HWA Welding Competition

Spring 2027 at Heartland Welding Academy

Registration is open.123 days left to registerCloses Fri, Feb 26 · 50 spots

Register
For high school seniors

2027 HWA Welding Competition

Compete for up to a full-tuition scholarship to Heartland Welding Academy.

  • Fri, March 5, 2027
  • Andover, KS
  • Register by Fri, Feb 26
Register Now ($20)Rules (PDF)
  • WhenFri, March 5, 2027
  • WhereAndover, KS
  • WhoHigh school seniors only
  • Entry$20 per competitor
  • Spots50 total
Top prizes

Six places pay. Everyone else gets a $1,000 scholarship.

Scholarships go toward your cost of attendance at Heartland Welding Academy.

  1. 1st
    Full ride

    100% of tuitioncovered at HWA

    • Custom welding hood
    • Hat
    • Shirt
  2. 2nd

    75% of tuitioncovered at HWA

    • Custom welding hood
    • Hat
    • Shirt
  3. 3rd

    50% of tuitioncovered at HWA

    • Hoodie
    • Gloves
    • Hat
  4. 4th

    35% of tuitioncovered at HWA

    • Hat and shirt pack
  5. 5th

    25% of tuitioncovered at HWA

    • Hat and shirt pack
  6. 6th

    15% of tuitioncovered at HWA

    • Hat and shirt pack
$1,000 scholarship

Every participant who does not place receives a $1,000 scholarship to Heartland Welding Academy.

Register Now
The weld test

One test. Three passes. Vertical up.

Every competitor runs the same pipe-to-plate test. Here is exactly what you will weld.

A 3/8 inch flat bar plate with a 4 inch schedule 40 pipe tacked to it. Three weld passes run vertically up the joint on the left side of the pipe.123456
Diagram for illustration. Not to scale.
  1. 1
    3/8″ flat barThe base plate
  2. 2
    4″ Sch. 40 pipeTacked to the plate and welded at the joint
  3. 3
    Pass 1: 1/8″ E6010Root pass
  4. 4
    Pass 2: 3/32″ E7018Second pass
  5. 5
    Pass 3: 3/32″ E7018Third pass, then weld out
  6. 6
    Vertical up progressionEvery pass runs uphill

How you are judged

  • Testing process
  • Consistency
  • Bead placement
  • Cleanliness
How to compete

Your path to March 5

  1. Register and pay

    Sign up online and pay the $20 fee. Each student can register one time.

    By Fri, Feb 26

  2. Gear up

    Bring your own PPE: boots, hood, glasses, gloves and clothes without holes.

    Before competition day

  3. Compete

    Check in at 8:00 am. Welding starts at 9:00. Lunch is provided.

    Fri, March 5

  4. Use your scholarship

    Put your award toward tuition, materials and a tool kit at HWA.

    Start before June 30, 2027
Register Now
Competition day

How the day runs

Friday, March 5, 2027656 N Andover Rd, Andover, KS 67002
8:009:0010:0011:0012:001:002:00
8:00 amRegistration
9:00 amStart weldingWelders rotate on one-hour intervals
11:45 am to 12:30 pmLunch (provided)
1:00 pmLast weld begins
2:30 pmAwards presentation

What to bring

Competitors provide their own PPE.

  • Leather work boots
  • Jeans or pants free of holes, rips or tears
  • Long sleeve shirt free of holes, rips or tears
  • Welding hood
  • Safety glasses
  • Leather welding gloves
The fine print

Competition rules

The competition is for high school seniors only. Each student can register to participate one time. Competitors under 18 need a parent or guardian to sign the liability waiver.

Only 50 total entries are accepted. Registration closes Friday, February 26, 2027. Late registration at check-in is available only if spots remain open.

$20 per participant, paid online at the time of registration. No refunds.

Welders rotate in and out on one-hour intervals. Lunch is provided.

Welders are judged on testing process, consistency, bead placement and cleanliness.

Prize money can only go toward the cost of attendance at Heartland Welding Academy, which includes tuition, materials and a tool kit. Prize money is non-transferable.

To keep your prize money, you must be enrolled and have started your program at Heartland Welding Academy before June 30, 2027.

Past competitions

The heat is real

HWA Welding Competition 2025
HWA Welding Competition Winners
HWA welding competition
Judges scoring pipe-on-plate test coupons at the 2025 HWA Welding Competition
Women Welders