TWS is a Great Training Option for Everyone
Learn more about how we can prepare you to advance your career.
At Tulsa Welding School (TWS) in Jacksonville, FL, the path to a skilled trades career is more adaptable than ever. With the launch of the Associate of Occupational Studies in Welding Technology (AOSWT), TWS now offers a flexible, advanced welding program that fits your life—whether you’re balancing work, parenting, or transitioning careers.
The new AOSWT program officially launches June 30, 2025, and is tailored for students seeking both practical welding skills and specialized training in welding inspection, codes, and quality management. This associate degree program doesn’t just prepare you to weld—it prepares you to lead.
A New Degree Option for the Modern Welding Professional
The AOSWT program is a two-academic-year degree, comprising 1,485 contact hours and 60 semester credit hours completed over 60 weeks (14 months). It’s designed for individuals who want more than entry-level training—they want to build a long-term career with leadership potential in the welding and fabrication industries.
The program begins with the Professional Welder curriculum, which builds strong foundational skills in structural, pipe, and alloy welding. After completing that first year, students advance into the upper-division coursework, focusing on quality control, nondestructive testing, fabrication processes, and industry regulations.
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This pathway leads directly into careers in Welding Quality Assurance/Quality Control Inspection (WQA/QCI), combining hands-on expertise with critical inspection and analysis responsibilities.
Built for Your Life: Morning, Evening, Weekend, and Overnight Schedules
The school recognizes that not every student can commit to a traditional daytime class schedule, so TWS has expanded access through multiple schedule options:
- Morning (Mon–Thu): 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Afternoon (Mon-Thu): 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Evening (Mon–Thu): 6:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
- Weekend (Hybrid): Asynchronous online lectures + in-person lab Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.*
- Overnight (Mon–Fri): 12:00 a.m. – 5:15 a.m.
*Note: Some Saturday lab students may have mandatory Sunday lab sessions during the term (e.g., 9/28/2025, 10/26/2025).
This range of options supports a broader population—from night-shift workers to caregivers—helping students earn their degrees without putting life on hold.
What You’ll Learn in the AOSWT Program
After completing the initial Professional Welder program (25 credit hours), students continue into a comprehensive set of courses designed to build technical depth and leadership ability.
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Some of the upper-division course highlights include:
- Codes & Specifications + Radiographic Film Interpretation (2.5 credits): Learn to apply fabrication codes and read radiographic imaging for weld integrity.
- Visual, Leak, Magnetic Particle & Ultrasonic Testing (11.5 credits combined): Get trained in a full suite of nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques used to inspect and certify welds.
- Quality Management Techniques (3 credits): Understand total quality management (TQM) and statistical quality control concepts.
- Drawing & Fabrication Processes (3 credits): Learn to interpret shop drawings, blueprints, and execute detailed fabrication plans.
- Basic Metallurgy & Destructive Testing (3 credits): Dive into metal properties and destructive test methods used in R&D and QA labs.
- Fine Art & History of Metal Work (2 credits): Explore the craftsmanship and cultural history of welding and metalworking disciplines.
The well-rounded curriculum also includes essential general education courses in communication, computer applications, and basic math—skills that boost employability and career growth.
TWS Tuition and Military Support
The AOSWT program is priced to reflect its comprehensive scope. For students entering the upper-division portion:
- Standard Tuition: $18,000
- Fees (Registration, Tech, Lab, Books, Gear, Insurance): $5,725
- Total Program Cost: $23,725
Military students receive discounted tuition at $16,200, with total program costs of $21,925.
Financial aid is available to those who qualify. TWS also honors the needs of active-duty military members by offering re-enrollment options and specialized grading policies in cases of deployment.
Replacing the 16-Week Welder Track with Long-Term Opportunity
As part of a strategic program update, TWS Jacksonville is also sunsetting its 16-week version of the Professional Welder program. Effective June 1, 2025, this accelerated option will no longer be available to new students.
The shift reflects a broader focus on delivering comprehensive, career-pathway programs that go beyond entry-level skills. The AOSWT degree meets that need, offering expanded learning in fabrication, testing, and management that positions graduates for long-term success and leadership roles.
Who Should Consider the AOSWT Program?
This program is ideal for:
- Recent high school grads who want a welding-focused degree with advancement potential.
- Current welders that are ready to move into inspection, supervision, or quality control roles.
- Military veterans seeking a skilled trade education that translates into civilian employment.
- Adults looking to re-skill for an in-demand technical career, on a flexible schedule.
If you’ve ever asked yourself how to move from being a welder to becoming a welding inspector, project lead, or QA/QC technician—this is your next step.
Start Dates and How to Enroll
The AOSWT program will begin its first sessions on:
- June 30, 2025
- July 21, 2025
- August 11, 2025
- September 2, 2025
- September 22, 2025
New classes start regularly. Whether you’re ready for a morning or overnight schedule, there’s a seat available to match your timeline. Contact an Admissions Representative to confirm your preferred track and start date.
Welding Careers Are Changing; So Should Your Training
With the launch of the AOSWT program, TWS Jacksonville, Florida reinforces its commitment to high-quality, career-driven training that adapts to students’ lives. Whether you’re a parent, a night-shift worker, or a returning veteran, you now have more options than ever to train for your future without compromising the present.
If you’re ready to weld with purpose—and lead with knowledge—the Associate of Occupational Studies in Welding Technology is built for you.
To learn more about our trade school programs, contact us at Tulsa Welding School or call (214) 227-9911.
