Founded in 1961 as a collaborative effort between Eastern New Mexico University and the Clovis Municipal Schools, this university offers five welding academic tracks. Three of them are Letters of Qualification for Entry Welder, Advanced Welder and Expert Welder training. These truncated programs require 15, 14 and 17 credits respectively. For more extensive programs, there is the 56-credit Certificate of Completion in Welding and the 69-credit Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Welding. Courses include Welding Occupational Orientation, Welding Layout and Fitup, Air Carbon Arc Cutting and Documents Governing Welding and Welding Inspection.
New Mexico Junior College's program is a stripped-down affair. Consisting of only two courses simply named Welding I and II, NMJC's welding program particularly targets high school seniors living in the area. The program can be completed in two semesters, and graduates can apply the earned credit towards an AAS degree for heightened earning potential.
Northern New Mexico College, established in 1909, has one welding program, which is molded in the associate degree format. The NNMC program is similar to its CCC counterpart in that AAS students are required to take general education courses in subjects such as English, math and public speaking. The number of credits, however, is a little smaller, at a maximum of 66. Welding courses at NNMC include Computer Aided Drafting, Oxyacetylene Welding, Inert Gas Welding and Welding Blueprint Reading.
At San Juan College, welding students can go for the certificate or the AAS degree. The college's Welding and Metal Fabrication program trains students to weld and fabricate all levels of thickness regarding steel plates, as well as most diameters of steel pipe. Courses include subjects such as metal inert gas and tungsten inert gas welding, blueprint reading and computer aided drafting.