Veteran Admission and Benefits
Welding Is a Great Career For Veterans
Military service requires good decision-making skills, analytical thinking and a solid work ethic. These traits are all directly transferrable to a career in welding. At Arclabs, we’ll build on your military training and help you get started in this in-demand field.
With a stable career outlook and a median pay of $20.43 per hour, it’s a career with incredible variety and opportunity, and you can get started in just months.
Welding Is a Great Career For Veterans
Veterans Admissions and Benefits
Arclabs is proud to offer training to the men and women who have served our country, as well as their children and spouses. We accept VA benefits (GI Bill® and VA Vocational Rehabilitation) for the following curriculum-based programs:
- 1,300 Hour Master Welder Program
- 900 Hour Advanced Welding
1. Admissions Requirements
- High School Diploma or GED
- Minimum age of 18 or 17 with parental consent
- Ability to meet the visual and physical requirements that a welding career demands
- A campus visit and tour prior to starting the program
- All military service transcripts and transcripts from all post-secondary institutions proving attendance.
2. Application Fee Waiver for Veteran Students
The application fee is waived for Veterans with an honorable discharge DD-214 or current, valid military ID for active duty students.
Additional funding may be used in conjunction with VA benefits if needed.
3. I’m a veteran and want to get started at Arclabs. What do I do next?
Call 877-647-4111 and book your tour at one of our 6 locations: Charleston, SC, Piedmont/Greenville, SC, Columbia, SC, Rock Hill, SC, Houston, TX or Fort Worth, TX . During the personal tour with an Admissions Recruiter you will learn about the programs offered in detail, take a tour, speak to many individuals including Career Services and Instructors and most importantly, chat with a our financial aid team to begin the process of applying for benefits.* We are here to help you every step of the way.
*Veterans Benefits The following Arclabs campus locations are approved to accept Veterans benefits including the GI Bill® and Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits: Piedmont, Columbia, Charleston, Rock Hill, and Houston.
*Military Tuition Assistance The Fort Worth, TX, campus location offers military tuition assistance to eligible military members and family that qualify. Please see the local campus for details. Fort Worth is not approved to accept Veterans benefits such as the GI Bill® and Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits at this time.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Veterans How-To Guide
Navigating the complex world of government assistance and forms can be difficult. That’s why we have a VA certifying official on every campus to personally assist you. Here are some quick guides to help you get started.
1. How to get your DD-214:
- Step 1: Log into: https://www.va.gov/records/get-military-service-records/
- Step 2: Go to milConnect – https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/
- Step 3: (steps from https://www.va.gov/records/get-military-service-records/)
- From your signed-in homepage, click on Correspondence/ Documentation. Then select Defense Personnel Records Information (DPRIS) from the drop- down menu.
- Choose the Personnel File tab. ⁃ Select Request My Personnel File.
- Fill out the form. In the Document Index section, check the boxes next to the document(s) you’d like to request.
- Click on the Create and Send Request button.
2. How to get your college transcripts:
You must supply transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you have attended and funded with VA education benefits. Most schools allow you to do this in person, through the mail or online.
In person
- Print and fill out a transcript request form. These should be available on the institution’s website.
- Take the completed form to the admission’s office and pay the transcript request fee. Be sure to take a picture ID with you.
Through the mail
- Print and fill out a transcript request form. These should be available on the institution’s website.
- Provide any additional documents you need attached. These should be listed on the transcript request form.
- Include a check/money order made out to the institution for the required amount.
- Mail the completed package to the institution.
Online
- Visit the institution’s website to order official transcripts. Transcript requests are usually in the enrollment and admissions section.
- You will need your student ID or social security number in most cases.
- Upload any additional documents required.
- Pay the transcript fee using your credit card or PayPal.
Once you have received your official transcript, contact your Arclabs admissions rep.
3. How to get your Military transcripts:
Military transcripts can online be requested here:
All military transcripts except Air Force:
Air Force transcripts:
4. What to do when deployment or mandatory military training occurs?
- Federal law protects military members who miss school due to military orders. They have the right to re-enroll in their program, most often without penalty. These requirements apply to any institution that participates in Title IV federal student financial aid programs, including Pell Grants, Stafford Loans and the Federal Work-Study Program
- Please make sure to give any military orders sent to you to your VA Certifying Official on campus
5. GI Bill® Information:
- Gather the necessary documents and information to apply. These include:
- Social Security number
- Bank account direct deposit information
- Education and military history
- Basic information about the school or training facility you want to attend or are attending now
- You can apply online, visit www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available through the official U.S. government website at https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/. This will walk you through all the steps to see what you qualify for and how to get your Certificate of Eligibility for school training.
Resources
Here for You
Access to details on healthcare, education, disability, housing assistance, life insurance, and records, visit www.va.gov. Are computers not your thing? Would you rather talk to a live person? Call 888-442-4551 for anything veteran-related.
Local VA Resources
Greenville Vet Center
3 Caledon Court, Suite B
Greenville, SC 29615
Main number: 864-271-2711
Columbia Vet Center
1710 Richland Street, Suite A
Columbia, SC 29201
Main number: 803-765-9944
Charleston Vet Center
3625 West Montague Avenue
North Charleston, SC 29418
Main number: 843-789-7000
Houston West Vet Center
701 North Post Oak Road, Suite 102
Houston, TX 77024-3839
Main number: 713-682-2288
Houston Spring Vet Center
14300 Corner Stone Village Drive, Suite 110
Houston, TX 77014
Main number: 281-537-7812
Other National Resources
Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC)
Call or Text: 855-829-6636
Center for Minority Veterans
Call: 202-461-6191
Email: vacocenterforminority@va.gov
Wounded Warrior Resource Center (MOS)
Call: 800-342-9647
Veteran Crisis Lines
Suicide prevention and PTSD support
- To connect with a Veterans Crisis Line responder anytime day or night:
- Call 800-273-8255, then select 1.
- Start a confidential chat.
- Text 838255.
- If you have hearing loss, call TTY: 800-799-4889.
- You can also:
- Call 911.
- Go to the nearest emergency room.
- Go directly to your nearest VA medical center.
At-risk or homeless veterans:
- Dial 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838)
