A welding school in Virginia Beach can teach you structural and pipe welding, while nearby programs offer evening classes, college certificates and paid apprenticeships. Compare the local options below by welding process, training time, published cost and testing.
Adult evening tuitionNorfolk Technical Center: $225 per 9 class sessions
Welding certificationATI lists on-site AWS testing, including opportunities up to 6G pipe
Welding classes and programs near Virginia Beach
You can compare full welding programs, short courses and shipyard training across Hampton Roads. Blank fields have no single published figure; check the linked school page for your class dates and open seats.
22 local programs listed
School
Program
Credential
Length
Schedule
Cost
Advanced Technology InstituteVirginia Beach, VA
1,200 clock hours; 48 credits. Tuition is listed as $7,200 per semester.
Published NON-FF sections include books, supplies, PPE and the AWS exam. FCAW/GTAW start November 2, 2026; MIG/SMAW start January 25, 2027. Confirm your selected section.
Per course: FCAW $3,900; MIG $4,131; GTAW or SMAW $5,850
Tidewater Community CollegePortsmouth, VA
Level 1 starts November 2, 2026; Level 3 starts January 19, 2027. Both sections list 13 CEUs and extra dates at a location to be announced. Confirm attendance dates and prior skills.
160 hours in overview; 120 hours in course listing (confirm with school)
Monday-Thursday, 4:30-9:30 p.m.
$3,900 tuition; $1,300 WCG price for eligible students
Camp Community CollegeSuffolk, VA
At 612 Carolina Road. Age 18+ and diploma/GED required. Level 1 includes an AWS test in Hampton. Levels 2 and 3 require the preceding level; dates to be determined.
Free to VersAbility TECH participants through grant funding
Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeHampton, VA
Evening sections at Peninsula Workforce Development Center; other sites also listed. Overview and fall schedule publish different prices and calendars. Confirm your section, hours and current quote.
Fall 2026 per course: SMAW/FCAW/GMAW/Certified Welder $3,900 ($1,300 eligible Virginia resident share); GTAW $2,547 ($849 share)
Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeHampton, VA
Level 1 students are selected by VSRA member employers; age 18+ and diploma/GED required. Level 3 lists Hampton/Newport News sites. Contact the workforce center for location and current hours.
Level 3: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; overnight sections also listed
Level 3: $3,900 tuition; $1,300 eligible Virginia resident share
Hampton UniversityHampton, VA
Workforce Development Enterprise lists separate process and support courses. Advanced SMAW and pipe courses have prerequisites; confirm the course sequence and start dates.
Prepares you for an American Welding Society qualification; includes SMAW, GMAW, FCAW and GTAW. Linked tuition chart is for 2023-24; request a current written quote.
This degree combines structural and pipe welding practice with coursework in communication, employee relations, inventory management and critical thinking.
Program
Trades Leadership with Specialization in Maritime Welding Technology
Credential
AOS
Length
Approximately 18 months, including breaks and holidays
Schedule
Five hours per day, four days per week; day/evening
Published cost
$38,250 total program cost, published estimate (August 31, 2026); other required fees apply
Hampton lists short welding certificates covering arc processes, pipe techniques, weld inspection and drawings, with prerequisites for advanced courses.
Program
Welding certificates: FCAW, GMAW, GTAW, SMAW, pipe, testing and drawings
The Welding Technology sequence covers safety, materials and several welding processes, with lab practice supporting preparation for certification tests.
Compare the methods each course covers before you apply. Centura's combination welding program includes shielded metal arc, gas metal arc, flux core and gas tungsten arc welding.
2
Check the entry requirements
Camp's marine welding course requires you to be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or GED. New Horizons says a diploma and prior welding experience are not necessary for its course.
3
Build safe shop skills
ATI's diploma curriculum combines shop work with welding symbols, blueprint reading and structural and pipe welding. Ask how much lab time you receive and which protective gear you must bring.
4
Confirm the certification test
Tidewater Tech lists AWS vertical and overhead certification opportunities and an American Welding Society Accredited Testing Facility. Ask which process, material and position your test covers, who issues the credential and what retests cost.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 OEWS metro table reports 3,740 welders, cutters, solderers and brazers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC area. For this occupation (51-4121), the median wage was $30.13 per hour or $62,670 per year. These figures cover the metro area, including communities beyond Virginia Beach.
Use the figures as a reference when you compare welding job offers. They describe workers across the occupation, rather than starting pay for a specific school graduate. Ask employers which welding processes and positions they test, what shifts they offer and whether the quoted pay includes overtime.
Welding tuition and ways to cover it
Norfolk Technical Center lists $225 for nine welding sessions. Camp publishes $3,900 for Fast Track Welding, including the AWS exam. Tidewater Tech's 2026 fee sheet lists tuition of $20,016 for Combination Welding and $29,520 for Combination Maritime Welding, plus fees. Ask for the total with supplies and retests.
Tidewater Tech lists FAFSA-based Pell Grants for eligible students. TCC FastForward includes marine welding and reduced tuition for qualifying Virginia residents. Request a WIOA funding decision through Virginia Career Works Hampton Roads before committing to training. VA guidance covers eligible non-college programs; confirm your exact course's approval. The Apprentice School offers paid employment while you learn.
How long does welding school take near Virginia Beach?
Published schedules vary by credential. ATI lists about 15 months for its Maritime Welding Technology diploma and 18 months for its related AOS, including breaks. Tidewater Tech lists 48 weeks full-time for Combination Maritime Welding. Choose a course length that gives you the practice and credential you need.
Does finishing welding classes make me AWS certified?
You should confirm the testing step separately. ATI says students can earn American Welding Society certifications during the program, with testing on site during normal class hours. New Horizons says students become eligible to test after two 72-hour semesters. Ask the school to name the exact test, process and welding position covered.
Which programs cover shipyard or maritime welding?
Tidewater Tech's Combination Maritime Welding teaches methods used in shipbuilding and repair, including carbon steel pipe welding. Newport News Shipbuilding lists a three-week Marine Trades Training welder course and selection for employment. Its welders then qualify through the shipyard welding school. Ask which training site you would attend and how the hiring process works.
Can I learn welding without a high school diploma?
Some local courses allow it. New Horizons says you do not need a high school diploma or prior experience, but must read and write English. Camp's Fast Track Welding accepts students age 16 or older without a diploma or GED. These rules apply to those courses; ask about prerequisites before paying for a different program.
Are there free welding classes in Hampton Roads?
VersAbility TECH says grant funding covers its welding course for participants. Training takes place at New Horizons in Hampton, and a career specialist screens candidates before registration. The page lists eligibility for people of all abilities age 18 and older. Ask about open seats, the next start date and any supplies you must provide.
Is the Virginia Beach Tech Center welding course open to adults?
The Tech Center's welding page describes a two-year high school course. Its school overview lists high school students, second-year postgraduates and some adult practical nursing students. It does not list general adult welding admission. An adult starting welding can instead check the listed evening course at Norfolk Technical Center.