Welding

Welding

Get the Skills to Begin a Career in Welding in as few as 10 Months

If you want a skilled trades career where you combine technical precision with creativity, the Welding program at Porter and Chester Institute might be for you! Our hands-on Welding program can train you to perform Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), and Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW). You'll also learn about safety principles including identifying at-risk behavior, creating a safety plan, and conducting safety training. From aerospace applications to bridge construction, today's welders can find careers in a wide variety of industries!

Fast Facts

  • 100% on campus class and shop
  • Program offered at: Bridgeport, CT and New London, CT
  • Graduates earn a Diploma
  • Program Length: 10 months
  • Industry partnerships with Bridgeport Boat Works and Hornblower Marine

Get Started Today

How/When to Apply

We start new sessions on a regular basis.
Next Start Date: January 6, 2025

At Porter and Chester Institute, we're making it easier than ever for you to enroll using our automated application portal. Upload your documents and start the financial aid process without the hassle of drawn-out application processes. And our admissions staff is still available to help you every step of the way. Taking control of your career just got easier!

Apply Online Now

 

Is a Professional Trades Career Right for You?

Take the "PCI Trades Career Training Readiness Quiz"

The fun, online quiz takes 3 minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style plus the training and positions you’re best suited for.
Get your Trades Career Training Readiness score now!

Bridgeport Boatworks and Hornblower Marine Announce Local Scholarships Worth $15,000 to Support Local Maritime Careers

Bridgeport Boatworks and Hornblower Marine are partnering to offer six scholarships supporting students at Porter and Chester Institute's Bridgeport campus. The scholarships, totaling $15,000.00 and valued at $2,500.00 per student, will be dedicated to local Bridgeport residents, and will continue to establish the Bridgeport waterfront as a maritime industry leader and job center.

Bridgeport Boatworks – Skilled Trades Scholarship
Prospective students interested in the Welding, Electrical Technology, HVACR, or Automotive Technology programs may apply for the Bridgeport Boatworks scholarship. Scholarship applicants must be residents of Bridgeport, CT and interested in a career in the maritime industries.

Download Application

Hornblower – Skilled Trades Scholarship
Prospective students interested in the Welding program may apply for the Hornblower scholarship. Scholarship applicants must be residents of Bridgeport, CT and interested in a welding career in the maritime industries.

Download Application

From Our Blog

WHAT IS THE SALARY AND JOB OUTLOOK FOR WELDERS IN CONNECTICUT?

Porter and Chester Institute (PCI) recently launched an all-new welding program at the Bridgeport, Connecticut campus. Graduates of the program can earn...

Read more

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A DIPLOMA IN WELDING?

Porter and Chester Institute (PCI) has launched an all-new Welding program. The program is offered 100% on campus at the Bridgeport, Connecticut campus. Students...

Read more

How Can I Afford It?

Financial Aid is available to those who qualify. Our team of Educational Funding Specialists will work with you to determine what you’re eligible for and how to pay for school.

There are federal, institutional and private programs that can make your career training more affordable, as well as grant and scholarship opportunities that may be available to you.

Financial Aid

Will I Get A Job?

While employment is not guaranteed, our Career Service Advisors are dedicated to helping you find the right job for you! We'll help you with your job search, and also with resume and cover letter writing, and interviewing skills.

Career Services

Why PCI?

If you’re a hands-on learner who can’t imagine being stuck behind a desk all day, here are just a few reasons to choose our Welding program:

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Concrete Skills:
Graduates of our Welding program will be capable of Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), and Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW). You’ll learn about safety principles including identifying at-risk behavior, creating a safety plan, and conducting safety training.

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Hands-on Training:
You can’t learn all this stuff from a book! That’s why we alternate in-person lecture with hands-on work where you get to use the same equipment and tools you’ll find out in the field. You’ll be familiar with a variety of welding machines, virtual welding simulators, plasma cutters, acetylene and oxygen torch kits, and protective gear.

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Qualified Instructors:
All our instructors are professionals from the welding industry. They know what to teach because they know what you might encounter out on the job!

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Job Outlook:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 47,600 openings, nationwide, for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. The nation’s aging infrastructure will require the expertise of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers to help rebuild bridges, highways, and buildings.

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Soft Skills:
In addition to the technical know-how you’ll need to perform your job, we’ll teach you the skills you need to be a good and safe employee in a real world setting.