OUR MISSION

BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION
For too long, our country has pushed college as the only path, leaving trades under-appreciated.

Now, as industry returns to America, we face a crisis a shortage of skilled workers. At Western Welding Academy, we’re here to change that.
Western Welding Academy student group
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check out our story!
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OUR PROGRAMS

CHOOSE YOUR PATH. FORGE YOUR FUTURE.

No matter your career goals , Western Welding Academy can help you get there.

Our Pipe Welding Program trains you to weld cylindrical structures for industries like
Oil & Gas, Power Plants, and Refineries. It Incudes three skill levels : Foundational,
Professional, and Expert.

STRUCTURAL WELDING
ADVANCED
$40-70K
12 WEEKS
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$25,800
YEAR-ROUND
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PIPE WELDING
FOUNDATIONAL
Entry Level Salary:
$40-60K
Program Length :
12 WEEKS
Program Cost :
$17,050
Potential Certifications:
2
Housing / Gear
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SMAW
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Advanced SMAW
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GTAW
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ADVANCED GTAW
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Downhill
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STRUCTURAL
ADVANCED
Entry Level Salary:
$60K
PROGRAM LENGTH
12 WEEKS
PROGRAM COST
$25,800
Potential Certifications:
3
HOUSING / GEAR :
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SMAW
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ADVANCED SMAW
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GTAW
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ADVANCED GTAW
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DOWNHILL
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Gmaw
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PIPE WELDING
PROFESSIONAL
Entry Level Salary:
$60-90K
PROGRAM LENGTH
19 WEEKS
PROGRAM COST
$27,600
Potential Certifications:
4
HOUSING / GEAR :
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SMAW
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ADVANCED SMAW
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GTAW
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ADVANCED GTAW
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DOWNHILL
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Gmaw
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PIPE WELDING
EXPERT
Entry Level Salary:
$60-125K
PROGRAM LENGTH
24 WEEKS
PROGRAM COST
$35,800
Potential Certifications:
17
HOUSING / GEAR :
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SMAW
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ADVANCED SMAW
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GTAW
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ADVANCED GTAW
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DOWNHILL
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Gmaw
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COMPARE COURSES.
FORGE YOUR FUTURE.

Choose your path.
Want to weld pipe for the oilfield, power plants, or refineries? Choose from 3 Pipe Welding Programs  to build your skills.

PIPE WELDING
FOUNDATIONAL
ENTRY LEVEL SALARY :
$40-60K
Program LENGTH :
12 WEEKS
Program Cost :
$17,050
Certifications Earned :
25
housing / Gear
Checkmark Icon
SMAW
Checkmark Icon
advanced SMAW
Dot Icon
gtaw
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advanced gtaw
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downhill
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View Course
PIPE WELDING
PROFESSIONAL
ENTRY LEVEL SALARY :
$60-90K
Program LENGTH :
12 WEEKS
Program Cost :
$27,600
Certifications Earned :
25
housing / Gear
Checkmark Icon
SMAW
Checkmark Icon
advanced SMAW
Checkmark Icon
gtaw
Dot Icon
advanced gtaw
Dot Icon
downhill
Dot Icon
View Course
PIPE WELDING
EXPERT
ENTRY LEVEL SALARY :
$60-125K
Program LENGTH :
24 WEEKS
Program Cost :
$35,800
Certifications Earned :
25
housing / Gear
Checkmark Icon
SMAW
Checkmark Icon
advanced SMAW
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gtaw
Checkmark Icon
advanced gtaw
Checkmark Icon
downhill
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View Course

student & PARENT resources

Our Programs - Facts Sheet
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Admission Process - Facts Sheet
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Funding Options - Facts Sheet
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Housing and Student Life
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WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE?

OUR TEAM

MEET OUR FOUNDER
Meet Tyler Sasse
Founder & CEO of Western Welding Academy
20 years of welding experience

Tyler is a master welder, educator, and industry leader dedicated to training elite pipe welders. As Founder & CEO of Western Welding Academy, he built a hands-on, no-nonsense training program that prepares students for high-paying careers.

A welder by trade, Tyler saw the industry’s demand for top-tier talent and the lack of real-world training. In 2019, he launched Western Welding Academy in Gillette, Wyoming, where students learn under job-site conditions. 

His purpose: Build a better generation. 
His mission: Deliver industry-leading student outcomes.

Tyler Sasse

OUR FOUNDER’S LETTER

Western Welding Academy Logo
Average Graduate Earnings
$60,000
Student : Faculty
18 : 1
Time to Payback
7 Months
Course Length
24 Weeks
Graduation Rate
85%
Universal Technical Institute logo
Average Graduate Earnings
$36,000
Student : Faculty
38 : 1
Time to Payback
13 Months
Welding Technology Course
36 Weeks
Graduation Rate
43%
Tulsa Welding School logo
Average Graduate Earnings
$36,000
Student : Faculty
45 : 1
Time to Payback
14 Months
Professional Welding Course
40 Weeks
Graduation Rate
56%
Lincoln tech logo
Average Graduate Earnings
$40,000
Student : Faculty
35 : 1
Time to Payback
17 Months
Welding Technology Course
52 Weeks
Graduation Rate
68%
Sources: Western Welding Academy November 2024 Alumni Survey (N=234 total respondents)
Department of Education College Scorecard as of November 2024
Western Welding Academy Logo
Average Graduate Earnings
$60,000
Student : Faculty
18 : 1
Time to Payback
7 Months
Course Length
24 Weeks
Graduation Rate
85%
Tulsa Welding School logo
Average Graduate Earnings
$36,000
Student : Faculty
45 : 1
Time to Payback
14 Months
Course Length
40 Weeks
Graduation Rate
56%
Universal Technical Institute logo
Average Graduate Earnings
$36,000
Student : Faculty
38 : 1
Time to Payback
13 Months
Course Length
40 Weeks
Graduation Rate
43%
Lincoln tech logo
Average Graduate Earnings
$40,000
Student : Faculty
35 : 1
Time to Payback
17 Months
Course Length
52 Weeks
Graduation Rate
68%
WE GROW TOGETHER.

the campus

Western Welding Academy boothsWestern Welding Academy pipeline simulatorWestern Welding Academy Pipe SimulatorWestern Welding Academy welding machinesInside a western welding academy boothWestern Welding Academy indoor boothsWestern welding academy classroomWestern Welding Academy shopWestern welding academy shop
Western Welding Academy boothsWestern Welding Academy pipeline simulatorWestern Welding Academy Pipe SimulatorWestern Welding Academy welding machinesInside a western welding academy boothWestern Welding Academy indoor boothsWestern welding academy classroomWestern Welding Academy shopWestern welding academy shop

About Western Welding Academy

Western Welding Academy was founded in Gillette, Wyoming with one goal: build the best pipe welders in the country. Every decision at the academy is driven by outcomes. The programs, the instructors, the equipment, and the training methods all exist to get students hired fast and earning well.

The academy is led by Tyler Sasse, who built Western Welding Academy from the ground up to fill a gap in the trades education market. Most welding schools spread their training across too many disciplines and too little booth time. Western Welding Academy focuses on pipe and structural welding, and students spend 85% of their time in the booth welding on real materials.

The instructors at Western Welding Academy bring over 330 combined years of field experience. They have worked pipelines, refineries, power plants, and structural projects across North America. They teach the same techniques and standards that employers expect on real jobsites.

The results back it up. Western Welding Academy has graduated over 2,000 welders. 94% of graduates are hired within 90 days, based on a 234-alumni survey conducted in November 2024. The school holds the number one AWS Accredited Testing Facility ranking in the nation, and graduates earn an average tuition payback in 5 to 7 months.

Western Welding Academy is located at 26 Kinsey Lane, Gillette, Wyoming 82716. To learn more about the programs or schedule a campus tour, call (307) 284-5313 or apply online today.