Where in Chicago Can I Take Welding Classes?

Career Info for Welders in Chicago

If you have no experience or training, it's possible to get a welding job with an employer who is willing to provide on-the-job training, but many employers prefer to hire formally trained welders. Additionally, you can become a certified welder voluntarily through the American Welding Society (AWS). You don't need to take any prerequisite courses to qualify. To earn the credential, you demonstrate your welding skills at an approved facility and show that you can follow welding specifications determined by the AWS. To maintain your certification, the AWS requires that you send in a form every six months proving you are employed in the welding field.

Salary and Job Outlook for Welders in Chicago

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in May 2011 the mean annual wage for welders, cutters, solderers and brazers in the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville area was around $38,000, and there were nearly 6,000 of these professionals employed in the area. The BLS also projected a 15% increase in jobs nationwide for those occupations between 2010 and 2020, which is average.

Welding Certificate Programs in Chicago

City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College

• Program Name: Combination Welder Basic Certificate
• Program Length: 1 semester, full time
• Tuition: $89 per credit for in-district residents; $185.38 per credit for out-of-district residents; $236.59 per credit for non-state residents (costs for fall 2012-spring 2013)
• School Type: 2-year, public; approximately 6,200 students (all undergraduate)
• Address: 6301 South Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois 60621
• Phone: (773) 602-5000

This program prepares you for entry-level employment as an arc, gas metal arc (MIG) or gas tungsten arc (TIG) welder. You must earn 16 credits to receive this certificate. In addition to receiving welding training in a shop, you attend classes on manufacturing materials and processes, basic computer technology, blueprint reading, layout and fabrication. You also learn about job safety and ethics.

College of DuPage

• Program Name: Welding Technology Certificate
• Program Length: 1 year, full time
• Tuition: $136 per credit for in-district residents; $323 per credit for out-of-district residents; $393 per credit for non-state residents (costs for fall 2012)
• School Type: 2-year, public; about 26,200 students (all undergraduate)
• Address: 425 Fawell Boulevard, Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137
• Phone: (630) 942-2592

This program trains you to perform different welding techniques, including MIG, TIG, oxyacetylene and stick welding. Courses include pipe welding and fabrication, plasma cutting and brazing, technical math, industrial design and machine shop. You must earn 30 credits to receive this certificate.

Joliet Junior College

• Program Name: Industrial Welding Technology Certificate of Achievement
• Program Length: 1 year, full time
• Tuition: $80 per credit for in-district residents; $235.36 per credit for out-of-district residents; $257.78 per credit for non-state residents (costs for fall 2012)
• School Type: 2-year, public; about 15,300 students (all undergraduate)
• Address: 1215 Houbolt Road, Joliet, Illinois 60431
• Phone: (815) 280-2873

You must earn 30 credits to complete this certificate program. The majority of these credits are from welding courses, and you also have 2 general education courses: technical mathematics and technical writing and communication. The welding courses include occupational safety and health, pipe welding, arc welding, blueprint reading and oxyacetylene welding.

Prairie State College

• Program Name: Welder Technician Certificate
• Program Length: 1 year, full time
• Tuition: $101 per credit for in-district residents; $260 per credit for out-of-district residents; $300 per credit for non-state residents (costs for fall 2012)
• School Type: 2-year, public; nearly 5,700 students (all undergraduate)
• Address: 202 South Halsted Street, Chicago Heights, Illinois 60411
• Phone: (708) 709-3500

This program teaches you to weld and construct custom pieces by following specifications and drawings. You must earn 34 credits to receive this certificate. Classes include math, drafting, metallurgy and various welding techniques. The program ends with AWS structural certification. A welding specialist certificate is also available and requires 20 credits.

Welding Associate's Degree Programs in Chicago

Joliet Junior College

• Program Name: Associate in Applied Science in Industrial Welding Technology
• Program Length: 2 years, full time
• Tuition: $80 per credit for in-district residents; $235.36 per credit for out-of-district residents; $257.78 per credit for non-state residents (costs for fall 2012)
• School Type: 2-year, public; about 15,300 students (all undergraduate)
• Address: 1215 Houbolt Road, Joliet, Illinois 60431
• Phone: (815) 280-2873

You must earn 64 credits to receive this degree, including 31 credits in core courses. These courses include physical metallurgy, precision machine tool technology, nondestructive testing and blueprint reading. You train in various types of welding, such as TIG, oxyacetylene, shield metal arc and MIG welding. English, math and social science courses are also required.

Prairie State College

• Program Name: Associate of Science in Industrial Technology
• Program Length: 2 years, full time
• Tuition: $101 per credit for in-district residents; $260 per credit for out-of-district residents; $300 per credit for non-state residents (costs for fall 2012)
• School Type: 2-year, public; nearly 5,700 students (all undergraduate)
• Address: 202 South Halsted Street, Chicago Heights, Illinois 60411
• Phone: (708) 709-3500

This industrial technology program combines math and science courses with the skills needed to work in a manufacturing environment. You need to earn at least 62 credits to receive this degree. A welding course can be applied to this major along with other courses, including blueprint reading, pneumatics, hydraulics, industrial safety and fundamentals of electricity.