If you want to learn how to manipulate metal using a variety of welding techniques, this page is for you.
Here we have compiled information about the best welding schools in Tennessee and the programs they offer.
The programs included in our list teach you a variety of welding processes, safety, quality inspections, blueprint reading, and a variety of other useful skills.
Our list includes both adult and high school student programs.
The programs are designed for different skill levels and include a significant portion of hands-on training.
Although the curriculum can vary depending on the program duration and the credential it leads to, welding students typically learn about:
- Shop math
- Materials used in welding
- Welding symbols
- Types of welding joints performed in pipe welding
- Welding processes
- Welding safety
- And more
Most programs teach, hands-on, the following processes:
- SMAW
- GTAW
- GMAW
- FCAW
- Plasma cutting
Program duration varies between a few months and a few years, depending on the school and the format you choose.
We invite you to read our list and choose the format that best meets your needs.
#1Moore Tech
About the School
Moore Tech offers a Welding program that is taught in one of the most extensive and complete welding labs in the South.
The program includes instruction in:
- Electric arc welding
- Plasma arc cutting
- Oxyacetylene cutting
- Oxyacetylene welding
- TIG
- MIG
Students also learn how to identify and use the characteristics and techniques used in fabricating and assembling metal parts.
The curriculum includes the following courses:
- Introduction to Welding
- Intermediate Welding
- Advanced Welding
- Pipe Welding
- Advanced Cutting
- Robotic Welding
- Professional Development
- Technical Writing
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1200 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104
- Phone: 901-726-1977
- Website: https://www.mooretech.edu
#2MetalMakers
About the School
MetalMakers offers classes and projects for all skill levels.
The school supplies all the equipment and gear, as well as the supplies needed for participants to build a project of their own.
No experience is necessary.
Participants receive guidance through every step and learn the skills needed to make a project that they can keep.
Students learn the trade through a variety of GMAW/MIG welding, SMAW/Stick welding, GTAW/TIG welding workshops, courses, and more.
Courses Offered
The following classes are available:
- Professional Development
- Meet and Mingle
- Project Classes
- Women Welding and Wine
- Men, Welding & Whiskey
- Holiday Classes
Contact Information
- Address: 1007 Taft Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37408
- Phone: (423) 463-0509
- Website: https://www.metalmakersclasses.com
#3Tennessee College of Applied Technology
About the School
MetalMakers offers classes and projects for all skill levels.
The school supplies all the equipment and gear, as well as the supplies needed for participants to build a project of their own.
No experience is necessary.
Participants receive guidance through every step and learn the skills needed to make a project that they can keep.
Students learn the trade through a variety of GMAW/MIG welding, SMAW/Stick welding, GTAW/TIG welding workshops, courses, and more.
Courses Offered
The following classes are available:
- Professional Development
- Meet and Mingle
- Project Classes
- Women Welding and Wine
- Men, Welding & Whiskey
- Holiday Classes
Contact Information
- Address: 550 Alabama Ave. Memphis, TN 38105
- Phone: 901-543-6100
- Website: https://tcatmemphis.edu
#4Lincoln Technical Institute
About the School
Lincoln Technical Institute offers a Welding Technology program at Nashville Auto Diesel College.
The college has helped students build careers in skilled trades and automotive technologies for more than 100 years.
The campus is located just minutes from downtown Nashville and is one of Lincoln Tech’s largest and most versatile training centers.
Students have access to modern labs and shops outfitted with industry-standard equipment.
Courses Offered
Welding students learn:
- Metal fabrication techniques
- Welding plate metal, carbon steel plates, aluminum, and stainless steel
- Welding in horizontal, vertical, and overhead settings
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- Flux Core Arc Welding
- Tungsten Arc Welding
Contact Information
- Address: 2813 Brick Church Pike, Nashville, TN 37207
- Phone: (800) 228-6232
- Website: https://www.lincolntech.edu/campus/nashville-tn
#5Tennessee High School
About the School
Tennessee High School offers a Welding program with the following program options:
- Welding I
- Dual Enrollment: TCAT Welding 1/2- 120 hours
- Dual Enrollment: TCAT Welding 3/4- 120 hours
- Dual Enrollment: TCAT Pipefitting 1/2- 120 hours
Students develop proficiency in fundamental safety practices in welding, drawing interpretation, computer-aided drawings, joint design identification and use, ability to lay out parts for fabrication, basic shielded metal arc welding, mechanical and thermal properties of metal, and quality control.
Students can earn 120 hours per semester towards their TCAT Diploma in Welding Technology at TCAT Elizabethtown.
At Northeast State, an Associate of Applied Science degree program in Industrial Technology– Concentration: Welding/Metal Fabrication is available.
Individuals who complete the associate degree program are eligible to apply for the Eastman Co-op program.
Students who pass the Dual Credit test at Northeast State earn three credit hours towards this program.
Contact Information
- Address: 1112 Edgemont Avenue, Bristol, TN 37620
- Phone: 423-652-9494
- Website: https://www.btcs.org
#6Cleveland State Community College
About the School
Cleveland State Community College offers a variety of Advanced Technologies programs in Drafting & Design, Electrical Engineering Technology, Mechatronics, Technology Essentials, Welding, and many other pathways.
The Welding Technology Technical Certificate available at the college is designed to train individuals in:
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Flux Core Arc Welding
The processes are typically used for plate and pipe welding.
Students also learn how to operate safely and make cuts with an Oxy-Fuel torch, as well as a Plasma Arc Cutting machine.
Courses Offered
The Welding Basic Entry Level Certificate includes the following courses:
- Industrial Safety
- Principles of Welding
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- Industrial Print Reading
- Practicum I and WELD 2291- Internship
- Advanced SMAW- Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Advanced GMAW- Gas Metal Arc Welding
Contact Information
- Address: 3535 Adkisson Drive, Cleveland, TN 37312
- Phone: 423-472-7141
- Website: https://www.clevelandstatecc.edu
#7Northeast State Community College
Northeast State Community College offers a variety of degrees and certificates that cover a wide range of fields to help prepare students for their dream careers or continuing education.
Courses Offered
The Welding program at Northeast State Community College prepares individuals for careers as welders or metal fabricators.
The curriculum focuses on the development of knowledge and skills in:
- Oxy-fuel welding
- Brazing and cutting
- Plasma arc cutting and carbon arc cutting
- Flux-Core Arc Welding
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding
The following degrees and certificates are available:
- Combination Welding
- Industrial Welding- Concentration: Welding/Metal Fabrication
Contact Information
- Address: 2425 Highway 75, PO Box 246, Blountville, Tennessee
- Phone: 423-323-3191
- Website: https://www.northeaststate.edu
#8Goodwill Middle Tennessee
About the School
Goodwill Middle Tennessee offers an Introduction to Welding class that includes the tools and guidance students need to forge a new career in the high-demand field of metalwork.
The program is designed for students who are just starting out and for those looking to add new skills to their resumes.
Courses Offered
The two-week Introduction to Welding & Metal Fabrication program can be used as an extension course for the school’s Skilled Trades program graduates or as a stand-alone course for students with prior construction experience and an OSHA 10 certification.
The school currently has four individual welding booths and a teacher station for demonstrations.
The program covers:
- MIG welding for fast and efficient metal joining
- TIG welding for precision work on thin metals
- Stick welding for heavy-duty, structural applications
Students learn, through hands-on exercises, how to troubleshoot, perfect their welding joints, and apply these skills across different industries.
Contact Information
- Phone: (615) 742-4151
- Website: https://giveit2goodwill.org/gcta/welding
#9Memphis Welding School
About the School
Memphis Welding School offers training for those who want to launch a career or add a vital skillset.
The school gives students hands-on training and real-world skills that lead directly to in-demand welding careers.
Students graduate job-ready with the confidence, certifications, and support to build a future that lasts.
Courses Offered
Memphis Welding School offers a comprehensive program registered with the Department of Labor.
The curriculum covers the latest welding techniques, safety procedures, and industry standards.
Students learn from instructors with years of experience in the field.
The school has strong relationships with local industry leaders and employers, offering opportunities for internships and job placement upon completion of the program.
Contact Information
- Address: 3730 Jackson Ave, Memphis, TN 38108
- Phone: (901) 488-6260
- Website: https://memphisweldingschool.com
#10Chattanooga State Community College
About the School
Chattanooga State Community College offers programs in hundreds of fields of study.
There is no application fee, and a wide variety of scholarships are available.
Courses Offered
The Welding Technology program at Chattanooga State Community College involves a combination of basic welding techniques, math, blueprint reading, and other technical aspects of welding.
Students learn:
- Basic oxyacetylene cutting and welding
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- Fluxcore Arc Welding
- Gas Tungsten Arc Gas Welding
Day courses take place at the main campus, Kimball site, and Dayton Welding Lab.
An evening class is also available at the main campus.
Contact Information
- Address: 200 4th Avenue, Dayton, TN 37321
- Phone: 423-365-5010
- Website: https://www.chattanoogastate.edu
Schools Summary Table
Welding Average Salary in Tennessee
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$37K
|
|
|
$49K
|
|
|
$63K
|
Welding Salary by Metro Area in Tennessee
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 1,690 | $51,330 | $24.68 | $67,140 | $38,270 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 670 | $50,190 | $24.13 | $57,840 | $38,770 |
| Cleveland, TN | 150 | $50,480 | $24.27 | $64,540 | $37,090 |
| Jackson, TN | 660 | $45,400 | $21.83 | $53,100 | $38,140 |
| Johnson City, TN | 220 | $47,150 | $22.67 | $58,350 | $36,350 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 360 | $49,870 | $23.97 | $65,050 | $36,560 |
| Knoxville, TN | 1,910 | $48,910 | $23.51 | $59,740 | $38,370 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 1,620 | $49,650 | $23.87 | $64,320 | $37,670 |
| Morristown, TN | 240 | $47,180 | $22.68 | $62,660 | $36,910 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 2,410 | $54,250 | $26.08 | $74,440 | $39,880 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our list of the best Tennessee welding schools, it’s time to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your learning style and career aspirations.
This is an important step, so take your time and choose wisely!
