What Welding Courses and Training Does AWS Provide?

Updated

The American Welding Society (AWS) offers expert-developed welding training through online courses, instructor-led seminars, and in-person or virtual courses—the site cites 39 such courses and training resources—alongside a certification program spanning nine industry categories. This training is aimed at students, experienced welders, and other industry professionals who want to build skills and advance their careers. The right path depends on whether you're starting out, preparing for certification, or maintaining an existing credential.

Training Formats Available

AWS describes its education offerings as comprehensive and expert-developed, delivered in several formats:

  • Online courses — self-paced learning resources accessible remotely.
  • Instructor-led seminars — structured sessions led by industry experts.
  • In-person or virtual courses — the site counts 39 of these across its training catalog.

The site also points to a course catalog, conferences and events, a bookstore, and scholarship opportunities as part of its broader education ecosystem.

How Training Connects to Certification

AWS positions certification and education as linked career tools. Its certifications cover nine industry categories addressing different segments of welding and joining. According to the site, 66% of the welding workforce supplements their education with AWS certifications, and the training resources are framed as a way to "enhance your career and your lifetime earning potential."

For certified individuals, the site references a "My AWS CWI" entry point—suggesting a portal for those holding the Certified Welding Inspector credential—though specific access or login requirements are not detailed in the available material.

Choosing Based on Your Situation

Your situation Suggested starting point
New to welding or a student Explore education resources and the course catalog; check scholarship options
Experienced welder seeking a credential Review the nine certification categories, then match training to your target certification
Already certified (e.g., CWI) Use the "My AWS CWI" area and look for courses tied to your credential
Need standards-specific training Look for targeted workshops—the site lists an example: a three-day "ASME Section IX Decoded" workshop on welding, brazing, and fusing qualification requirements

Events and Workshops Worth Knowing

Beyond standard courses, AWS lists featured conferences and events that double as training opportunities:

  • FABTECH Canada 2026 (June 9–11, Toronto) — described as Canada's largest metal forming, fabricating, welding, and finishing event; registration is open.
  • ASME Section IX Decoded: A Workshop — a three-day introductory workshop on complying with ASME Section IX qualification requirements.
  • Welding Summit 2026 — focused on applying ASME, AWS, and API requirements across a single scope of work.
  • FABTECH — billed as North America's largest metal forming, fabricating, welding, and finishing event.

These suit professionals who need standards-specific or hands-on exposure rather than general coursework.

Membership as a Training Gateway

AWS membership is presented as a way to access leading educational resources and technical information, learn new skills, and earn certifications. Membership benefits are described as relevant "no matter where you are in your welding career." If you plan to take multiple courses or pursue certification, reviewing membership benefits alongside course costs is a reasonable step—though the available material does not list prices or state whether any resources are free.

Practical Next Steps

  1. Clarify your goal — skill-building, a specific certification, or standards compliance.
  2. Browse the course catalog on aws.org to see which of the 39 in-person or virtual courses match your goal.
  3. Check certification categories to confirm which credential your training should support.
  4. Consider events like the ASME Section IX workshop if you need standards-specific training.
  5. Evaluate membership if you expect ongoing training needs.

A common pitfall is choosing training before identifying the target certification—since AWS certifications span nine categories, confirming your category first keeps course selection focused.