• Programs
  • Master Welder Program
  • Assoc. Occupational Studies
  • Structural Welder Program
  • Partners
• Admissions
  • Financial Aid
  • Application Process
• Financial Aid
  • Financial Aid Basic
• Highschool
  • Students
  • Teachers & HS Counselors
• Employment
  • Contact Grad Employment Office
• About
  • Employment at TWS

HOME > ABOUT TWS > MISSION AND STATE LICENSING & APPROVALS

Tulsa Welding School Mission and State Licensing & Approvals

Mission Statement

The mission of TWS is to produce "World Class Welders and Welding Inspectors." TWS trains its graduates with the skills, knowledge, and workplace attitudes essential to enter the profession of welding or welding quality assurance / quality control inspection. Graduates who put forth the dedication, commitment to excel, and workplace experience in their welding or inspection profession can achieve world class levels of performance.

Vision Statement

TWS has as its vision the addition of campus training locations to facilitate student access and employer access to graduates. Being recognized as one of the highest quality providers of career education resulting in an outstanding return on investment for our students is our purpose.

School History

The main campus in Tulsa, Oklahoma was started by two pipeline welders recognizing a need for trained pipe welders, and they founded TWS with the first class beginning January 1949. In 1961 Dan Derrick, a welder, acquired the school. Five years later the school was moved into a new facility at 3038 Southwest Boulevard in Tulsa. In 1972, TWS was acquired by Noel Adams who operated the institution until he retired in October 1990. TWS was then acquired by T.H.E., Inc. and led by owners Michael Harter and Roger Hess for the next nineteen years. With their commitment to delivering quality career education and training for the welding industry, they developed an Associate of Occupational Studies in Welding Technology degree program in November 1997.TWS moved into a new campus near The University of Tulsa in January 1999. TWS is an Oklahoma corporation and registered as Tulsa Welding School, Inc. TWS is a 100% owned subsidiary of T.H.E. Inc., a Delaware corporation.

On or around September 10, 2008, 100% of T.H.E. Inc. stock was purchased by TWS Acquisition Corporation. The TWS Acquisition Corporation is owned by the following: Summer Street Capital II, L.P., HSBC Private Equity Partners II USA LP, and Lawrence E. Brown. Lawrence E. Brown is President / CEO.

Tulsa Welding School, Jacksonville branch campus, was started in November 2001 to address the needs of employers and students along the Eastern sector of the United States. The Jacksonville Campus is a Florida corporation and registered as Tulsa Welding School / Jacksonville Campus, Inc. and is a 100% owned subsidiary of Tulsa Welding School, Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Lawrence E. Brown, President.

Accreditation, Approvals, Licenses, Memberships

Tulsa Campus

• Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
• Licensed by the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools
• Licensed by Arkansas State Board of Private Career Education
• Approved by the Kansas Board of Regents
• Approved to operate by the Missouri Department of Higher Education
• Registered with New Mexico Commission on Higher Education
• Approved and regulated by the Texas Workforce Commission Career School and College Section 101 E. 15th Street
  Austin, Texas 78778-001
• Licensed by the Louisiana Board of Regents
• Registered with Nebraska Department of Education
• Registered with Iowa Secretary of State
• Member of American Welding Society
• Member of The American Society for Nondestructive Testing
• Member of Tulsa Chamber of Commerce
• Member of Oklahoma Private School Association
• Approved to participate in various federal job training programs
• Approved for eligible students to attend through sponsorship of Bureau of Indian Affairs or Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
• Approved for Veterans Education Benefits

Jacksonville Campus

• Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and College
• Licensed by Florida Commission for Independent Education, License No. 2331
  325 West Gaines St. Suite
  1414 Tallahassee, Florida 32399
  Toll-free phone number (888) 224-6684
• Approved by Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
• Licensed by the Kentucky State Board of Proprietary Education
• Authorized by Tennessee Higher Education Commission. This authorization must be renewed each year and is based on an evaluation by minimum standards concerning quality of education, ethical business practices, health and safety, and fiscal responsibility.
• Approved to operate by the Missouri Department of Higher Education
• Registered with New Mexico Commission of Higher Education
• Registered with Iowa Secretary of State
• Licensed by Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education
• Licensed by the Louisiana Board of Regents
• Member of American Welding Society
• Member of Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce
• Member of Better Business Bureau
• Member of Florida Associate of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges
• Approved for veterans Educational Benefits

Tulsa Welding School is authorized for operation as a postsecondary education institution by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. In order to view detailed job placement and graduation information on the programs offered by Tulsa Welding School, please visit www.state.tn.us/thec and click on the Authorized Institutions Data button.

Transferability of Credits:

Credits earned at Tulsa Welding School may not transfer to another educational institution. Credits earned at another educational institution may not be accepted by Tulsa Welding School. You should obtain confirmation that Tulsa Welding School will accept any credits you have earned at another educational institution before you execute an enrollment contract or agreement. You should also contact any educational institutions that you may want to transfer credits earned at Tulsa Welding School prior to executing an enrollment contract or agreement. The ability to transfer credits from Tulsa Welding School to another educational institution may be very limited. Your credits may not transfer and you may have to repeat courses previously taken at Tulsa Welding School if you enroll in another educational institution. You should never assume that credits will transfer to or from any educational institution. It is highly recommended and you are advised to make certain that you know the transfer of credit policy of Tulsa Welding School and of any other educational institutions you may in the future want to transfer the credits earned at Tulsa Welding School before you execute an enrollment contract or agreement.