Updated at: 17-03-2023 - By: Eden Wise

Overview

If you’re looking for a trades job in Illinois, welding is a great choice. Even though you won’t need a license to weld in California, you’ll look better to potential employers if you have some professional certifications under your belt. There will be more well-paying job opportunities available as a result.

Those who enjoy being physically active and working outside will thrive in the welding industry.

If you want to work with metal, you should investigate welding schools.

To save you time, here is a list of the top-rated welding certification programs in Illinois.

This article also includes some additional resources, including salary data and details on the education and certification needs to succeed as a welder in the state of Illinois.

Best Welding Schools In Illinois

Best welding schools in illinois

Welder Program at Environmental Technical Institute

If you want to earn your welding certification in Illinois, ETI is a great option.

If you’re interested in starting a new career in welding, enrolling in a certificate program like Advanced Welding Technology can help you gain the experience and knowledge you need to be successful.

There is a significant need for qualified welders in industries across the country, including shipbuilding, construction, and private industry.

College of DuPage Welding Program

College of DuPage Welding Program

You can trust these schools as the best options for learning welding in Illinois.

People who are interested in learning about or refining their abilities in a variety of welding processes will find what they’re looking for in the welding program at College of DuPage.

Both new and seasoned learners can benefit from the presented competency-based program.

Courses in oxyacetylene, arc, MIG, TIG, and plasma welding/cutting, as well as manual and semi-automatic applications, can be found at a wide range of difficulty levels at these Top Welding Schools in Illinois. In addition, there are theoretical welding classes and instruction in reading blueprints.

A Safe Haven

One of the best welding schools in Illinois is A Safe Haven Training Academy.

It aids people who are homeless, low-income, or have criminal records in their pursuit of gainful employment by providing them with an introduction to welding and a bridge program to the workforce.

Following successful completion of an entry-level welding program accredited by the American Welding Society, a certificate in basic welding skills is awarded.

Basic welding techniques, mathematics, layout and fabrication, reading and interpreting blueprints, workplace safety, and ethics are all topics that will be covered in Illinois’ top welding schools.

The training consists of both the 10-hour general industry safety course and the OSHA 10-certification exam.

College of Southwestern Illinois

Welding Technology at Southwestern Illinois College has been recognized by the American Welding Society as a premier program in Illinois and the United States.

Levels I and II of the American Welding Society’s National Standards are met by the welding technology curriculum.

The student may continue their education at Ferris State University and earn a Bachelor’s degree after earning an A.A.S. from Southwestern.

Through this course, both novice and seasoned welders can acquire specialized training.

Students learn about employer relations and gain work experience as part of their education for the workforce.

Students are instructed in a variety of welding techniques, including shielded metal arc, gas metal arc (including short circuits, globular, and spray transfers), flux cored and plasma arc, acetylene welding and cutting, gas tungsten arc, and more. In addition, it is one of the top welding schools in the state of Illinois.

Kennedy-King College

Kennedy-King College

Civil and human rights activists Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy inspired the school’s naming.

Kennedy-King College is recognized as a legitimate educational institution by the Higher Learning Commission.

Advanced manufacturing, business and professional services, construction technology, culinary arts and hospitality, education, and more are all on the curriculum at Illinois’s Best Welding Schools.

You can apply for entry-level jobs in the industry after completing your Basic Certificate program and training as a Combination Welder.

Lincoln Tech

The Lincoln Tech welding program provides students with 960 hours of practical instruction to help them become qualified for welding jobs.

Students will practice Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW/MIG), Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW), and Gas Tungsten Arc Gas Welding (GTAW/TIG), as well as welding plate metal, carbon steel plates, aluminum, and stainless steel in horizontal, vertical, and overhead positions.

In addition, they will study the characteristics of metals, the changes that occur between the liquid and solid phases, and the use of superheated gases for making accurate cuts in steel sheets and pipes.

The training will incorporate a 10-hour safety orientation that has been approved by OSHA. Times during the day and evening are both offered.

E.T.I. School of Skilled Trades

E.T.I. School of Skilled Trades provides training for students to become competent welders. Experienced instructors will help students hone their welding abilities through role-playing in simulated work settings.

The majority of the scheduled time will be spent in the welding lab, where students will use cutting-edge equipment under the watchful eye of qualified professors.

Welding 101, Shielded Metal Arc Welding Plate, GMAW, FCAW, and GTAW Plate are just some of the topics covered in this comprehensive training program.

Classes are offered both during the day and in the evening so that working students can participate. Time of day classes: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Additionally, classes are held Monday through Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Job placement support is available to all graduates.

Illinois Welding School

Illinois Welding School

When looking for a welding school, I.W.S. is your best bet. They are approved by both the Veterans Administration Post 9/11/GI Bill and the Illinois State Board of Higher Education (IBHE).

They offer structural, pipe, and combination welding programs in addition to A.W.S. and ASME certification.

Moreover, they are active participants in the American Welding Society (AWS.org). They offer intensive on-the-job training, two shift options, and start dates every month.

A total of 88% of our students go on to gain employment within six months of graduation. Skyscrapers, cars, planes, appliances, pipelines, and highways are just a few of the many manmade structures made possible by welders.

Richard J. Daley College

It’s one of the City Colleges in Chicago, and it’s named after Richard J. Daley. Each year, it prepares around 80,000 students, making it one of the largest community college districts in the country.

There are seven different colleges in Chicago, and they are all separately accredited. Richard J. Daley College has been granted accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.

The college provides options for distance learning, as well as traditional adult and continuing education. Join the Welding Technology certificate program if you want to learn the basics of welding.

Elgin Community College

In 1949, Elgin, Illinois, welcomed its first students to what is now Elgin Community College. This institution is a community college with the overarching goal of bettering people’s lives through education, and it offers a wide range of courses to do just that. There is a bookstore, cafeteria, library, and workout facility on the E.C.C. campus.

Elgin Community College is a public two-year institution in Elgin, Illinois, that provides access to over 138 academic majors, certificates, and transfer options.

The courses are engaging and practical in nature. In just four semesters of study, you can earn an Associate of Applied Science in Welding Fabrication Technology. Get a certificate in basic welding techniques or a similar vocational certification.

Carl Sandburg College

In total, there are three Welding Technology/Welder degree programs available at Carl Sandburg College. It is a small public college offering only two years of study, located in a remote rural area. Twenty-one people graduated from Welding Technology/Welder programs in 2020, with twenty-one receiving certificates and one receiving an associate’s degree.

City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College

There are two Welding Technology/Welder degree programs available at City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College. Small public two-year institution in major metropolitan area. In 2020, 80 students completed the Welding Technology/Welder program and received 80 Certificates.

Highland Community College

Highland Community College

There are two Welding Technology/Welder degree programs available at Highland Community College. It’s a tiny public university offering only two years of study in a remote town. In 2020, there were 19 graduates from Welding Technology/Welder programs, 18 of whom received certificates and 1 who received an Associate’s degree.

College of DuPage

There are three different Welding Technology/Welder degree tracks at College of DuPage. The college is a large public two-year institution located in a suburban setting. A total of 15 people graduated with degrees in welding technology or welding in 2020; 14 received certificates and 1 received an associate’s degree.

Prairie State University has been granted approval by the Higher Learning Commission. A number of buildings including classrooms, laboratories, a bookstore, and other student services can be found on the college’s 130-acre campus. Community college students can expect to graduate in two years.

The associate degree is a credential that proves you’ve completed the prerequisites for further study at a four-year college or university, while the certificates are more focused on specific fields of study.

Becoming a welder technician or specialist takes only 32 weeks.

Institution of Higher Learning in the Moraine Valley

In 1967, classes began at what would become Moraine Valley Community College. Aside from its main campus in Palos Hills, it also has campuses in Blue Island and Tinley Park, making it one of the largest educational institutions in Illinois.

The school has made a firm commitment to providing accessible, high-quality education at a reasonable price. Moraine Valley Community College has been granted accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission.

There are over 130 majors and concentrations available at the college. The various welding-centric courses include advanced welding, combination welding, specialized welding, multi-process welding, pipe welding, and shielded metal arc welding.

Moraine Valley Community College

The first students enrolled at Moraine Valley Community College in 1967. There are also campuses in Blue Island and Tinley Park in addition to Palos Hills’ 300 acres.

The mission of the Best Welding Schools in Illinois is to offer an affordable welding education of the highest quality. Moraine Valley Community College has been granted approval from the Higher Learning Commission.

Around 130 distinct majors and minors are available at the university. Welding-Advance, Welding-Combination, Custom Welding, Multi-Process Welding, Pipe Welding, and Shielded Metal Arc Welding are all examples of programs that place an emphasis on welding.

College R.J. Daley, Richard

One of Chicago’s City Colleges is named after former Mayor Richard J. Daley. In a typical year, it serves as a learning institution for around 80,000 people, making it one of the largest community college districts in the country.

Seven institutions in Chicago have earned separate accreditations. Richard J. Daley College has been granted accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.

Online courses, adult and continuing education programs, and other types of instruction are all available from some of Illinois’ top welding schools.

Midwestern Technical Institute (M.T.I.)

This Top Welding College in Illinois offers a Journeyman Welding Certificate Program that can be completed in as little as 30 weeks.

Moline, Springfield, and East Peoria all offer daytime and evening welding courses.

Certification in welding terms, safety procedures, and metal properties is awarded to graduates.

In order to become a Journeyman Welder II, you must complete a 10-week long program.

FAQs

How Long Are Welding Schools In Illinois?

It is a natural question for any prospective student to wonder how long it will take to complete a welding program.

The length of a school’s program varies depending on the institution.

However, you can rest assured that your schooling will end in no more than two years.

How Much Do Welders Make In Illinois?

Welders in Illinois can make $39.790 annually on average ($19.13/hr).

However, the median wage in the United States is $39,390 annually, or $18.94 an hour.

Top welders in Illinois make an average annual salary of $58,080.

The top 10 percent of welders in the United States earn an annual average of $62,100.

Welding is a great option for those interested in entering a trade and who enjoy working with a variety of metal tools because it requires little to no training and there are more and more welding jobs available throughout Illinois.

What is the fastest to get a welder’s certificate?

In the Fast Track Welding Program, students commit to 160 hours of training over the course of 4 weeks; during this time, they will receive 20% classroom instruction and 80% practical experience in Marine Welding. The course fee also covers the cost of taking the American Welding Society (AWS) Certification Exam, which students will be prepared to take upon completion of the course.

Is a welding degree worth it?

If you go to welding school, not only will your resume be at the top of the heap when hiring companies look for qualified candidates, but you may also be able to command a higher salary once you find work. According to the BLS, a person’s ability to earn money is proportional to his or her level of education.

Conclusion

The training required to earn a welding certification is straightforward and can be accomplished in fewer than eight months.

Just keep in mind that you can increase your earnings by enrolling in a course on the side. Flexible scheduling options are typically available for welding courses, allowing students to maintain employment while they learn.

The majority of welding programs are low-priced and have loose enrollment standards. The best part is that once you complete the training and earn your certification, your market value will skyrocket and you’ll have no trouble finding well-paying positions in any part of the United States or even abroad.