American Welding Society Accredited Test Facility Logo

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center is now an Accredited Test Facility (ATS) for the American Welding Society (AWS). To receive this designation, SVHEC’s welding facilities and trainers went through a rigorous review process and demonstrated SVHEC has the necessary resources to test welders for the American Welding Society’s nationally recognized program.

Welders who wish to pursue AWS certification must submit to a performance-based test at an accredited test facility. The program tests welders to procedures used in many areas of the welding industry including structural steel, petroleum pipelines, sheet metal and more. Successful certification will provide “transferrable” credentials that you may take with you wherever you go. SVHEC’s ATF offers welder certification in four standard welding processes:

  • SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding)
  • GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding)
  • FCAW (Flux Cored Arc Welding)
  • GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding)

Currently, SVHEC is one of two ATFs in Southern Virginia. To learn more or to schedule a welding test call 434-572-5486 or email .