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AWS U.S. Invitational Pre-Trials
Pre-Trial competitors complete WorldSkills welding projects in their home states. The top six submissions advance to the next stage.
WorldSkills USA Welding Competition
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WorldSkills USA Welding Competition
WorldSkills USA Welding Competition
What You'll Find
WorldSkills Competitions
The American Welding Society (AWS) is proud to serve as a global sponsor of the WorldSkills Competition, the largest international showcase of skilled trades. Through this commitment, AWS helps elevate the welding profession worldwide while ensuring the United States is strongly represented on the global stage. The AWS USA WorldSkills Competition Committee oversees the rigorous selection and training process to identify and prepare the nation’s top young welder to compete. From technical guidance and industry mentorship to logistical support, AWS invests in developing a competitor who can stand among the world’s best and inspire the next generation of welders at home and abroad.
The Five Stages from SkillsUSA to WorldSkills
The American Welding Society (AWS) manages the pathway that takes a student from U.S. competitions all the way to the WorldSkills Welding Competition, ensuring that America’s top young welder is prepared to compete on the global stage.
The process includes five stages:
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AWS U.S. Invitational Tune UP
The six finalists take part in a one-week preparation and training session led by AWS experts and mentors. This stage is designed to build their skills, knowledge, and readiness for the next phase of the competition.
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AWS TeamUSA Weld Trials
From the six trained competitors, the top finalists are narrowed down to three through a competition mirroring the WorldSkills Welding Competition. This stage tests technical ability, speed, and accuracy.
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AWS TeamUSA Finals
The top three competitors face off in a weld-off that mirrors the format and rigor of the WorldSkills Welding Competition. The winner earns a position on the SkillsUSA WorldSkills Team.
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WorldSkills Competition
After intense AWS-guided training, the U.S. competitor travels to the host city to compete against the world’s best young welders. AWS supports this effort as a global sponsor.
The latest in 2026
The latest in 2026
AWS TeamUSA Weld Trial Brackets
The road to representing the United States at WorldSkills 2026 begins with six of the nation’s top welders competing in the first of three selection events. Held at Alabama’s Robotics Technology Park, this stage brings together competitors, their instructors, 2026 AWS President Josh Burgess, AWS CEO Carey Chen, and members of the AWS WorldSkills USA Competition Committee. Through challenges modeled after the WorldSkills Welding Competition, the field will narrow to the top three ahead of the final selection in early March—ultimately determining the welder who will go on to compete for Team USA on the world stage.
AWS U.S. Invitational Tune UP
AWS TeamUSA Finalist
TeamUSA WorldSkills Representative
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Winner