Fusion Welding Institute Ocala, Florida
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The Best Opportunity in the Welding Industry
Fusion Welding Institute is the only union-affiliated, fully industry-aligned welding program in the Southeast. While traditional welding schools leave students with a certificate and no clear path forward, Fusion connects you directly to the pipe welding industry through our partnership with a union-signatory contractor — giving you access to real welding certification, and job referral opportunities.
Learn from the best
When we say we're the best in the industry we mean it. We've got the training program dialed in and our instructors are some of the most experienced pipe & tube welders in the Southeast. If you're looking for a career in the heavy industrial welding industry, Fusion Welding Institute is the obvious choice for specialized pipe welding training and career support.
- Fully endorsed union-affiliated training program
- Contractor support and In-house weld testing
Flexable Training Schedule
Our training schedule is probably the single standout advantage that Fusion Welding Institute offers. You can complete the welding program entirely at your convenience. We understand you have a busy life, and it can be hard to balance time for work, family, and training.
Our facility is open 65 hours a week to accommodate your busy schedule. Come in when you want and leave when you want; our instructors will keep you on track. We are open for training from Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM.
No Connections? No Problem
One of the biggest challenges in the welding industry — especially for newcomers — is getting your foot in the door. Industrial plant work, including shutdowns and outages, is often a tight-knit world where opportunities are limited to those with experience or "knowing someone".
At Fusion Welding Institute, we’ve addressed that head-on by partnering with Central Maintenance and Welding, a union-signatory contractor. Through this partnership, students who complete our training and pass the UA63 weld test (administered by certified union representatives) become eligible for referral into the Boilermakers and Pipefitters unions — unlocking access to a national network of union jobs. Unlike traditional welding schools that end with a certificate and no clear path forward, Fusion connects training directly to a proven career pipeline.
What You Get From the Program Skill-Network-Certification
- Skill: Fusion Welding Institute provides the most valuable deliverable by equipping you with the skill set to weld at the highest level. The knowledge and skills you obtain at FWI will prepare you to weld in the most demanding, heavy industrial sector of the welding industry.
- Network: Fusion Welding Institute's facility doubles as a weld testing facility for Duke Energy alliance contractors along with many other heavy industrial welding companies. The people you will meet, and the industry network and contacts you will gain is unmatched by any traditional welding school.
- Certification: testing is provided by Central Maintenance & Welding our union signatory partner. Your welding certification(s) are uploaded into the common arc system and/or submitted to the union hall of your choice (Pipe fitters, Boilermakers or Iron Workers).
*Note: While students are not required to work with trade unions after graduation, we believe that these unions offer valuable opportunities for our graduates. We encourage students to take full advantage of these resources.
Is your school preparing you for the right sector?
| Sector | Hourly Pay (Avg) | Annual Pay (Est.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Industrial Construction (power plants, refineries, paper mills, etc.) | $32–$50/hr | $66K–$100K+ | Union or specialty contractor welders (e.g., UA63). Often includes per diem, OT, and travel pay. |
| General Construction (non-union, commercial, infrastructure) | $25–$35/hr | $52K–$72K | Can vary widely depending on market and scope. |
| Manufacturing Welding (factories, fabrication shops, production lines) | $17–$25/hr | $35K–$52K | Often lower wage, repetitive, indoor work. Rarely includes travel or per diem. |
Why would one the biggest industrial welding contractors in the country partner with us?
Because we put on the only welding program in the Southeast that consistently produces job-ready welders.
At Fusion Welding Institute, we don’t just train — we deliver. Our graduates have the skill, discipline, and work ethic to pass union-level weld tests and step directly into high-pressure environments like power plants, refineries, and shutdowns.
Major contractors don’t partner with us for charity — they do it because our welders perform and they benefit.
When our partners send quality control inspectors and supervision to our campus to test students, it costs them real time and money. We have an obligation to fulfill on our end by providing them with field ready welders consistently.
Ask yourself this:
If you're considering another school, find out if they are formally partnered with a major contractor like CMW? If they’re not, there’s probably a reason.
Don't just take our word for it - Real reviews from real students
Truth about welding certification: A popular misconception many welding schools are selling
Welding schools don’t certify you — period.
Not your local vo-tech, not the TikTok-famous programs — none of them. If your “certification” has the school’s name on it, it’s not valid unless you’re welding for that school.
There are no exceptions.
You are no more certified to weld for any company the day you graduate than you were the day you walked in.
Real certification only comes from one place:
A weld test administered and witnessed by your employer or union, following ASME, AWS, or UA procedures.
At Fusion, we don’t pretend or hand out useless certifications — we prepare you for the real thing with a real contractor.
Our union partners administer their UA63 test in-house so you can leave with a legit certification and a foot in the door.