
AWL


Fort Smith's Premier Welding Academy
AWL
Welcome to AWL
American Welding Laboratories is the region’s resource for welding training, testing, inspection, and technical expertise.
For individuals entering the trade or sharpening their skills, we provide hands-on training built around the realities of the welding industry. From day one, students spend their time where it matters most: in the welding booth, hood down, putting in the work. Our experienced instructors teach the processes, materials, safety practices, and craftsmanship employers expect, preparing students to pursue industry-recognized certifications and real career opportunities.
For employers, AWL delivers practical solutions that strengthen their workforce and support the quality of their operations. Our services include welder testing, weld inspection, technical consulting, and customized training designed around specific processes, production requirements, and workforce needs. Whether a company needs to evaluate welder performance, improve weld quality, train new employees, or upskill an existing team, we provide the expertise to get the job done.
We also work with workforce development organizations, schools, manufacturers, fabrication shops, contractors, and industrial employers throughout the region to connect skilled welders with meaningful opportunities and help businesses meet the growing demand for qualified talent.
From the first strike of an arc to the demands of the job site or production floor, AWL is a trusted partner for welding education, workforce development, and industry support.


PROUD MEMBER
AWL is licensed and regulated by the Arkansas State Board of Private Career Education

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Accredited by the Better Business Bureau
🏆 Three-Peat Champions!
Gold Winner for Best Vocational School in the River Valley
3 Years Running.



Enrolling now!
The majority of AWL students qualify for grants, ask us how today!
NOW ACCEPTING G.I.BILL


Now Enrolling: LEARNS Act–Approved High School Welding Program
American Welding Laboratories is proud to offer a specialized welding program for high school students ages 16 and up, approved under the Arkansas LEARNS Act. This 120-hour course provides hands-on training in two welding processes of the student’s choice: MIG/Flux Core, TIG, or Stick welding.

Performance Statistics
82.3%
Percentage of people employed immediately after graduation
96.3%
Percentage of people employed within 3 months
89.6%
Percentage of people who obtained a credential before graduating
Courses offered
Welding School
Trade School

GTAW
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
TIG welding can be performed with or without filler metal, and it can be used to make very small and precise welds on even the thinnest of metals. TIG welders specialize in this process, and they can work in manufacturing, automotive, and robotics, among other industries.
Combo Pipe Welding
Combination Pipe Welding is a specialized process that is in high demand and utilized in the petrochemical sector. Combo welders often work on a construction or job site, and their skills are applicable across a broad range of welding jobs. They can find work upgrading aging infrastructures, such as bridges and roadways, as well as constructing new green energy facilities.














