VA-approved welding programs and apprenticeships
- Page last updated October 23, 2026
- VA data retrieved October 23, 2026 (Comparison Tool data version 1522)
Quick answer
VA's GI Bill® Comparison Tool lists 1,352 welding training locations in 52 states and territories, with 3,016 approved programs. 177 of them offer apprenticeship or on-the-job training. What the GI Bill pays for welding school.
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Source: VA GI Bill Comparison Tool program data, retrieved October 23, 2026; school details from VA's Comparison Tool data file dated October 8, 2026. Caution flags are shown in VA's wording.
Welding programs by state
- Alabama (36)
- Alaska (8)
- Arizona (18)
- Arkansas (30)
- California (78)
- Colorado (18)
- Connecticut (5)
- Delaware (5)
- Florida (63)
- Georgia (38)
- Hawaii (8)
- Idaho (10)
- Illinois (49)
- Indiana (40)
- Iowa (21)
- Kansas (27)
- Kentucky (24)
- Louisiana (49)
- Maine (14)
- Maryland (14)
- Massachusetts (8)
- Michigan (70)
- Minnesota (27)
- Mississippi (25)
- Missouri (30)
- Montana (11)
- Nebraska (13)
- New Jersey (23)
- New Mexico (19)
- New York (33)
- North Carolina (68)
- North Dakota (11)
- Ohio (58)
- Oklahoma (32)
- Oregon (18)
- Pennsylvania (47)
- Puerto Rico (8)
- South Carolina (27)
- South Dakota (12)
- Tennessee (29)
- Texas (99)
- Utah (13)
- Virginia (28)
- Washington (27)
- West Virginia (19)
- Wisconsin (25)
- Wyoming (8)
States with at least 5 locations have their own page. Use the filter above for any state.
Counts for all 52 states and territories
| State | Locations | With school programs | With apprenticeship / OJT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 36 | 34 | 2 |
| Alaska | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Arizona | 18 | 17 | 1 |
| Arkansas | 30 | 29 | 1 |
| California | 78 | 74 | 4 |
| Colorado | 18 | 17 | 1 |
| Connecticut | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Delaware | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Florida | 63 | 61 | 2 |
| Georgia | 38 | 28 | 10 |
| Guam | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Hawaii | 8 | 3 | 5 |
| Idaho | 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Illinois | 49 | 49 | 0 |
| Indiana | 40 | 33 | 7 |
| Iowa | 21 | 16 | 5 |
| Kansas | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| Kentucky | 24 | 21 | 3 |
| Louisiana | 49 | 42 | 7 |
| Maine | 14 | 11 | 3 |
| Maryland | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| Massachusetts | 8 | 3 | 5 |
| Michigan | 70 | 29 | 41 |
| Minnesota | 27 | 24 | 3 |
| Mississippi | 25 | 23 | 2 |
| Missouri | 30 | 27 | 3 |
| Montana | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| Nebraska | 13 | 11 | 2 |
| Nevada | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| New Hampshire | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| New Jersey | 23 | 22 | 1 |
| New Mexico | 19 | 18 | 1 |
| New York | 33 | 30 | 3 |
| North Carolina | 68 | 60 | 8 |
| North Dakota | 11 | 10 | 1 |
| Ohio | 58 | 54 | 4 |
| Oklahoma | 32 | 32 | 0 |
| Oregon | 18 | 17 | 1 |
| Pennsylvania | 47 | 42 | 5 |
| Puerto Rico | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| South Carolina | 27 | 21 | 6 |
| South Dakota | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| Tennessee | 29 | 26 | 3 |
| Texas | 99 | 91 | 8 |
| Utah | 13 | 12 | 1 |
| Vermont | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Virginia | 28 | 24 | 4 |
| Washington | 27 | 24 | 3 |
| West Virginia | 19 | 17 | 2 |
| Wisconsin | 25 | 21 | 4 |
| Wyoming | 8 | 8 | 0 |
Common questions
How many welding programs are approved for the GI Bill?
As of October 23, 2026, VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool lists 3,016 approved programs at 1,352 locations in 52 states and territories. By type: 984 public colleges and technical schools, 178 employers and apprenticeship sponsors, 159 for-profit schools, 31 private nonprofit schools.
Which states have the most GI Bill-approved welding locations?
By number of locations in VA's data: Texas (99), California (78), Michigan (70), North Carolina (68), Florida (63).
How much welding training approved for the GI Bill is on the job?
177 locations offer VA-approved apprenticeship or on-the-job training (13% of all locations), with 193 programs. The other locations offer school (non-college degree) programs only.
[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool] [VA: On-the-job training and apprenticeships]
What are welding programs usually called in VA's data?
The most common program titles are “Welding” (128), “Welding Technology” (114), “Certificate: Welding Technology” (78), “Welder” (54), “Certificate: Welding” (48). Titles are as the school or employer reported them to VA.
Do any welding schools have VA caution flags?
Yes. 79 locations have at least one VA caution flag. We show each flag on its listing in VA's wording.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “GI Bill Comparison Tool”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Non-college degree programs” (page last updated December 13, 2024). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “On-the-job training and apprenticeships” (page last updated February 4, 2025). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Post-9/11 GI Bill rates (Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027)” (page last updated October 13, 2026). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Licensing and certification tests and prep courses” (page last updated October 23, 2026). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.