Wyoming is one of the few states that allows welders to work without a state license or industry certification.
Certifications from organizations such as the American Welding Society, on the other hand, can help you land a job in this lucrative and rapidly expanding industry.
However, you need to attend a welding school to be trained if you desire to be among the top earners in the industry.
This article teaches how to become a welder in Wyoming, the best welding schools, and all information regarding welding in this state.
Table of contents
- 8 Best Welding Schools in Wyoming | 2024 Requirements
- How Much Do Welding Schools in Wyoming Cost?
- How Much Do Welders Make In Wyoming?
- Who Are The Major Employers Of Welders In Wyoming?
- How to Become a Certified Welder in Wyoming
- Is a Welder’s License Required in Wyoming?
- FAQs on 15 Best Welding Schools in Wyoming | 2024 Requirements
- Conclusion
- References
8 Best Welding Schools in Wyoming | 2024 Requirements
- 1 Central Wyoming College
- 2 Casper College Welding Technology
- 3 Western Wyoming Community College
- 4 Eastern Wyoming College
- 5 Laramie County Community College
- 6 Northern Wyoming Community College
- 7 Sheridan College Welding Technology
- 8 Carbon County Higher Education Center
#1 Central Wyoming College
Central Wyoming College is one of the best welding schools in the state.
This university offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and has campuses in Riverton, Lander, Jackson, and Dubois.
Students gain knowledge by practicing skills such as blueprint reading, weld inspection, and metallurgy.
All students must first complete six general education credits, which include writing, social science, oral communications, and other subjects.
The welding instructor has extensive industry experience and is a Certified Welding Inspector.
See also: 10 Best Trade Schools For Welding in 2024
#2 Casper College Welding Technology
Casper, a recognized college, assists aspiring welders in getting started in their careers. This school provides instruction in a variety of programs.
Students can earn an Associate Degree of Applied Science degree.
Professional skill development, job placement, and a supportive environment are all priorities at the school.
Students will learn the most recent methods for Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), and other processes.
#3 Western Wyoming Community College
Western’s welding program will teach you the skills you need to enter the industry and tackle any project. They work hard to instill the importance of code-quality welds that adhere to all relevant codes and standards.
Western’s program is unique due to its flexible entry requirements and lab hours, Monday through Thursday.
You can learn at your own pace and come whenever you want under this arrangement. Because Western’s welding program has an AWS accreditation, they can conduct welder qualification tests and evaluate welding techniques.
This welding schools in Wyoming has more than 80 years of combined experience. You will receive a high-quality education because all the instructors have professional experience in their respective fields.
All of the instructors are certified welding inspectors and bring a wealth of knowledge to the classroom, in addition to their years of experience.
#4 Eastern Wyoming College
Eastern Wyoming College’s welding program was designed to be as in real-life scenarios found in the industry.
The welding program is in the Career and Technical Education Building. Each student is assigned a welding machine, table, and positioner. The curriculum covers safety guidelines, rules, and equipment safety.
This program’s goal is to provide students with the skills needed for entry-level jobs in the metalworking trades, as well as a foundation for further study and lifelong learning in those fields.
Shielded metal arc welding, oxyacetylene welding, gas tungsten arc welding, gas metal arc welding, and flux-cored arc welding will all be studied theoretically and practically.
Their technical aspects are covered in detail, with an emphasis on mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum plate and pipe welding.
#5 Laramie County Community College
Through the Combination Welding program, students learn about welding equipment, weld procedures, and practical welding skills. Print reading, welding symbols, weld inspection, destructive and non-destructive testing, and precision machine operation are all taught to students.
The Advanced Pipe Welding program, which builds on the mixture welding curriculum, prepares students for careers in welding technology. Students will learn how to weld pipes.
This is one of the best welding schools in Wyoming.
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#6 Northern Wyoming Community College
Northern Wyoming Community College District offers a nationally recognized welding technology program.
With the Associate of Engineering degree and Certificate of Completion options in Welding Technology, you will be prepared to enter the welding industry.
As an NWCCD welding student, you will have the opportunity to enter a rewarding and well-paying career field in the welding industry.
The faculty will walk you through critical welding procedures such as GTAW, GMAW, FCAW, SMAW, and oxygen-fuel welding. The instructors are American Welding Society Certified Welding Inspectors and Educators.
Students studying welding at NWCCD can choose from a variety of elective and required courses, such as Advanced Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Basic Pipe Welding, Gas Metal Arc Welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, and more.
NWCCD also offers a number of related courses, such as Print Reading and Welding Symbols, Safety, and Metallurgy.
You will greatly benefit from small class sizes, low faculty-to-student ratios, and excellent faculty guidance as a Welding student at NWCCD.
#7 Sheridan College Welding Technology
This is one of the best welding schools in Wyoming. Its welding program provides;
- Skilled instructors.
- Cutting-edge facilities.
- Small to no class size.
- Hands-on experience.
- On-the-job training in welding techniques.
Employers value Sheridan Welding certificates, which can also serve as stepping stones to other professions.
You will receive practical training in shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), and flux-cored arc welding during the first year of your welding diploma.
You’ll learn advanced welding techniques like flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead welding in your second year.
With the help of this diploma, you can better prepare for structural and pipe/pressure vessel work.
#8 Carbon County Higher Education Center
CCHEC’s welding program provides students with practical skills that they can use to further their education while resolving problems in the garage. Students learn a variety of welding techniques while working on practical projects, giving them the confidence to fix whatever needs fixing.
Furthermore, students are prepared for entry-level welding jobs with rapid career advancement potential.
This course provides an overview of welding and cutting techniques. Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), oxyacetylene welding (OAW), and oxyacetylene brazing (TB) will be taught to students (SMAW).
The course will include both lecture and lab sessions. Safety, process-specific information, welding theory and terminology, an introduction to metallurgy, applied mathematics, and science will all be covered in the lectures.
Students will also learn how to use Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) (GTAW).
Students will also learn how to use plasma arc and oxygen fuel cutting (OFC) techniques to cut and bevel plates (PAC).
Welding joint design, process-specific details, welding symbols, metallurgy, and applied math and science are also covered.
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How Much Do Welding Schools in Wyoming Cost?
The tuition of welding schools in Wyoming depends on the school, type of training, and duration. While some courses can take up to four years to complete, others can be certified after a seven-month training period.
Welding school tuition typically begins at $5,000 for programs lasting 3-7 months. College welding programs can cost up to $15,000 for up to 15 months of instruction.
How Much Do Welders Make In Wyoming?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, welders in Wyoming earn a median annual salary of $63,280, or about $30.42 per hour.
If you choose to work as a welder in this state, you will earn significantly more than the national average because it is currently the fourth highest-paying state in the country for welders.
Who Are The Major Employers Of Welders In Wyoming?
These are some of the top companies that hire the services of welders in Wyoming. They include;
- Mesa Natural Gas Solutions in Casper.
- Aviat Aircraft, an aerospace company with a factory in Afton, are two of the top businesses in the state that are filling this position.
- Kiewit is a construction services provider, based in Gillette.
How to Become a Certified Welder in Wyoming
It is quite easy to become a welder in Wyoming.
The American Welding Society ASW is one of several industry organizations that provide welder certification.
You can obtain this certificate by passing the AWS exam, which assesses your welding knowledge and ensures that you are prepared for the technical and safety requirements of this profession.
And to pass the AWS exam, you need to have enrolled and learned from welding schools in Wyoming.
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Is a Welder’s License Required in Wyoming?
Welders in Wyoming do not need a license or certification. They can only earn a certificate from a professional association, such as the AWS, to help gain employment.
FAQs on 15 Best Welding Schools in Wyoming | 2024 Requirements
Because Wyoming welding jobs do not always require industry certification, you may be able to find work without prior experience. However, if you choose to attend welding school, you can earn a diploma in about a year and an associate’s degree in welding technology in about two years.
Welding jobs without insurance are legal in Wyoming. However, if you do not have business liability insurance, you may be held liable for workplace mishaps.
Welders and machine operators work 40 hours per week. As with many construction jobs, there will be times when you must work extra hours.
Campbell High School
The Carbon County Higher Education Center is an excellent welding training school. It provides a wide range of welding procedures, welding classes, and fabrication services.
Central Wyoming College offers an associate of applied science in welding.
Welding is taught at the Pathways Innovation Center, a vocational school in Casper.
Sheridan High School offers welding certification courses through Kong Drive.
Welding classes are available at Wind River High School.
Wyoming Welding Tech is another Wyoming technical college that offers welding classes.
Conclusion
Wyoming, as you can see, has a number of welding certification programs.
Spend some time researching each program that is available.
Following that, you can select the option that best meets your requirements.
We wish you the best of luck as you begin your successful career.