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 (SMAW) Certified
Welding Test, which involves groove welds on 3/8" ASTM A36 steel plate in all four
positions, both open root and with backing
Student Spotlight: Luis Lawson
Luis Lawson shares how the Kishwaukee College Welding Program has prepared him for
a career.
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.
Prepare to pass the AWS D1.1 Structural Steel Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) Certified
Welding Test.
Prepare for careers as a structural welder, pipe welder, boilermaker, welder fabricator
and more.
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.
The Aspen Institute named Kishwaukee College as one of the 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s premier recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges. The 200 colleges were selected based on their student outcomes data, including retention, completion, transfer and bachelor’s degree attainment rates. Started in 2010, this is the ninth cycle of the Aspen Prize.
Kishwaukee College will offer five Short-Term programs during the Spring 2026 semester. Kish Short-Term programs provide students with the expertise needed to meet local workforce demands. The programs range from 11-15 weeks, allowing students to start a career immediately or build on skills with additional training.