[Vicegrip]

I looked into NOVA as I took HVAC there and that paid back many fold but was not impressed with the syllabus overall. Check on line there are many schools for welding. What you plan to do with the skills play a part. To be a fully certified aircraft or nuclear welder you will need certain diplomas or certifications. If you just want to stick two parts together and not have them fall apart you might look at some self learning too.



I ended up just reading the instruction book that came with each of the welders when I bought them and then after getting some hands on checked out and read many books on the various subjects involved.

Prior hands on helps as it makes the topic relevant to you. I started simple with stick, gas and gas cutting and learned as the welding and systems used became more complex. MiG and soon onto TiG. There is a wealth of info out there and it is not too complex if you go at it a bit at a time. Welding is a craft and skill as much as it is a science and there are many aspects to advanced welding that you might need to understand other than the basics. Chemistry, electron theory, gas laws, thermodynamics and just general physics all play a part in being a good welder but you have to be able to do more than think it you have to be able to DO it with your hands too. If you have some background knowledge with the above and have a general grasp of the subject you might be surprised how well you can learn by doing and reading.