Quick Facts

• Location: Jacksonville, Arkansas
• Address: 1920 N Redmond Rd, Jacksonville, AR 72076
• School Type: Private Accredited Welding School
• Programs Offered: Master Pipe & Structural Welding
• Training Style: Intensive hands-on booth and classroom instruction
• Tuition Range: $29,810 in published tuition/fees and equipment/supplies
• Program Length: 26 weeks / 910 clock hours / 29 credits
• Online Programs Available: No full welding program online
• Hybrid Learning: No; supplemental online learning materials are available
• Financial Aid: Federal financial aid/FAFSA and private financing options for qualifying students
• FAFSA School Code: 04274100
• Class Options: Full-time, Monday–Friday
• Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education (COE)
• State Approval: Arkansas State Board of Private Career Education #581
• Average Rating: ⭐ 4.9 (107 Reviews)
• Website: Official Arkansas Welding Academy website

Overview

Arkansas Welding Academy in Jacksonville is a separate institution from Arkansas Elite Welding Academy. In fact, both schools explicitly state on their websites that they are not affiliated with one another.

Arkansas Welding Academy’s main distinction is its 26-week Master Pipe and Structural Welding Program, which combines structural and pipe training rather than requiring students to choose one specialization. The curriculum includes all four major welding processes—GMAW, FCAW, SMAW and GTAW—and works with carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum.

It is also institutionally accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education, a nationally recognized accrediting agency.

Programs Offered

Master Pipe & Structural Welding

The program consists of:

• 26 weeks
• 910 clock hours
• 29 credit hours
• 80 classroom hours
• 830 laboratory hours

That means roughly 91% of scheduled clock hours are laboratory training, making this an exceptionally hands-on program.

Students train in:

• SMAW / Stick
• GTAW / TIG
• GMAW / MIG
• FCAW / Flux-Core
• Pipe welding
• Structural welding
• Carbon steel
• Stainless steel
• Aluminum
• Blueprint reading
• Welding safety
• Welding equipment maintenance

Standard attendance is 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Current published costs are:

• Registration fee — $100
• Tuition and fees — $18,713
• Equipment/supplies — $11,097

That puts published program-related charges at approximately $29,910 including the $100 registration fee.

Arkansas Welding Academy participates in federal financial-aid programs and provides FAFSA resources to students. Its current federal school code is:

04274100

Private lending options listed by the school include Sallie Mae, Meritize and Unisa, although students are free to select other lenders.

Accreditation

Arkansas Welding Academy is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE).

It is also licensed by the Arkansas State Board of Private Career Education.

Current institutional identifiers include:

• COE #346200
• Arkansas State Code #581
• AWS #130701

Why Students Choose This School

• Accredited specialized welding school
• Pipe + structural training in one program
• 910 clock hours
• 830 hands-on laboratory hours
• Stick, TIG, MIG and Flux-Core
• Carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum
• Federal financial aid for qualifying students
• Job-placement assistance
• Lifetime brush-up for qualifying graduates
• Full-time intensive format

Career Opportunities

Graduates may pursue positions such as:

• Pipe Welder
• Structural Welder
• Combination Welder
• TIG Welder
• MIG Welder
• Flux-Core Welder
• Fabrication Welder
• Industrial Welder

The school identifies potential industries including construction, manufacturing, utilities and shipbuilding.

Student Reviews

Based on your supplied Google data:

⭐ Average Rating: 4.9 (107 Reviews)

That’s another strong rating with a meaningful number of reviews.

Enrollment Tips

Applicants must provide a high-school diploma or GED and government-issued photo identification. A $100 registration fee is required to process enrollment. The academy recommends applying at least 30 days before the desired class start.

Cost comparison is especially important here. Although tuition and fees are $18,713, equipment and supplies add another $11,097, so prospective students should compare the complete cost rather than tuition alone.

Bottom Line

Arkansas Welding Academy should also be a featured Arkansas welding school. Its biggest differentiators are the 910-hour combined pipe-and-structural curriculum, 830 laboratory hours, COE accreditation and federal financial-aid participation. Don’t merge it with Arkansas Elite Welding Academy—the two similarly named schools are independent institutions in different Arkansas communities.