Welding Certification Center

What Welding Certification Center does

Welding Certification Center (WCC) is a privately held, BPPE-licensed vocational training institution founded in 2016 and headquartered in a single facility at 2701 N. Towne Ave, Unit C, Pomona, California, serving students across the Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino county regions of Southern California. It operates as the only private welding school in Los Angeles County licensed by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education and functions as an LADBS Authorized Testing Agency permitted to conduct welder performance examinations in all classifications certified by the City of Los Angeles.

The institution's core product is instructor-led welding certification training delivered through five process programs — SMAW (Stick), GTAW (TIG), FCAW (Flux Core) and GMAW (MIG) — across multiple skill levels covering structural steel, sheet steel, aluminum and stainless steel applications, plus a 30-hour LADBS Written Test Prep course and an Oxyacetylene Cutting Workshop. Course tuition is transparently priced per level at $3,700-$4,140, with $95 registration fees, $328-$353 student equipment kits, a Square-powered on-site performance test booking system, and a Calendly-enabled tour funnel. Accelerated completion in approximately 16.5 weeks with caps of 12 students per class and a proprietary teaching method developed by founder Dan Londo underpin a near-100% reported certification pass rate.

Revenue is generated primarily through course tuition, supplemented by written-test prep fees, student equipment kits and branded merchandise, with secondary financing flow from an in-house private student loan program and acceptance of GI Bill, WIOA, ETPL, LA County Probation, LA County WebVen and Workers Compensation voucher funding. The company is founder-owned and operated by Dan Londo (Site Administrator and Head Welding Instructor, CWI/CWE/Licensed Contractor) and Vanessa Londo (Vice President of Financial, Administrative & Student Services), supported by a 7-employee team including instructor Cody Bailes. GTM is direct-to-consumer with SEO-led county-level landing pages driving inbound applications and phone-based admissions closing conversion.

Name

Welding Certification Center

Legal name

Welding Certification Center

Website

https://weldcertcenter.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Welding Certification Center is a privately held, BPPE-licensed welding school in Pomona, California, founded in 2016 by Dan Londo. It delivers accelerated 16.5-week certification programs across SMAW, GTAW, FCAW and GMAW processes to aspiring and experienced welders across four Southern California counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Welding Training and Certification

NAICS

Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arc Welding (SMAW/GMAW/FCAW/GTAW) Training (EDAOADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Welding Codes, Safety & Compliance Training (AWS/ASME/OSHA) (EDAOADAG), Structural Steel Welding & Erection-Focused Training (EDAOADAC), Aluminum, Stainless & Specialty Metals Welding Training (EDAOADAL), Sheet Metal Fabrication & Light-Gauge Metalwork Training (EDAOADAD)

Keywords

• Welding certification training
• Vocational welding education
• AWS certification prep
• LADBS welder testing
• Skilled trades training

Headquarters

HQ city

Pomona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Course Fees: Primary revenue from vocational training tuition. Students pay for multi-level welding courses ranging from $3,700 to $4,140 per program level. Additional fees include $95 registration fee and $10 veteran registration fee.
2. Written Test Prep Course: LADBS Written Test Prep Course offered at $2,495, providing 30 hours of instruction over 4 consecutive Saturdays.
3. Student Equipment Kits: Sale of required student welding kits: Standard Student Welder's Kit at $328 and GTAW-specialized kit at $353. Available to students only, not general public.
4. Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including WCC Logo T-shirts ($20) and WCC Logo Hats ($25) sold through the online store.
5. Student Loans: Private student loan program offering monthly payments as low as $299, providing financing for tuition costs with fixed interest rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Welding Certification Center is a private vocational welding school that delivers hands-on, instructor-led training in Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW/Stick), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW/TIG), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW/MIG), and Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) across multiple skill levels and material types (structural steel, sheet steel, aluminum, stainless steel). The school is an LADBS Authorized Testing Facility, enabling it to administer Los Angeles City certified welder performance and written exams on-site. Students pay tuition ranging from $3,700 to $4,140 per program level, with financing available via student loans starting at $299 per month and acceptance of GI Bill, WIOA, and state workforce grants.

Product overview

Welding Certification Center is a vocational training institution offering a comprehensive suite of welding certification programs in Southern California. The core offering consists of instructor-led courses in five major welding processes: SMAW (Stick), GTAW (TIG), GMAW (MIG), and FCAW (Flux Core), available in multiple skill levels from beginner to advanced certification. Students can pursue AWS and LA City certifications across various specializations including structural steel, sheet steel, aluminum, and stainless steel. The center provides an LA City Written Test Prep course as a standalone offering for welders seeking certification, plus oxyacetylene cutting as an auxiliary workshop. Ancillary offerings include two versions of a Student Welder's Kit (standard and GTAW-specific) for hands-on training, branded merchandise (t-shirts and hats), and registration fees. Programs are accelerated and designed to prepare students for employer-required certification tests in 16.5 weeks. Financing options include low-interest student loans and veterans' benefits (GI Bill).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SMAW (Stick) Welding Courses Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Stick) training programs covering Structural Steel Levels 1-3 and Sheet Steel Levels 1-3, each priced at $3,700. Designed for beginning to advanced students, with content aligned to LADBS Vertical 3G and Overhead 4G performance test preparation. Class size capped at 12.
• FCAW (Flux Cored Arc Welding) Courses Flux Cored Arc Welding training with four program levels (1-4), each priced at $3,775. Covers structural applications and prepares students for LADBS Vertical 3G and Overhead 4G performance tests, culminating in LADBS certification exam preparation.
• GTAW (TIG) Welding Courses Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG) training across multiple material types: Mild/Low Carbon Steel Levels 1-3 ($3,875 each), Aluminum Levels 1-3 ($4,140 each), and Stainless Steel Levels 1-3 ($4,140 each), plus a Level 4 Certification course ($4,140).
• GMAW (MIG) Welding Courses Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG) training covering Sheet Metal Levels 1-3 ($4,140 each) and Structural Steel Levels 1-3 ($4,140 each). Prepares students for AWS and LADBS structural steel and sheet steel performance certification exams.
• LADBS Certified Welder Written Test Prep Course A $2,495 standalone course preparing students for the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety Certified Welder written test. Covers AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code-Steel, general welding knowledge, and welding symbols across 30 hours of instruction delivered over 4 consecutive Saturdays (8am-4pm). Designed by the founder and sold separately from hands-on welding courses.
• Oxyacetylene Cutting Workshop A $712 workshop introducing safe operation and use of oxyacetylene equipment for cutting mild steel. Covers procedures tested on LADBS Department Exam and California State Contractors Board Exams.
• LADBS Welding Performance Test (On-site Testing) Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety Authorized Testing Facility service that administers City of LA certified welder performance welder examinations on-site in all LADBS-certified classifications. Bookable through Square Appointments.
• Student Welder's Kit (Standard) A $328 comprehensive kit containing essential welding equipment including welder's helmet, welding jacket, equipment bag, angle grinder, welding gloves, locking pliers, wire wheel, chipping hammer, wire brush, grinding stone, and safety glasses. Available to students only, pickup on first day of class.
• Student Welder's Kit - GTAW A $353 specialized kit similar to the standard Student Welder's Kit but includes GTAW gloves (available in Medium to Extra Large sizes) in addition to the standard equipment. Available to students only.
• WCC Logo T-Shirt A $20 premium 100% cotton t-shirt featuring the WCC logo on the left chest and a large custom logo on the back. Available in navy blue with white graphics.
• WCC Logo Hat A $25 premium trucker-style baseball cap with adjustable back, navy blue front, white back, and sewn-on Welding Certification Center logo patch.

Quantifiable outcome

• Near 100% certification pass rate for students completing the 16.5-week program
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles10 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Los Angeles County Probation OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with LA County Probation Office to accept educational grants for individuals in the probation system seeking vocational training in welding. Extends funding options beyond traditional student populations.
• GI Bill / Department of Veterans AffairscoreOthersApproved by the Department of Veterans Affairs Education Service to accept GI Bill benefits. Veterans can use education benefits for welding certification training at the school. Additional state veterans' educational grants may cover up to 50% of tuition.
• State of California ETPL / CAL JobscoreOthersApproved institution on the State of California's Eligible Training Provider List, enabling acceptance of state-funded workforce development programs for welding training.
• WIOA / I-TraincoreOthersApproved on the Public Training Vendor List (I-Train) to accept Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding and other eligible state program funding for vocational training.
• Workers Compensation Voucher ProgramminorOthersAuthorized to accept worker's compensation vouchers as a funding source for welding training, enabling injured workers to receive vocational rehabilitation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tulsa Welding School: Tulsa Welding School is a dedicated welding-specific vocational school offering SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and FCAW training across multiple program lengths. It is the closest direct analog to WCC's pure-play welding certification focus, although it operates at much larger scale and across multiple campuses.
• New England Institute of Welding Technology: New England Institute is a private welding specialty school providing welding training and certification testing. Despite regional differences, the model of accelerated welding certification in a private specialty setting is directly comparable to WCC.
• Hobart Institute of Welding Technology: Hobart Institute is a specialized welding trade school offering hands-on welding training programs and certification preparation across multiple processes. Its pure-play welding focus and emphasis on industry certification outcomes make its model highly comparable to WCC's approach.
• Apex Technical School: Apex Technical School is a private vocational school offering skilled trades training including welding. Its urban private trade school model and focus on certification preparation makes it directly comparable to WCC's approach.

Emerging players

• Advanced Technology Institute: Advanced Technology Institute is a private vocational school that includes welding and skilled trades programs. It is comparable to WCC as a smaller private trade school but operates in a different geography with a broader program mix.

Broad incumbents

• Universal Technical Institute: Universal Technical Institute is a large for-profit trade school with welding programs alongside automotive, diesel, and other technical fields. Comparable as a broader private trade school incumbent addressing similar career-vocational student segments.
• Lincoln Tech: Lincoln Tech is a multi-discipline for-profit technical college with welding among its trade programs. While broader than WCC, it serves a similar career-focused student seeking certification and is a relevant broader incumbent in the private trade school segment.

Regional players

• Ironworkers Local Union Apprenticeship Programs: Ironworkers Local Union apprenticeship programs provide tuition-free welding and ironwork training for union members. They are a regional alternative funding pathway for welding certification that competes for similar entry-level students in Southern California.
• Mt. San Antonio College Welding Program: Mt. San Antonio College is one of the largest community colleges in California and offers a public welding program locally to WCC. It is the most direct regional competitor with comparable curriculum but operates under a public, lower-priced model.

Others

• American Welding Society: American Welding Society is the certifying body that WCC prepares students for. It is comparable as the governing authority for AWS certifications WCC aligns with, and an enabling ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer.php
• Xx.com/tweet
• Pinterestpinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.weldingcertificationcenter.com%2Fstore%2Fp65%2FStudent+Welder%2527s+Kit_-_GTAW.html
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/welding-certification-center

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Welding Certification Center