Welding Technician Certificate

McHenry County is one of the fastest-growing manufacturing sectors in the region, and many of these manufacturers use heavy-duty metal fabrication and forging. Workers with welding skills are highly sought in the manufacturing sector and work in a variety of occupations such as welders, machinery repair, and sheet metal workers.

MCC’s Welding Technician Certificate will prepare you for an entry-level position in welding. With a Welding Technician Certificate, you'll become knowledgeable in welding safety and practice the major welding processes such as stick, Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding, and Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG). You'll also learn to perform out-of-position and multi-pass steel and aluminum material arc welding including Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Flux-Core Arc Welding (FCAW), and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW). The certificate will prepare you to pass welder qualification tests and meet the American Welding Society (AWS) and Schools Excelling through National Skill Standards Education (SENSE) training standards for certification as an AWS Level 1 - Entry Welder.

We offer an Advanced Welding Technician Certificate to help you become eligible for specialized welding certifications through AWS.

Contact (815) 479-7521 with specific questions about this program.

(in-district) Total Amount: $3,779.5

Credit Hours to Complete: 18

Weeks to Complete: 32


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What you need to know about getting your Welding Technician Certificate (CIP 48.0508)

Total Welding Technician Certificate Costs
Cost in-district out-of-district out-of-state international
Tuition $2,097 $6,007.14 $8,620.92 $8,620.92
Additional Costs $1,682.5 $1,682.5 $1,682.5 $1,682.5
Program Total $3,779.5 $7,689.64 $10,303.42 $10,303.42

What makes MCC's Welding Technician Certificate program better than, or distinct from, similar programs at other institutions?

  • MCC has worked closely with local manufacturers and welding-related employers in the district to develop curriculum to address the type of skill sets that they need developed in order to fill vacant positions.
  • MCC's curriculum includes the MIG pulse spray ARC transfer welding, as requested by employers in the district. It's the only welding program offering this in our area.
  • There are no pre-requisite courses for the Welding Technician Certificate introductory courses so students in high school, adult education, or other workforce training programs can easily transition to the college to take these courses. Those who have had prior welding coursework may transfer it to the college for advanced placement in welding courses.
  • Our welding certificates complement the credit-based skills in MCC’s manufacturing and industrial maintenance programs.

How will MCC's Welding Technician Certificate program prepare me for my career or connect me to opportunities?

  • Industry partners in need of welders have reviewed and approved the curriculum, assuring that you'll be learning the skills they need today. These industry partners meet with MCC annually to review the curriculum, discuss industry standards and any related changes and offer advice for keeping graduates employment-ready in this field of work.
  • Course material offered throughout the welding certificates is designed to help you develop the requisite skills to pass the certified welder tests in accordance with the American Welding Society standards. The final projects in the capstone course in each certificate program are similar to those that will be required for you to be certified in American Welding Society D1.1 Structural Welding Steel.
  • Courses are taught by industry experts in welding who will discuss obtaining positions in welding as part of the curriculum.
  • Welding Program Mission

    The mission of McHenry County College’s Welding Program is to develop students who are skilled in welding safety and the practice of the major welding processes: stick, Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding, and Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG). MCC students shall be distinguishable by their critical thinking, effective communication, professionalism, and technical competency. Students will use current and contemporary practices to demonstrate mastery of the Program Learning Outcomes.

  • Welding Certificate Program Learning Objectives

    Students will:

    1. Demonstrate setup, maintenance, and cleaning procedures of welding equipment.
    2. Maintain safety for all operators and observers in the workplace
    3. Demonstrate the ability to interpret welding terms, symbols, weld size descriptions, locations, and tolerances and interpreting the welding symbols that may accompany them
    4. Select appropriate material, select appropriate electrode and position weldment for welding.
    5. Demonstrate basic skills in stick welding in flat and horizontal positions.
    6. Demonstrate basic skills in MIG welding in all positions.
    7. Demonstrate basic skills in TIG welding in flat and horizontal positions.

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Semesters to complete assumes students are taking a full-time credit load of 12 credits per semester (the minimum required for federal financial aid).

Proportion of students completing in normal time is the percentage of completers who earned the credential within the specified time of their first enrollment at the College.

Students attending part-time or changing their program of study are two common reasons why they may not complete in "normal" time.

Tuition and fees are set by the Board of Trustees. Prices for books and supplies are subject to change.

See additional information about international student costs.