- Phone: (401)822-9499
- Website: https://rctc.coventryschools.net
#5The Steel Yard
About the School
The Steel Yard offers training in welding, blacksmithing, jewelry, and ceramics.
Students receive hands-on experience working with the tools of the trade in a safe and creative environment, and walk away with something that they made.
Courses Offered
The following courses are available at the school:
- Camp Mudhead- a course that costs $2,000
- Camp Metalhead- a $3,500 course
- Wheel Generated Forms- Day Session- a course that costs $460
- Bipoc Weekend Welding Workshop- a course that costs $380
- Metal Botanicals- a course that costs $385
- Weekend welding workshop- a course that costs $380
Contact Information
- Website: https://www.thesteelyard.org
#6MTTI
About the School
MTTI began as a workforce development program that served as a bridge between employers who could not fill jobs in an occupational area and unemployed or underemployed people.
The programs include no non-related courses.
The training is directly related to the career for which students are training.
Courses Offered
The following courses are available at MTTI:
- Automotive Service Technician
- Building and Property Trades Technician
- HVAC/R Technician
- Motorcycle/Power Equipment Technician
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1241 Fall River Ave, Seekonk, MA 02771
- Phone: 508-336-6611
- Website: https://mtti.edu
#7Bunker Hill Community College
About the School
Another Massachusetts college that provides training for welders is Bunker Hill Community College.
The college provides a Welder Technician course that provides an intensive overview of skills relating to welding techniques.
The curriculum covers basic principles of metal cutting and rigging, safety guidelines, and manufacturing management.
This course costs $2,245 and takes 12 months to complete.
Courses Offered
Students learn:
- Welding Safety, Processes, and Applications
- Troubleshooting
- Inspection Methods
- Metallurgy
- Rigging
- Fabrication Processes
They also have access to video-based simulation labs for virtual hands-on experience.
The syllabus covers:
- Abrasives
- Fasteners
- Inspection
- Lean
- Materials
- Mechanical Systems
- Metal Cutting
- Quality
- Rigging
- Shop Essentials
- Soldering
- Supervisor Essentials
- Welding
- Workforce Essentials
- Virtual Labs/Simulations
Contact Information
- Address: 250 New Rutherford Avenue, Boston, MA 02129 US
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://careertraining.bhcc.edu
#8Skills for Rhode Island's Future
About the School
Skills for Rhode Island’s Future offers full-service staffing solutions focused on the unique hiring needs of its employer partners.
Hands-on workshops are also available to help students build the confidence, skills, and mindset employers want.
These workshops are designed for those just out of school, those returning to work, and those who want to start fresh.
A free one-week pre-employment training program designed to help participants stand out and get noticed by General Dynamics Electric Boat is also available.
Trainees learn:
- What it takes to thrive at Electric Boat
- Discover how they can play a vital role in building submarines
- Get real-world tips about interviews and resume building
- Meet professionals who have built careers at the company
Contact Information
- Address: 30 Exchange Terrace, Providence, RI 02903
- Phone: 401-680-5960
- Website: https://skillsforri.com
#9IYRS School of Technology & Trades
About the School
IYRS School of Technology & Trades offers training for aspiring makers, builders, designers, and technicians who work with their hands and minds.
IYRS offers four programs:
- Building & Restoration
- Composites Technology
- Digital Modeling & Fabrication
- Marine Systems
The student-to-faculty ratio is 8 to 1.
Full-time programs range from six to 20 months and provide an immersive, hands-on learning experience.
The Boatbuilding & Restoration program can be completed in 20 months.
The first year of training focuses on the restoration of a traditional plank-on-frame wooden boat.
The second year includes training in RHINO computer-aided design and welding.
Students also learn shop safety, hand and power tool use, manual drafting, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 449 Thames Street, Newport, Rhode Island 02840
- Phone: 401.848.5777
- Website: https://www.iyrs.edu
#10Warwick Public Schools
About the School
Warwick Area Career & Technical Center offers a variety of programs of study, including:
- Automotive Technology
- Computer Aided Drafting & Design
- Electrical Technology
- Aviation
- Construction Trades
- Marine Technologies
- And more
The Marine Technology program covers not only the care and maintenance of various craft, but also the construction, material engineering, and marina management, ensuring students are well-rounded and ready for the workforce.
Year one includes training in boating safety and handling, marlinspike seamanship, boat design and construction, fiberglass construction and repair, marine electrical systems, and more.
The skills learned during the second year of training include marina metal construction techniques.
The third year includes hands-on activities involving more complex problems and, during the second semester, internship opportunities.
Contact Information
- Address: 575 Centerville Rd, Bldg 5, Warwick, RI 02889
- Phone: 401-734-3150
- Website: https://wactc.warwickschools.org
Schools Summary Table
Welding Average Salary in Rhode Island
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$34K
|
|
|
$61K
|
|
|
$102K
|
Welding Salary by Metro Area in Rhode Island
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 2,590 | $61,690 | $29.66 | $90,640 | $34,480 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to safely join pieces of metal together can lead to a fulfilling career, but before being ready to apply for your first job as a welder, you have to become equipped with the technical skills and knowledge required for this profession.
Now that you have read our selection of the best welding programs in Rhode Island, it’s time to continue the research and choose the program that best meets your learning style and career aspirations.
