Virginia welders earn a median $59,180 a year, and you can train near Norfolk through a 6–12 month certificate or a registered apprenticeship. The state employs roughly 10,100 welders. Employers value American Welding Society (AWS) and NCCER credentials over any state license.
Key Facts
Virginia median welder wage: $59,180/yr
National median welder wage: $53,750/yr
Projected job growth: +2.2% (2024-2034)
Annual U.S. openings: 45,600/yr
Typical program length: 6–12 months (certificate)
Credentialing body: American Welding Society (AWS)
Schools below are sorted by distance from Norfolk (closest first). Compare program length, schedule, and credential alignment.
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
#1
Advanced Technology Institute
📍
Virginia Beach, VA
•5.6 miles away•BOC Score
63.1
Tuition$14,568 - $23,713
Contact
5700 Southern Blvd Ste 100 Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year
Employment
2024
457,300
2034 projected
467,200
Percent change
+2.2%
How to become a welder in Virginia
Finish high school or earn a GED. Most welding programs and apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED; shop math and blueprint reading help.
Complete an accredited welding program or apprenticeship. Enroll in a certificate, diploma, or associate program (about 6–12 months for a certificate, two years for a degree) or a registered apprenticeship to build core SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, and GTAW skills.
Pass hands-on qualification tests. Complete bend, visual, and performance tests on practice plates and pipe coupons to prove you can weld to code.
Earn industry certifications. Earn AWS (Certified Welder, CWI) or NCCER credentials and code qualifications such as AWS D1.1 or API 1104 that match your target employers.
Apply for welding jobs and keep credentials current. Apply to construction, manufacturing, energy, and fabrication employers across Virginia, then maintain your qualifications with periodic retests as required.
Welding certifications & code work in Virginia
Earn AWS Certified Welder (CW) or NCCER Welding to signal core skill.
Pass code qualifications such as AWS D1.1 (structural steel) or API 1104 (pipeline) for specialized work.
Keep practice plates and procedure logs to re-qualify when employers or inspectors require it.
Welding Apprenticeships & Pathways in Virginia
Registered apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Welding apprenticeships commonly target several thousand hours of on-the-job training plus related technical instruction, but program totals vary — confirm exact hour requirements with the sponsor or the state apprenticeship agency before enrolling.
Virginia welders earn a median $59,180 per year (BLS OEWS, 2025). Pay rises with AWS or NCCER certifications and specialty processes such as pipe and TIG welding.
How long is welding school in Norfolk, Virginia?
Most welding certificate or diploma programs run 6–12 months, while an associate degree takes about two years (IPEDS program data, 2023). Length depends on whether you train full or part time.
Do I need a license to weld in Virginia?
Welding is not state-licensed like the electrical or plumbing trades; employers instead require performance qualification tests and value American Welding Society (AWS) or NCCER credentials. Confirm specific code requirements with the employer or inspector.
What welding certifications matter most to employers?
The AWS Certified Welder and Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) credentials, NCCER Welding, and code qualifications such as AWS D1.1 (structural steel) and API 1104 (pipeline) are the most widely recognized by employers.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
