Industrial Grade Education
Ozark Welding Institute
More than just a welding school. We are welding.
We teach skills that are in demand, transferable and employable for a serious career.
18 weeks to a six-figure income.
Ozark Welding Institute Mission Statement

OWI’s mission is not only to benefit the individual, but also to advance the trade of welding through mastery of skill, integrity, and professionalism.

Why Choose OWI?
Train At Your Own Pace
Ozark Welding Institutes program has been implemented and perfected for over 10 years to ensure the success of the individual by allowing them to progress at their own pace. At OWI you will never be pushed onto the next thing before you have a solid grasp of the basics, and, alternatively, you won’t be held back if you’re ready to advance onto more difficult training.
Real World Experience
Everything you will do at OWI was designed to have real world employability in the industrial construction industry. This is accomplished through the tools you will use, the welding machines, the materials to be welded, and even the expectations from the instructors. OWI uses simulators of equipment that you will find in refineries, nuclear, coal, LNG, oil, gas, chemical, paper mills, etc.
Flexibility
You can start your training at any time — no semesters or waiting periods. OWI offers many different class schedules and options that allow the student to choose what’s best for them, and you can always change class schedule if there is availability.
Well Rounded Graduates
You won’t just learn welding at OWI. You will also learn Safety, Fitting, Rigging, Math, Quality Control, and Metallurgy, just to name a few. Our goal is to make the most versatile, employable, and safe welders possible.
Small Class Size
OWI has a small student-to-instructor ratio. OWI will never use a “teacher’s assistant.” You’re paying for hands-on instruction from a seasoned welder, and that’s what you should get. The open layout and small class size allows one instructor to observe everyone at once so if you lift your hood for help, odds are your instructor will be right behind you.
Income
The Course:
Industrial Welder Program
(750 Course Hours)
We only offer one program because this is what we believe it takes to be successful in the industrial welding sector, and anything less would be a disservice to the student. In this program you will learn SMAW, GTAW, FCAW, RMD on pipes, tubes, and plates — as well as pipe fitting, rigging, safety, machining, metallurgy, construction math, and quality control. When you complete this program, you will be able to pass any standard pipe test with the knowledge of a CWI and the safety awareness to keep you employed and alive. Yes, you’ll get a “cert”, as well as an OSHA 10, TWIC Card, resume, and job assistance. We have optimized in-person learning by placing the classroom portion of our course online, accessible to the student through our online portal.
Financing
Student Housing Assistance & Relocation
The Instructor

Dustin Shively is a CWI / CWE / API 510 / 570 / 1169 / and NCCER Certified Pipe Fitter with over 15 years of industrial welding and inspection experience. Dustin obtained a certificate of applied welding technologies from Withlacoochee Technical College in 2006 and began welding in coal power, nuclear power, HRSG, papermills, refineries, chemical plants, and pipelines before obtaining his CWI in 2014. As a CWI, Dustin has tested hundreds of welders, inspected thousands of welds, and managed very successful quality programs for fortune 500 companies. Dustin took a position at a nationally known welding school, but was troubled by how students were treated and knew there had to be a better way. In 2017, Dustin found the answer as program coordinator with Bechtel, teaching soldiers how to weld in 18 weeks and then sending them to projects to work for Bechtel. Many graduates from that program went on to outperform seasoned journeymen with much more experience, and OWI’s program is built from the foundation of that proven success.

Contact Us
Get In Touch
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a tour, reach out to us now! You can call us at (479) 883-7695 or simply fill out the contact form below.