Setting you up for success.

I was raised by a single mother. We never really seemed to have any money growing up, but we always got by. I dropped out of college because I was working three jobs at the time. I learned how to MIG weld at one of them and had been doing that ever since. I got tired of only doing plate welding and knew I could get paid more. I went to Arclabs and learned how to weld pipe. Now, I am employed with Renfrow Industrial in South Carolina. I have worked some weld jobs out of state and I am making almost quadruple what I used to make. Welding in state, I make double. I am very happy with what I learned at Arclabs. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who wants a better life for themselves and their family.

Even Groce

October 2019

I’ve been around welding my entire life. My dad, brothers, grandpa and uncles, on both sides of my family, are (or were) in the welding trade. From pipe welding to building NASCAR roll cages, I saw the passion each of them had for their career. It wasn’t just a job for them, it was what they loved to do. I always wanted to weld, but never went for it for fear of failing or falling into the stigma that “women can’t weld.” A time came where being a stay-at-home-mom was no longer an option for me and welding immediately came to mind. I knew I would love this trade, and knew it would provide well for my children. I looked at a few local tech schools and began the enrollment process at one, but it did not seem like a good fit. Then I sat down and Googled local welding schools and came across ArcLabs. I met with the office ladies the following week. Instantly, I knew ArcLabs was where I needed to be. Everyone was friendly, the enrollment process was a breeze, and I liked the idea behind it being mostly hands on training. I signed up for classes at ArcLabs and never looked back. I truly love welding and feel learning this trade was one of the best decisions of my life! I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience at ArcLabs. The teachers are amazing and highly skilled. The staff knows you and truly cares for you, not just as a student but also as a person. Immediately after graduation, the staff helped me land an amazing opportunity with a local partner, so anyone can feel confident that after leaving here they will have a well-paying job. ArcLabs is the place to be for a rewarding welding career!

Debra Beck

February 2020

I quit college because of the extreme debt to come and the 4 years of barely making it just to live paycheck to paycheck for years with little job security I realized I needed a better plan. I thought I wouldn’t need school. I started working at a mig fabrication sweat shop. That was going nowhere fast. I was so desperate for a path, I almost joined the military until I looked up welding schools and called Arclabs. With the amazing staff’s help, I was in school within two weeks. I’m now graduated working at General Electric at 19 years old. Now I’m doing research to get my CWI after I get more experience. I would be so lost right now if it wasn’t for Arclabs and I have y’all to thank for that. I took my welding test with guys from other schools and they couldn’t pass it. Arclabs is better than any school local to me and that’s a fact.

Russ Kueber

March 2020

I’ve always liked welding from a young age. I have always been fascinated by the process. I tried college for a semester and figured out it wasn’t for me. I knew I didn’t want a desk job, but I knew I wanted to get my hands dirty. That’s why I came to Arclabs. It has smaller classes, more one on one learning and more hands-on training. The instructors are amazing. I have learned much more than I thought, and they helped me figure out my calling! I want to work for BAE Systems, because I think it would be cool to work with the military and weld on tanks, armored cars, and ships.

Grace Haban

March 2020

I began welding when I was in high school. I knew taking a welding class was really important, because I can always do something with it in the future. I met the Houston recruiter, Jamail Blunt, at my high school career fair who invited me to take a tour of Arclabs. I knew I was “home” when I saw the weld shop. The program I am in is a good fit and my favorite part is working in the shop hands-on. I hope to test for a pipeline job in the future.

Reymundo Canizales Jr.

January 2020

My life before Arclabs was quite different. I was a single mother working as a bartender 7 days a week just to get by for my little man. I grew up in the country around race cars and shops, but I never knew I would become a welder. I actually had a friend whose boyfriend would always come into the bar all dirty, but got off at a decent time every day and didn’t work Fridays. He also seemed to be well off. So I investigated and he told me he was a welder. We talked a long time about it and I was very interested. He then told me he went to Arclabs and he gave me a business card. Thinking I needed a way out, I decided to give them a call. I was so drawn in by how nice and so very helpful they were. The process was so easy and didn’t take long at all. I ended up going to the day welding classes for 5 1/2 months and graduated. I am now employed full time as a Pipe Welder at Jennings Dill Mechanical Contractors in Greenville SC. I am not worried about paying bills anymore and I only work Monday-Thursday. That gives me plenty of time with my little man. I am so thankful I decided to go through with Welding School at Arclabs. My life has changed completely!

Autumn Cullen

December 2019