There are two underwater welding schools in California: The National University Polytechnic Institute, and the Santa Barbara City College.

Santa Barbara City College
Contact
- Website: www.sbcc.edu
- Email: mdt@sbcc.edu
- Tel: (805) 965-0581
- Address: Marine Technology Dept, 721 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
Santa Barbara City College is a commercial diving school. It is a top-notch campus learning center with state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure.
This College offers two different Marine Diving Technology programs- an Associate in Science Degree and a Certificate in Marine Technology. The Associate in Science Degree covers hyperbaric operations and bell/saturation diving. It also offers safety and emergency medical operations, to mention a few.
The Association of Commercial Diving Instructors accredits the College’s Marine Diving Technology program. The program also has accreditation from the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI). It also has another reputable certification from the International Diving School Association (IDSA).
Santa Barbara City College is the only US welding school with these accreditations.
Santa Barbara City College also teaches students entry-level underwater welding skills. It also helps students understand the governing laws of industrial and hyperbaric techniques. These operations include maintenance, construction, repair, monitoring and evaluation, and project decommissioning.
Many companies and HR Managers send their job listings to Santa Barbara City College. Some employers also visit the school to ask for excellent graduates. Santa Barbara City College also conducts campus career training, advisory, and recruitment assessments. It also has an old alumni association that provides updates on job opportunities.
Santa Barbara City College also receives many student financial aid and scholarships. Some of these aids include:
- Ramsey Parks Memorial Scholarships
- Tom Devine Memorial Scholarship
- Dr. Huge Geer Memorial Scholarships
National University Polytechnic Institute
Contact
- Website: www.nupolytech.org
- Tel: 8004323483
- Address: 3570 Aero Court, San Diego, CA 92123
National University Polytechnic Institute is in San Diego, California. It features ultra-modern facilities, including classrooms, hostels, and laboratories. It has three different diving locations in Coronado Bay and Embarcadero harbor. It also has a 44,000 gallons dive-tank tank within its main campus.
The National University Polytechnic Institute teaches basic dry and wet welding techniques. It also focuses on practical applications of these techniques. It designs its training curriculum based on AWS 3.6 coding specifications. Some of the best welding institutions in the world recognize their certifications.
The National University Polytechnic Institute emphasizes safety. It offers two underwater diving programs:
- Non-Destructive Testing
- Diving Medical Technician programs.
This program’s curriculum aims to raise welders with two different safety skills. The Non-Destructive Testing program teaches students safety tests design and application. It also helps students learn how to put in place and conduct safety tests.

The Diving Medical Technician Program teaches students underwater fielding first-aid practices. It allows graduates to treat underwater diving and welding-related accidents and injuries. It takes only two months to complete any of these programs.
The National University Polytechnic Institute is close to a few welding companies in San Diego. Alumni members of the school are well-paid employees in some of these companies.
Related: Best Welding Schools in San Diego Where You Can Enroll Now!
Which underwater welding college should you attend in California?
Are you ready to start or advance your underwater welding career?
Santa Barbara City College and the National University Polytechnic Institute are great options. But you may find it challenging to choose the best California welding college for you.
It would help if you considered the following factors before you decide one:
Location
It takes about 3 hours 27 minutes to drive from San Diego to Santa Barbara. It would be best if you chose a training college that is close to where you live. It would help if you also took advantage of the school accommodation plans.
Cost
The National University Polytechnic Institute and Santa Barbara City College have different programs. The costs of these programs differ. Kindly check their website to see if their Cost aligns with your budget.
Program Length
The National University Polytechnic Institute offers a comprehensive eight weeks program. Santa Barbara City College offers two semesters or a one-year program. Their certifications are different.
Financial Aid
There are many financial help and scholarships in these schools. These schools announce these opportunities throughout the year when they are available. You can check their websites for ongoing opportunities.
Job Placement Opportunities
There are welding companies around The National University Polytechnic Institute. Some welding companies and institutions are also located in Santa Barbara. Besides, Santa Barbara City College receives job placement offers from companies.
Related: Delta P Underwater Welding – Why This Jobs Dangerous!
Conclusion
California is a great city to study underwater welding. It has two excellent underwater diving and welding schools. These schools have some of the best curricula and facilities in the United States.