Learn to weld. Get certified. Build your future.
240 hours of hands-on training, about 90% of it in a booth, customized to you. Test for up to 8 AWS D1.1 welding certifications in GMAW (wire) and SMAW (stick). Most full-time students finish in about 7 weeks, at their own pace.
Next open boothsFull-time: NowMornings: NowAfternoons: NowGPWA Graduation Ceremony
Saturday, January 16, 2027 · 10:30 AM · Elks Theatre
Flexibility for your lifestyle.
From first call to course completion.
- 01
Tour the shop
See the booths, meet the instructors and ask anything. Tours are one-on-one.
- 02
Apply from your phone
Apply online and sign your paperwork on your phone. We help line up funding.
- 03
Start in a booth
No set start dates. Start the week after a booth opens and your paperwork is in. Full-time or part-time.
- 04
Test & get certified
Bend tests witnessed by an AWS Certified Welding Inspector. Up to eight AWS D1.1 certifications: you earn each one by passing its test.
- 05
Graduate
Finish your program with your Certificate of Completion and your certification records, printed for you to keep.
One program. Done right.
Welding to the AWS D1.1 Structural Steel code in GMAW and SMAW. About 90% of your time is shop time. No general education classes.
- 240 hours of hands-on training, about 90% in the shop
- Up to 8 AWS D1.1 certification tests: GMAW (wire) and SMAW (stick), 1G–4G
- Time left over? You may get to try other processes, like flux core and TIG
- A small student-to-instructor ratio
- Safety, blueprint reading and work ethic built in
- Guest speakers and industry tours
- Full-time 8–4:30, or part-time mornings or afternoons
- No GED or diploma needed. Start any week of the year.
Every position. Both processes.
You test to AWS D1.1, and every bend test is witnessed by an AWS Certified Welding Inspector. Pass the test, earn the certification. You get printed copies to keep.
Pick your pace.
Same 240 hours, same 8 certification tests. Start any week of the year once a booth opens and your paperwork is done.
Full-time
Monday to Friday. The fastest way into the field.
Part-time mornings
Train in the morning, keep your afternoon job.
Part-time afternoons
Keep your morning job, weld in the afternoon.
Our academy is passionate about what we do.
Get welding
No general education classes. About 90% of your time is shop time, doing exactly what you came here to do.
Small classes
A small student-to-instructor ratio means one-on-one time in the booth and questions always welcome.
Weeks, not years
Skip the two-year program: about 7 weeks full-time or about 13 weeks part-time, at your own pace.
Tested to code
Every certification is a bend test to AWS D1.1, witnessed by an AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI).
Real-world skills
Safety, blueprint reading and work ethic, plus guest speakers and industry tours.
Family-run
Founded by Tommy and Brianna Myers. Here you’re not just a student, you’re part of the family.
8 certifications built for the future.
Structural welding certifications are wanted in manufacturing, energy, mining, ironwork and construction across the region.
From our graduate records as of 2026: 77 graduates since 2023.
Ways to pay for school.
Tuition is $8,500 for the 240-hour program. Here’s every way to cover it. Tools aren’t part of tuition: students buy their own from the tool list (about $350).
VA / GI Bill®
Approved for GI Bill® training by the South Dakota State Approving Agency. If you’re eligible, VA education benefits can cover your training, and we’ll guide you through the process. You won’t be charged late fees or kept out of class while VA’s payment is on the way.
VA education benefits (opens in a new tab)SD Dept. of Labor
GPWA is an approved training provider on South Dakota’s WIOA Eligible Training Provider List. For people who qualify, WIOA can cover a large part of tuition (up to the amount DLR approves). We work with your caseworker directly.
About WIOA (opens in a new tab)NFJP South Dakota
The National Farmworker Jobs Program helps people who’ve worked on a farm or ranch in the last two years (and their families) pay for training. Some of our students have used it. It’s run in South Dakota by Black Hills Special Services Cooperative.
NFJP South Dakota (opens in a new tab)Climb Credit
Prefer to pay over time? We’ve partnered with Climb Credit: a quick online application (about 5 minutes) and a soft credit pull to get started.
Apply with Climb Credit (opens in a new tab)529 plans
Some students use a 529 plan or another education savings account to cover tuition. We’ll send your plan the invoice or receipt it asks for.
Bank loan
Private lenders like First Interstate Bank offer training loans to people who qualify. We give your bank whatever paperwork it needs.
Pay direct
A $2,000 deposit holds your start date and booth. The rest is due on your first day. VA, WIOA or another funding source? That’s lined up before you start.
“We’re not here to line our pockets. We’re here to bring more passion and excellence to the welding trade.”
What people say about GPWA.
I do not have enough great things to say about GPWA. I have not seen my son so happy and excited about something in a long time. The instructors. The program. I can’t thank you enough!
GPWA not only met my expectations but exceeded them. Everyone got to have 1 on 1 time with the instructor and could take the course at their own pace, and questions were always encouraged.
When we got home I watched my son show his sisters his certificate, and his sweatshirt, mug and cap! He is SO proud! We could not be more happy with our experience at GP Welding Academy. Thank you guys a million!
Loved it, always felt welcome and enjoyed every day! Best learning environment I’ve been around.
Straight answers.
Nope. You don’t need a GED or diploma to attend. If you plan to train while you’re still in high school, you must be at least 16, and a parent or guardian signs a consent form.
No. You start with safety and the basics, then build up to certification tests module by module.
240 hours. Full-time is about 7 weeks, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Part-time is about 13 weeks, mornings (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM) or afternoons (12:30 PM – 4:30 PM). That includes a 5-day buffer, so a sick day or a holiday doesn’t throw you off.
We don’t have set start dates. If a booth slot is open, it’s yours: once your paperwork is in, you can start the following week. We train year-round.
Tuition is $8,500 for the 240-hour program, which covers your certification tests. The only other cost is your tools and gear: the tool list is about $350. You can buy it from A&B Welding Supply in Rapid City, or buy the tools on your own.
Your booth is waiting.
Come see the shop, or ask a question. Either way, no pressure.
or call (605) 510-8000