Welding Technology Program | Kishwaukee College Technical Skills Training

Welders are skilled, well-paid, highly sought-after professionals. We train our welding students in Oxy-Fuel cutting, brazing and welding, as well as arc welding in the Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) and Flex Co red Arc Welding (FCAW) processes. Students learn how to work with mild steel, stainless steel and aluminum in preparation for entrance in welding and fabrication field.

In our welding technology program, you may:

Earn a certificate in basic or advanced welding technology
Weld materials from 18-gauge sheet metal up to structural thickness of plate as well as thin and heavy wall pipe
Fabricate structural materials such as channels, angles, beams and tubes
Prepare to pass the AWS D1.1 structural steel shielded metal arc Welding Certified Welding Test, which involves groove welds on 3/8" ASTM A36 steel plate in all four positions, both open root and with backing

Luis Lawson shares how the Kishwaukee College Welding Program has prepared him for a career.

Degree Options

Program Details

Because of its strength, welding is used in nearly all fields of manufacturing.
The National Career Clusters Framework created a tool to help you find a career that suits your interests and skills. Our agribusiness program is part of the Architecture & Construction career cluster.

Welding has been the most common way to permanently join metal parts since 4000 B.C. In the last half century, welding and joining have become a science and art. With increasing advances through research and development, the field of welding now includes knowledge and skills from metallurgy, ceramics, physics, heat transfer, electrical engineering, engineering mechanics, lasers, thermal spraying, micro-joining and robotics.
Small class sizes, a fully equipped lab, instructors who are industry professionals and guest speakers are staples of the program.
[In-district high school students can get started while still in high school. This program has a study guide to outline a pathway from certain high schools into our office systems program.

Students who plan to transfer to a 4-year university generally enroll in the A.S. degree and should refer to the advisement code #147 in the catalog for course selection. This curriculum suggests several criminal justice courses to complement the larger number of general education courses. This transfer curriculum does plan for a smooth transfer to Roosevelt University, Aurora University and Western Illinois University.
For students who are interested in completing the A.A.S degree prior to transfer, Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio has an online, bachelor's degree program that is another option for students. This curriculum requires a higher proportion of criminal justice courses for graduation.
Students who do not plan to transfer after graduation from Kish generally choose to complete the A.A.S degree or one of our many certificate options.

Students interested in pursuing a degree or certificate in welding are encouraged to speak with their academic advisor.
Each student is required to furnish the required equipment below, which can be purchased as a package through the Kish Store.
The tools required include the following: Torch glasses, goggles, or face shield #3 or #5 shade; hat/cap; gloves—Gauntlet type, leather or cloth; safety glasses; chipping hammer; wire brush; welding sleeves or jacket; wire cutters; pliers or vice grips; and work boots.
A variable tuition rate applies to this program.

Contact Us

Zachery CacciaAssistant ProfessorP815-825-9703Ezcaccia@kish.edu

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