AWS Foundation Welder Training Scholarship
Offered by American Welding Society Foundation
About This Scholarship
The American Welding Society Foundation's Welder Training Scholarship pays for short-term welding certification, not degrees. It is aimed at people who want to get into the trade quickly through a certificate program of less than two years at a trade school, community college, or other welder training facility.
The Foundation awards up to 800 scholarships of $1,000 a year, divided among its regional Districts. Money goes directly to the school and can cover tuition, fees, books, supplies, and required equipment. Each award can be redeemed for one year from the date it is granted.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis rather than all at once, so applying early in the cycle gives you more chances at selection. The current application window closes November 30, 2026, and a new cycle opens December 1.
Eligibility
- Live within the boundaries of an AWS District (AWS posts a district map)
- Enrolled in, or planning to attend within the next year, a welding certificate program of less than two years at a trade school, community college, or other welder training facility
- Associate and bachelor's degree programs are not eligible (AWS's national and district scholarships cover those)
- AWS Section officers, Section selection committee members, and their families are not eligible
- AWS membership is not stated as a requirement; a free AWS student membership is available and encouraged
How To Apply
- Confirm your welding certificate program is under two years and identify your AWS District from the map on the AWS page
- Start the online application from the Apply Now link on the Welder Training Scholarship page (scholarship.aws.org)
- Submit by November 30, 2026; selections are made on a rolling basis
- If selected, AWS pays the award directly to your training facility
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this for an associate degree in welding?
No. The Welder Training Scholarship is limited to certificate programs shorter than two years. Degree students should look at the AWS Foundation's national and district scholarships, which use a separate March deadline.
How are winners chosen?
Selections are made on a rolling basis between mid-January and mid-December, so applications submitted earlier are reviewed sooner.
What can the $1,000 pay for?
Tuition, fees, books, supplies, and required equipment. The payment goes directly to the school or training facility.