The Pitt Community College Welding Technology Department opened in 1978 with only four welders and has grown to be the largest welding program in North Carolina. As the biggest and best program in the state, we give you many options for finishing your degree, and our graduates routinely find welding jobs in their area of choice.
The Welding Technology A.A.S. Degree at Pitt Community College focuses on preparing graduates to compete with seasoned professionals in the welding industry. This program provides students with the skills in SMAW (stick) welding, GMAW (MIG) welding, GTAW (TIG) and Robotic welding. All grading rubrics are modeled after American Welding Society (AWS) and American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME) welding standards/codes. Upon completion students will be prepared to certify through these organizations in all processes in multiple base metals such as carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum in both pipe and plate.
Complete the program in as few as four semesters studying full-time, or as many as ten semesters with part-time study. Our welding classes are offered on-campus so that you can gain hands-on training with cutting-edge welding techniques, SMAW, GTAW, and GMAW. You can schedule your general education classes online, which adds flexibility to your degree plan.
You will gain practical, hands-on training alongside experts in the field. Our full-time and adjunct faculty members include certified welding inspectors and certified welding educators. Many are currently employed in the welding industry, which means they are up-to-date with current and upcoming trends in the local industry.
There will be many opportunities to find part-time employment in the welding field while you are enrolled in the welding program. Many students gain employment with local companies as shutdown welders, fire watchers, and pipe welders, and some are employed in small fabrication shops.
Our Welding Technology program is affordable. You may be eligible for a Pell Grant, an NC Community College Systems Grant, apprenticeships, and foundation scholarships. In addition to these programs, many companies in the area will reimburse you after employment. Our graduates make, on average, $20–$22 per hour, with overtime pay and benefits available.
Pitt County is an epicenter of welding job opportunities. There are multiple welding manufacturing facilities, welding/fabrication shops, pressure vessel fabricators, piping companies, boat manufacturers, and construction-based fabrication shops nearby.
Our faculty and staff will help you to become career-ready by providing personal career advising and helping you to choose a specialization. In our welding school, you may select a construction-based welding path that includes advanced pipe welding. You may also opt for a manufacturing path that includes advanced GMAW (MIG) welding and third-party robotic certifications. These specializations can lead to higher pay and increased welding job opportunities.
Pitt Community College’s welding technology curriculum provides you with a sound understanding of the science, technology, and applications essential for successful employment in the welding and fabrication industry.
Our welding program graduates are employed as entry-level technicians in the welding industry, with career opportunities in construction, manufacturing, sales, quality control, supervision, and welding-related self-employment.
The job outlook for welders is strong. We have 95% job placement, with an average starting pay above $20 per hour. Some graduates earn as much as $42 an hour (rising to $63 per hour with overtime pay) within the first six months after graduation.
Keith Kinlaw, Department Chair
Office: Welding Building (MW), Room 114
Email: kgkinlaw316@my.pittcc.edu
Phone: 252-493-7643
In the welding program at Pitt Community College, you will learn how to weld a variety of metals in various positions and gain an advanced understanding of current industry quality standards.
You’ll be introduced to current trends in welding and metal fabrication. You’ll also have the opportunity to obtain certificates to improve your marketability in a welding career.
Paid internships in real-world shop settings offer excellent opportunities to gain credit hours and on-the-job experience that will set you up for success.