There is a wide range of welding courses that you can study online, some better than others.
I picked the top 12 best welding courses available today, so you can make an educated choice to get started and learn welding in the comfort of your home.
Courses range from introductory welding programs to advanced certifications.
Welding is a great skill to know if you’re interested in working on cars, houses, or even a new career. The range of tools, materials, methods, and applications is as diverse as the work itself.
There’s a lot to learn, and welding courses can help you get started.
1. Learn MIG Welding by Josh Maynard
Udemy’s MIG welding course is run by Josh Maynard, a passionate, young welder eager to impart his expertise to aid students who want to advance their abilities in MIG welding applications.
Individuals inclined to take this course will learn everything about MIG welding and how to operate a MIG welding machine throughout this course.
Prepare yourself to learn everything you require to understand welding, your welding machine configuration and function, safety, MIG welding associated with all joint types, and, last but not least, how to fix problems that might occur with your welds.
This course will suit beginner welders looking to get their foot in the door of the welding industry. It’s perfect for DIYers curious about welding, MIG welders looking to improve technique, artists interested in metalworking, and hobby welders wanting to improve their skills.
2. Weld Safely Like a Professional in 7 Easy Steps by Anthony Elliot
Since he was 12 years old, Anthony has been perfecting his craft as a self-taught welder. He is confident in his skills and also has produced numerous welding pieces – many of which are unique handmade items.
You’ll discover how to produce things you can be proud of, from useful objects to sculptures and even toys. Those enrolled in his online welding course will learn:
- Safely welding metal together
- Becoming comfortable with the welder
- How a welder works
- The fundamentals of welding
- Arc/Stick Welding
- Shielded metal arc welding
- Lots of tips and practice exercises
Being ideal for a beginner, this course is perfect for someone looking to release their creativity through welding and generally learn about it too. This makes it perfect for DIYers and artists looking to incorporate a medium into their sculpture work.
3. American Welding Society Online Courses
The American Welding Society (AWS) is the world’s most important welding education and certification organization.
The AWS offers specialized welding courses for students of all ages and experience levels.
AWS courses use motion graphics, audio voiceover, video recordings, and interactive features in addition to Powerpoint slides to help ensure even the most complicated concepts are exciting and straightforward to comprehend.
These courses are designed to educate welders on more advanced techniques, and they’re a great place to start when you’ve already got the basics down and want to take your skills to the next level.
4. Online Welding Training Courses by TPC
To assist in creating better, safer, and more productive employees, TPC Training provides an unmatched array of coaching, performance, and compliance solutions related to the welding industry.
Additionally, TPC is accredited by the American Welding Society.
Reading welding blueprints is the first topic covered in the online welding education courses from TPC Training Systems.
Every welding course provides instructions on different welds, gas tungsten arc welding and shielded metal arc welding fundamentals.
Specific instructions on all varieties of welding techniques are covered in the course topics. Lastly, the TPC online welding training program also covers welding equipment for brazing and cutting. In each curriculum, welding safety is emphasized too.
Enrolling with TPC is an excellent course of action for those wishing to make welding their career path. Learners will gain much-needed knowledge to become well-rounded welders.
5. Basics of Welding and Joining Technologies by Alison (free course)
This is one of the biggest free educational platforms for training and developing skills worldwide. As a social enterprise with the mission of enabling anyone to study anything, no matter where they’re located, Alison acts as a vehicle for all opportunities.
In this course, you can expect to learn the fundamentals of welding and joining. You’ll gain knowledge relating to how different joints are categorized as well as welding procedures.
The science of welding and brazing is also covered in detail. Additionally, soldering, adhesive bonding, and metal transition are covered in the course.
This welding program is ideal for novice welders looking to expand their welding skills to enter the industry. It’ll reflect well on a CV as an indication of your passion and commitment to welding.
6. Online Learning by Hobart Institute of Welding Technologies
The Hobart Institute of Welding Technology is dedicated to assisting people in acquiring employable welding skills through high-quality guidance at an affordable price.
Being dedicated to increasing the competitiveness of the industry, HIWT provides training to address welding-related issues.
While the school is certified by the American Welding Society for in-person qualifications, its online courses do not meet these requirements.
However, there are several courses from which you can choose to bolster your Professional Development hours for renewing your qualifications.
This course is best suited for qualified, advanced, and experienced welders who need hours to renew their certification, which should be done every three years.
7. Certification in Welding Technology for Engineers by OZIS Academy
With the mission to instill the highest quality schooling through comprehensive, precise, and scientific approaches, OZIS Academy is a framework for college or high school learners and workers who desire to enhance their abilities with high-quality, comprehensive courses.
Throughout the course, you’ll learn:
- The history of welding
- Different welding components
- Welding safety in commercial operations
- Welding processes
- Soldering and brazing processes
- Pipe welding
- Differences between joining and welding and when to use them
- Arc and shield welding processes
- Solid state welding
Although there are no prerequisites for this particular online welding course, it is intended for engineering students who desire to earn a certification in welding technology.
Additionally, this course thoroughly covers all the welding processes, which will be advantageous to learners who want to prepare for their welding interview.
8. TIG Welding Basics Part 1 by Desiree Rohrer
Desiree Rohrer, the CEO of Hangar 44, produced DIY videos for over 10 years for the YouTube channel Magazine Classic Car TV. Hanger 44 is a garage studio that is one of the first of its kind in Europe.
Desiree’s course has no prerequisites for those wanting to enroll and ensures you will learn the basics of TIG welding.
This method of welding is renowned for providing high-quality welding seams, clean and even joints, and is recommended when working with aluminum.
The fundamentals of TIG welding are explained in this tutorial clearly and concisely, along with a thorough analysis of any errors that may have occurred.
This course will suit anyone eager to learn the basics of TIG welding. Additionally, it is an excellent beginner course and a good touch-up for the experienced welder looking for specialized welding courses.
9. Introduction to Welding Engineering by Mechanical Corp
Mechanical Corp is an educational organization focusing on the most recent concerns in the spectrum of mechanical engineering. They seek to educate individuals on everything revolving around mechanical engineering.
Mechanical Corp’s course teaches those enrolled different types of welding processes, such as:
- Fusion welding
- Radiant beam welding
- Solid state welding
- Flux core arc welding
In modern technology, welding is widely used. As a result, this course teaches students about the various categories mentioned above relating to the welding process, how deficiencies form during the welding process, and how to minimize them.
This course will suit anyone who is a beginner in welding and keen to learn about the process as a whole.
10. Blueprint Reading for Welders Basic Lines, Views, and Symbols by Glen Lewis
As a certified welding inspector and instructor, Glen Lewis is no stranger to the welding industry. Glen has been a welding instructor at a community college based in Houston, TX, since 2012 – making him highly experienced as a welding educator.
This course’s objectives include teaching students how to interpret blueprints and comprehend the fundamental lines, perspectives, welding codes and signs used in illustrations, such as orthographic, isometric, and oblique projections.
Novice welders unfamiliar with blueprint drawings or welders who want a quick recap on blueprint reading should utilize this course. However, it’s probably not for you if you wish to learn comprehensive, advanced blueprint interpretation.
11. How To MIG Weld: MIG Welding Basics Demo Video by Eastwood Company
The Eastwood YouTube Channel has served as the go-to place for DIY connoisseurs looking for the right tools, materials, and free how-to guidance.
By subscribing to Eastwood’s channel, you can get fantastic welding how-to videos, DIY advice, and incredible product discounts.
If you’re interested in welding but are a little intimidated by the process, it’s essential to understand how it works. In this video from Eastwood, they give you an excellent overview of what welding is and what you need to get started.
They discuss how a MIG welder works and how you can use this to weld steel together.
This video is easily accessible and informative. It will be helpful for anyone considering welding as a hobby or for work, particularly for beginners. Additionally, if you’re looking for tips regarding welding basics, this video is for you.
12. Basic Math for Welding and CWI Inspection Part 1 by Glen Lewis
As stated previously, Glen Lewis is a man of expertise in welding. Being a certified welding educator and inspector, Glen has all the knowledge to help you expand your welding skills.
The course aims to give learners a basic understanding of welding and welding inspections. Additionally, you can expect to comprehend the fundamental math employed by certified welding inspectors (CWI) in the welding industry.
Even though this course is relatively introductory, it also offers helpful welding and inspection information for beginner welders. This course is an excellent way to brush up on your fundamental understanding of welding-related subjects.
Recommended Textbooks
The welding process is a skill that you’re going to be using all the time. Choosing a book can improve your welding experience and give you some on-hand tips, tricks, and warnings on what not to do.
Below are some recommended textbooks to improve your welding experience.
1. Farm and Workshop Welding: Everything You Need to Know to Weld, Cut, and Shape Metal By Andrew Pearce
Andrew Pearce thoroughly covers all the major types of welds in his book, starting with simple procedures before moving on to more challenging techniques. There are detailed descriptions, practical illustrations, step-by-step instructions, and professional recommendations.
With the help of this comprehensive manual, you’ll gain knowledge on everything you need to know about welding, such as:
- Plasma cutting and soldering to arc welding
- TIG welding
- MIG welding
- Gas metal arc welding
- flux core arc welding
This book is the perfect resource for the farm, home, school, blacksmith, or auto workshop welder because it goes beyond welding metals and plastics to offer guidance that expands into the broader workshop with sections on drills, cutting threads, and fundamental blacksmithing.
2. Learn To Weld: Beginning MIG Welding and Metal Fabrication Basics by Stephen Christena
With the help of Stephen Christena’s book and its step-by-step guidelines, educational resources, and welding-related problem resolution, you can learn to be an expert in welding.
To fix, develop, and recreate works in your home welding studio, you’ll need to know how to grasp MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding and the metal fabrication methods described in this book.
You will learn precise methods for using a MIG welder with a stage-by-stage process accompanied by photos and tutorials. The book also includes a comprehensive index for quick searching and easy fault finding.
This comprehensive DIY book contains all the information you need to begin welding. You can quickly attend to all your metal fabrication projects in your welding studio if you put these strategies into practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best way to understand welding is to see it in action, but you may have a few questions before starting.
Below are the questions and answers to the most commonly asked welding questions.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this post has enabled you to narrow down your selection of welding courses. If you’re just starting out, it’s great to find a space where you can quickly learn everything you need to know to get started.
If you’ve been welding for years, staying up-to-date on the latest developments in your field is essential, and these online welding courses offer some of the best ways to do so.
Sources
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- Jeffus, Larry. Welding. Cengage Learning, 2011.
- Antonini, James M. “Health effects of welding.” Critical reviews in toxicology 33.1 (2003): 61-103.
- Gourd, L. M. Principles of welding technology. London: Edward Arnold, 1986.
- Lancaster, John Frederick. Metallurgy of welding. Elsevier, 1999.
- Wang, Qiyue, et al. “A tutorial on deep learning-based data analytics in manufacturing through a welding case study.” Journal of Manufacturing Processes 63 (2021): 2-13.
- Asplund, Stig-Börje, and Nina Kilbrink. “Lessons from the welding booth: theories in practice in vocational education.” Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training 12.1 (2020): 1-23.
