Tennessee welding programs range from $3,000-$18,000 in total tuition costs, with certificate programs completing in 10 months to 1 year and Associate degrees requiring 2 years.
Students can pursue NCCER-accredited options, AWS-aligned training at TCAT campuses statewide, or begin with flexible 125-hour online courses before transitioning to hands-on labs at Tennessee College of Applied Technology or union apprenticeships.
Online Courses
About Online Welding Training
Tennessee students can jumpstart their trade careers through flexible, 125-hour online programs designed to be completed over 12 months. These self-paced courses focus on essential theory—including SMAW and GTAW processes—alongside blueprint reading and OSHA safety standards. By utilizing interactive modules, learners across the Volunteer State can master the technical “why” behind welding before ever picking up a torch.
To prepare for physical shop environments, many programs feature virtual simulation labs that help students develop the hand-eye coordination and precision required for the trade. This digital groundwork is specifically designed to streamline the transition into hands-on certification programs at a Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) or local union apprenticeships.
Local Trade Schools & Colleges
- Chattanooga, Kimball, Dayton, Soddy-Daisy
- Nashville
- Memphis
- Blountville, Kingsport, Elizabethton, Gray
- Athens, Chattanooga, Crump, Dickson, Elizabethton, Harriman, Hartsville, Paris, Hohenwald, Jacksboro, Jackson, Knoxville, McMinnville, Memphis, Morristown, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Newbern, Huntsville, Pulaski, Shelbyville, Crossville
Chattanooga State Community College
TCAT Chattanooga's Welding Technology diploma is 1,290 clock hours over three semesters, taught at the main campus, the Kimball site and the Dayton Welding Lab, with day and evening sections. Students train in oxy-fuel cutting, SMAW, GMAW, FCAW and GTAW; the college reports 86% placement. The TCAT cost table (updated June 2026, priced at $1,537 a semester) lists $6,911, and 2026-27 semesters carry a $100 welding fee. A credit Welding Engineering Technology concentration covers inspection and robotic welding.
Lincoln Tech
Lincoln Tech's welding program runs 720 to 1,200 clock hours depending on the campus; the 960-hour version with pipe takes about 44 weeks by day. Students learn stick (SMAW), MIG/flux-cored and TIG welding on plate and pipe, cutting and fabrication, starting with a 10-hour OSHA safety orientation. Students can earn an AWS SENSE certificate of completion, which is not an AWS certified-welder test. At Mahwah, NJ the total cost was $33,627 (Feb 2025).
Moore Tech
Welding at Moore Tech runs one or two years. The one-year path leads to a day diploma or a night certificate; the two-year Welding – Advanced track leads to a diploma or an Associate of Applied Technology and adds robotic welding, CNC plasma cutting and advanced pipe welding. Classes meet in the school's separate welding building, whose lab the Council on Occupational Education called one of the most complete in the South in 2021. The program pages do not mention AWS certification.
Northeast State College
Welding/Metal Fabrication is a 63-credit, ATMAE-accredited concentration of the Industrial Technology AAS in the 2026-27 catalog, with a shorter Combination Welding technical certificate. Training includes pipe welding and inert gas arc welding, blueprint reading and quality inspection, with competencies tied to the AWS D1.1, ASME IX and API 1104 codes. Students meet a program advisor before registering. Welding courses add $56 per credit to Fall 2026 tuition of $197 per credit in-state, $342 out-of-state.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology
Welding Technology is taught at all 22 TCATs. Evening or part-time welding runs at Dickson, Shelbyville, Pulaski and Jackson, and TCAT Northwest expanded welding to its Ripley campus in May 2026. Pulaski also teaches welding at Loretto, but only for Loretto High School graduates. Credentials are clock-hour certificates and diplomas, and TCAT Knoxville adds a $100 welding program fee per trimester to 2026-27 tuition and fees of $1,541.
How to Choose the Best Welding Program in Tennessee
TL;DR Summary
Choose Northeast State College if you want the highest job placement rate (94%) with options for a 30-week Combination Welding certificate or 2-year Industrial Technology AAS degree covering five major processes.
Choose FORTIS College if you need flexible, individualized scheduling (Cookeville, Nashville) with program timelines designed with an Admissions Advisor for entry-level industrial welding positions.
Choose Moore Tech if you want access to one of the South’s most extensive welding labs with options ranging from 1-year certificates to 2-year AAT degrees including Robotic Welding and CNC Plasma Cutting.
Choose Tennessee College of Applied Technology if you prefer AWS-aligned training with stacked credentials (specialized certificates to Combination Welder Diploma) completed in 12 months (1,296 hours) across multiple campuses statewide.
Choose Lincoln Tech if you want NCCER-credentialed instruction covering SMAW, MIG/GMAW, TIG, and FCAW with mandatory OSHA 10 certification in a structured 40-week program.
Choose Miller-Motte College if you need NCCER-accredited combination welding training completed in 10 months in Chattanooga.
Choose online welding training if you need self-paced theory instruction (125 hours over 12 months) covering SMAW, GTAW, blueprint reading, and OSHA safety before transitioning to hands-on labs at TCAT or union apprenticeships.
Key Decision Factors
Program Duration and Structure
Fast-track students should prioritize Miller-Motte College‘s 10-month NCCER program or Northeast State College‘s 30-week certificate.
Mid-length options include Lincoln Tech‘s 40-week certificate and Tennessee College of Applied Technology‘s 12-month diploma (1,296 hours).
Students seeking comprehensive education should consider Moore Tech‘s 1-2 year tracks or Northeast State College‘s 2-year AAS degree.
Online programs provide flexible 125-hour theory modules over 12 months before hands-on training.
Schedule Flexibility
FORTIS College offers maximum flexibility with individualized scheduling determined with Admissions Advisors at Cookeville and Nashville locations.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology requires full-time daytime commitment for 12 months.
Moore Tech provides flexible timeframes across certificate, diploma, and degree pathways.
Online programs allow self-paced completion over 12 months for students balancing work or family commitments before transitioning to TCAT or union apprenticeships.
Specialization and Advanced Skills
Students seeking advanced specializations should target Moore Tech‘s 2-year track offering Robotic Welding, CNC Plasma Cutting, and Advanced Pipe Welding in one of the South’s most extensive labs. Northeast State College covers five major processes (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, Oxy-fuel) with structural and pipe applications.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology provides AWS-aligned training across Shielded Metal, Gas Metal, Gas Tungsten, and Flux Cored Arc Welding.
Entry-level students gain solid foundations through Lincoln Tech, Miller-Motte College, or FORTIS College.
Certification and Accreditation
NCCER-accredited programs exist at Miller-Motte College and Lincoln Tech, with Lincoln Tech providing NCCER-credentialed instructors and mandatory OSHA 10 certification.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology aligns curriculum with AWS and major industry institutes, preparing students for OSHA 10 and multiple stacked credentials.
Northeast State College holds ATMAE accreditation emphasizing industrial standards.
Moore Tech and FORTIS College prepare students for AWS certifications through comprehensive skill development.
Career Outcomes and Job Placement
Northeast State College leads Tennessee programs with an exceptional 94% job placement rate, preparing graduates for high-demand roles as combination welders, fabricators, or pipe welders.
Moore Tech emphasizes immediate successful employment as professional industrial welders through comprehensive lab training.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology provides multiple stacked credentials increasing employment versatility.
Lincoln Tech prepares students for construction, manufacturing, and shipbuilding industries with over 426,000 projected welding job openings by 2032.
Credential Pathways
Students seeking stackable credentials should prioritize Tennessee College of Applied Technology, which offers specialized certificates in specific welding types building toward a full Combination Welder Diploma.
Northeast State College provides certificate-to-degree pathways from 30-week Combination Welding certificates to 2-year AAS degrees.
Moore Tech allows progression from 1-year certificates or diplomas to 2-year AAT degrees.
Single-credential programs include Miller-Motte College‘s 10-month combination welding certificate and Lincoln Tech‘s 40-week certificate.
Reputation and Student Ratings
FORTIS College leads with a 4.3/5 rating offering flexible entry-level training.
Moore Tech follows at 4.1/5 with extensive lab facilities and advanced specializations.
Northeast State College and Lincoln Tech both maintain 3.9/5 ratings with strong job placement and industry connections.
Miller-Motte College at 3.7/5 provides NCCER-accredited training.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology at 3.5/5 operates multiple campuses statewide with AWS-aligned curriculum.
Geographic Access and Campus Options
Statewide access exists through Tennessee College of Applied Technology campuses in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, and Murfreesboro.
Nashville-area students can choose from FORTIS College and Lincoln Tech.
East Tennessee students access Northeast State College in Blountville. Memphis students can attend Moore Tech.
Chattanooga students have options at Miller-Motte College and Tennessee College of Applied Technology.
Cookeville students can access FORTIS College. Online programs eliminate geographic barriers for theory instruction.
Online vs. In-Person Training
Online programs deliver 125 hours of welding theory covering SMAW and GTAW processes, blueprint reading, and OSHA safety standards over 12 months with interactive virtual simulation labs. This approach helps Tennessee students develop hand-eye coordination and technical understanding before physical shop work.
In-person programs at Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Northeast State College, and Moore Tech provide immediate equipment access, real-time instructor feedback, and comprehensive certification preparation.
Hybrid approaches combining online theory with hands-on labs at TCAT or union apprenticeships optimize flexibility and skill development for Tennessee welders.
Steps to Become a Welder in Tennessee
Step 1: Complete High School or GED Obtain your diploma or equivalent, focusing on math, blueprint reading, and shop classes if available.
Step 2: Choose Your Training Path Enroll in a welding program at schools like Northeast State College, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, or Moore Tech.
Alternatively, start with online theory courses (125 hours) before transitioning to hands-on labs at TCAT or union apprenticeships.
Step 3: Master Core Welding Processes Learn SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, and Oxy-fuel welding through programs at Lincoln Tech (40 weeks), Miller-Motte College (10 months), or FORTIS College. Complete 1,296+ clock hours depending on program intensity and credential pathway.
Step 4: Earn Industry Certifications Obtain NCCER credentials through Miller-Motte College or Lincoln Tech, AWS certifications through Tennessee College of Applied Technology, and mandatory OSHA 10 safety cards.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology offers stacked credentials from specialized certificates to Combination Welder Diplomas.
Step 5: Pursue Advanced Specializations (Optional) Gain expertise in Robotic Welding, CNC Plasma Cutting, and Advanced Pipe Welding through Moore Tech‘s 2-year AAT degree program in one of the South’s most extensive welding labs.
Step 6: Gain Hands-On Experience Complete required lab hours mastering structural and pipe applications, practice certification tests, and develop a portfolio of weld samples demonstrating proficiency across multiple processes.
Step 7: Enter the Workforce Apply for positions as combination welders, fabricators, pipe welders, or industrial welders in Tennessee’s construction, manufacturing, and industrial sectors.
Northeast State College graduates benefit from a 94% job placement rate, with over 426,000 projected welding job openings nationwide by 2032.