
AWL


Fort Smith's Premier Welding Academy
AWL
Welcome to AWL
American Welding Laboratories was built for one purpose: turning motivated people into employable welders.
Whether you're brand new to the trade or looking to sharpen your skills, our training is designed around the realities of the welding industry, not endless classroom lectures. From day one, you'll spend your time where it matters most: in the welding booth, hood down, putting in the work.
Our instructors are experienced welding professionals who understand what employers expect because they've lived it. You'll train on the processes, materials, and welds used in the field while developing the discipline, safety awareness, and craftsmanship that separate hobbyists from professionals.
At AWL, we're not just teaching welding, we're preparing you for a career. Our students routinely earn industry-recognized welding certifications and many secure employment before they even graduate. Through strong relationships with manufacturers, fabrication shops, contractors, and industrial employers throughout the region, we help connect graduates with real opportunities.
Whether your goal is to work in manufacturing, construction, fabrication, energy, maintenance, or the oil and gas industry, AWL provides the hands-on training, industry knowledge, and career support needed to build a future in one of America's most essential trades.
If you're willing to work hard, we'll help you build the skills employers are looking for.


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.














