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Non-Credit Courses and Certificates

Welding

Ideal for

Anyone looking for a hands-on creative career.  Welding is a set of specialized skills as well as an art that serves in a variety of industries.  Employment opportunities are available in welding shops, ship building, plumbing, construction, precision manufacturing and many more. There are many career paths for a skilled welder, and NVCC can give you the qualifications to start your career in this exciting field!

Program Overview

Take advantage of entry level and advanced courses in Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), and Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) right here at NVCC. The advanced level courses will help you prepare for certification in accordance with American Welding Society standards. 

Welding Brochure   

Want to know more? Download our Welding Frequently Asked Questions

SPRING 2024

Registration-Apply Here or Call 203-575-8029

All welding courses are held at the Waterbury Campus

SUMMER 2024

Registration-Apply Here or Call 203-575-8029

Fax: (203)-575-8243

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

 U.S. Mail: Naugatuck Valley Community College Non-credit Registration-F323 750 Chase Parkway Waterbury, CT 06708

 Call: 203-575-8029 today to get registered!

Course Locations:

Conveniently offered at our Waterbury Campus.

NCWeldingdetail

Program Coordinator:

Sharon Lutkus

Non-Credit/Workforce

Gas Metal Arc Welding Basic

GMAW, also known as MIG welding, is a processed used mostly in manufacturing and repair shops. Students will be introduced to : welding safety, shield gases, oxy-acetylene cutting equipment and metal preparation. 45 hours

Cost $2,100

Gas Metal Arc Welding Advanced

This advanced course in GMAW will prepare the student for welding certification.  Students will be tested in accordance with the American Welding Society (AWS) D1.1 3G certification. OSHA 10 Safety Certification is included in this course. 55 hours

Prerequisite: Basic GMAW or permission of the instructor.

Cost $2,500.00

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Basic

GTAW, also known as TIG welding, is primarily used to weld stainless steel, aluminum, titanium and other nonferrous metals. It is used in various industries, including manufacturing, aerospace and piping. Students will be introduced to welding safety, electrodes, shield gases, equipment, plasma cutting, and metal selection and preparation.  45 hours

Cost $2100

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Advanced

This advanced course will prepare the student for welding certification. Students will be tested in accordance with the American Welding Society (AWS) D17.1, 2F Certification.  OSHA 10 Safety Certification is also included in this course. 55 hours

Cost $2500.00

Prerequisite: Basic GTAW (TIG) or permission of the instructor.

Shielded Metal Arc Welding Basic

Learn the basics of Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW).  The SMAW techniques and processes are often referred to as STICK welding and are widely used in the maintenance and construction industries. Gain an understanding of the required equipment, interpret welding symbols and prints, and then put it all together as you practice your new welding skills in the state of the art welding lab. 60 hours

Cost $2,800.00

Shielded Metal Arc Welding Advanced

This advanced course will prepare the student for welding certification.  Students will be tested in accordance with the American Welding Society (AWS) D1.1, 1G/2G Combo Certification. OSHA 10 Safety Certification is included in the course. 70 hours

Cost $3,300.00

Prerequisite: Basic SMAW (STICK) or permission of the instructor.

Degree and Certificate Credit Programs

Related Degree and Certificate Programs that may interest you.

  • Automotive Technician A.S.
  • Engineering Technology A.S.
  • Advanced Manufacturing Machine Technology Certificate
  • Automotive Fundamentals Certificate
  • Landscape Design 

Learn about Payment Options and How to register on this page.

Important Information

What should I know before I register for this course?
  • Must be 18 years of age or older
  • High school level reading and math skills
  • Experienced students may register for advanced courses only with permission.  Please contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for additional information.
  • Courses are available individually or as part of a certificate. 
  • Instructional materials are included in the cost of the course and will be provided in class. This includes required safety gear, gloves, jacket and eye protection.  Proper footwear is the responsibility of the student.
  • Students should also bring something to write with.
  • Refund Policy, Changes and Cancellations: Withdrawal and refund requests must be received three business days (72 hours) prior to the beginning of class unless stated otherwise in the course description. Refunds are not granted after this deadline. Telephone: 203-575-8029 Fax: 203-575-8243 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Mail: Non-Credit Refunds, Room F323, Naugatuck Valley Community College, 750 Chase Pkwy., Waterbury, CT 06708 If there is a course cancellation due to insufficient enrollment, students will be notified by phone, mail and/or email. Please make sure when registering that your contact information is up-to-date. We would like to offer you the opportunity to transfer to another section, if available, or to another class of your choosing. If we have not heard from you within 7 business days, a refund will automatically be processed. Please allow 2-4 weeks for processing. The person registered in our records system is the person who will receive the refund. The College reserves the right to make changes to the information listed in this publication or to cancel courses due to insufficient enrollment or other reasonable causes. Full refund is made if the College cancels the course. 
  • College closings due to inclement weather: Closings are announced over local AM/ FM radio/TV stations, on the college website (nv.edu), on the college’s main phone line (203-575-8000) and a text message is sent to everyone who is registered through the myCommNetAlert System. Likewise, in the event of an early closing, the same communication will occur. If the college has a delayed opening, all classes that begin before the delayed opening time will not be held that day and will be rescheduled at another time. Danbury and off-site cancellations: If NVCC cancels or delays classes, this applies to Waterbury and Danbury Campuses as well as all off-site locations. 
  • Students with Special Needs-ADA: Students who may require academic adjustments on the basis of a disability are encouraged to contact the Counselor for Students with Disabilities (Terry Latella K519C) at the Waterbury and Danbury Campuses. After providing documentation and completing the disability disclosure process, students are then encouraged to meet with their instructor(s) to discuss the adjustments approved by the appropriate disabilities contact and to complete the Adjustments Agreement form. Students are therefore encouraged to meet with the Disabilities Counselor and their instructor(s) at the beginning of each semester.  Adjustments are not retroactive. Instructors, in conjunction with appropriate college personnel, will provide assistance and/or adjustments only to those students who have completed the disability disclosure and academic adjustments process. 

Course Registration and Payment Plans

No formal application to the College is required for non-credit/workforce training courses.

Registrations are accepted on an ongoing basis for upcoming classes.

Ways to register

Call us: 203-575-8029 for information (Motorcycle registrations cannot be taken by phone)

Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

New Secure Fillable Format Workforce Development and Continuing Education Registration Form 

Fax: 203-575-8243 (secure line)

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mail and send with payment (checks or money order made out to NVCC only) to:

Office of Non-Credit Lifelong Learning Registration
Founders Hall, Room F323
750 Chase Parkway
Waterbury, CT 06708

Or stop by, we're happy to assist you!

Accepted Forms of Payment:



Money Orders or Checks

Mail-in registrations credit cards or checks only, Please do not mail cash!

Career Spotlight

Welding is a specialized skill that serves a variety of industries and is used in many ways throughout the world.  Career opportunities include working in: welding shops, the manufacturing of metal goods, the petroleum and natural fuel extraction industry, construction, plumbing, pipe welding, plant maintenance, automobile manufacturing and repair, ship building and other transportation industries such as railroads. aircraft, and aerospace applications.  

There are many career paths for a skilled welder, and NVCC can give you the qualifications to attain a career in welding in just months.

A day in the life of a Welder, Cutter, or Welder Fitter:

ONet Online lists the following tasks that may be performed:

  • Weld components in flat, vertical, or overhead positions.
  • Operate safety equipment and use safe work habits.
  • Lay out, position, align, and secure parts and assemblies prior to assembly, using straightedges, combination squares, calipers, and rulers.
  • Examine workpieces for defects and measure workpieces with straightedges or templates to ensure conformance with specifications.
  • Recognize, set up, and operate hand and power tools common to the welding trade, such as shielded metal arc and gas metal arc welding equipment.
  • Weld separately or in combination, using aluminum, stainless steel, cast iron, and other alloys.
  • Clamp, hold, tack-weld, heat-bend, grind or bolt component parts to obtain required configurations and positions for welding.
  • Select and install torches, torch tips, filler rods, and flux, according to welding chart specifications or types and thicknesses of metals.
  • Ignite torches or start power supplies and strike arcs by touching electrodes to metals being welded, completing electrical circuits.
  • Connect and turn regulator valves to activate and adjust gas flow and pressure so that desired flames are obtained.

Salary Ranges

The CT DOL statistics show the annual salary range for welders to be $40,579-$42,748.

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