Illinois Community Colleges
Welding Technology Programs
Welding technology programs at community colleges in this state. Career-track training for AWS-certified welders.
9 colleges · 88 sections · 54 unique courses · Fall 2026
Welding programs at Illinois community colleges are among the most direct paths from enrollment to a full-time skilled-trade job in the state. Most Illinois Community Colleges welding programs are one-year diploma or two-year AAS sequences aligned to AWS (American Welding Society) certifications — SMAW (stick), GMAW (MIG), GTAW (TIG), and FCAW (flux-cored). The 88 sections at 9 institutions this term combine bench-work hours with metallurgy theory and blueprint reading.
Welders graduating with AWS certifications step into manufacturing, pipeline, structural-steel, and shipyard jobs without needing further education. Pay is competitive (often above other CC-trade tracks), demand outpaces supply in most Illinois metro areas, and the certification stacking — adding pipe, aluminum, and underwater certifications over time — keeps the career growing.
Colleges offering Welding Technology
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waubonsee Community College | 18 | 11 | — | — | — |
| McHenry County College | 15 | 9 | — | — | — |
| Olney Central College | 15 | 9 | — | — | — |
| Morton College | 14 | 11 | — | — | — |
| Parkland College | 10 | 6 | — | — | — |
| Shawnee Community College | 6 | 6 | 4 | — | — |
| Lincoln Trail College | 5 | 5 | — | — | — |
| South Suburban College | 4 | 4 | — | — | — |
| Wabash Valley College | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Welding Technology Availability Snapshot
How welding technology sections are being offered across 9 colleges in Illinois this term (88 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person74 (84%)
- hybrid10 (11%)
- online4 (5%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)31
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)17
- Evening (5 PM and after)21
- Asynchronous / TBA19
Start dates
Sections begin on 8 distinct dates. 27 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 23 distinct instructors across 9 colleges.
Common Welding Technology courses
- WEL 1210GAS METAL ARC WELDING(3 sections)
- WEL 1215SHIELDED METAL ARC WELDING I(3 sections)
- WEL 1220METAL CUTTING & PREPARATION(3 sections)
- WEL 1225BLUEPRINT READING(3 sections)
- WEL 1230SHIELDED METAL ARC WELDING II(3 sections)
- WLD 100Introduction to Welding (3 sections)
- WLD 101Blueprint Reading for Welders(3 sections)
- WLD 110Beginning Gas and Arc Welding(3 sections)
- WLD 112Gas Metal Arc Welding(3 sections)
- WEL 101Welding and Cutting Safety(2 sections)
- WEL 111Basic Arc Welding/Cutting I(2 sections)
- WEL 112Basic Arc Welding/Cutting II(2 sections)
Career outlook for Welding Technology graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare Illinois’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does a welding program take at a community college?
- One-year diploma programs cover the AWS Certified Welder fundamentals (SMAW + GMAW for structural steel). Two-year AAS programs add advanced processes (TIG, pipe welding), blueprint reading, materials science, and supervisory coursework. Many students start with the diploma, get hired, then return for the AAS while working.
- What welding certifications can I earn?
- AWS Certified Welder is the baseline credential — most Illinois programs prepare graduates to test for it on multiple processes (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW) in multiple positions (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead). Specialty certs (6G pipe, structural code D1.1, pressure-vessel code D1.5) come from employer-sponsored testing after hire and pay significantly more.
- What's the demand for welders in Illinois?
- Strong. Industrial manufacturing, pipeline maintenance, shipyard work, and infrastructure construction all need welders, and the workforce is aging faster than it's being replaced. BLS projects 2% growth nationally through 2032, but starting wages have risen 15-20% in the last five years as employers compete for trained welders.
- Do I need a four-year degree to advance in welding?
- No. Career progression goes: certified welder → senior welder → welding inspector (CWI certification, employer-paid) → welding supervisor → welding engineer. The CWI is the credential that opens supervisory and inspection roles at $25–35/hr+; the welding-engineer path requires more formal education but is the exception, not the norm. Most welders advance via certification stacking, not college credit.
Compare Welding Technology programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Illinois’s welding technology programs stack up.
Other programs in Illinois
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.