Advanced Welding Fabrication Certificate

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All-around welding & metalwork

Try your hand at multiple techniques. Bring your own projects to life with increasing skill and metal vision. Take those skills into a challenging and rewarding career, working with your hands, eyes and mind.

You'll earn credentials that stack towards the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Welding & Fabrication Technology. For this certificate, you develop fundamental skills in a range of welding and metalworking techniques:

gas metal arc welding (GMAW)
shielded metal arc welding (SMAW)
gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)
oxy-fuel welding

thermal-cutting, industry math and blueprint reading
fabrication skills including metal forming, cutting, assembly and processing
metallurgy fundamentals

What can you do with this Advanced Welding Fabrication Certificate?

You’re ready for an entry-level welding or metalworking position. You can advance quickly, especially with the range of techniques you understand and your extensive, hands-on experience.

Choose from one of our 7 credentials in welding—we designed them to work together for you, so you can stack them into more advanced certificates or your associate degree. Start where you want, add skills to meet a different job need and if you want, keep going.
The foundation is 1 semester that covers basic skills and safety. That semester counts as the General Welding Certificate (9 credits, 1 semester). From that foundation, you can learn additional skills, in different combinations (the first 9 credits of each certificate are the same across all programs):
- Welding Fabrication (19 credits)—add 9 credits of metalworking and metallurgy to the common base
- Gas Metal Arc Welding (23 credits)—add 12 credits of gas welding and brazing to the common base
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding (23 credits)—add 3 credits of shielded metal arc welding (aka “stick welding”) to the Gas Metal Arc Welding Certificate
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (23 credits)—add 12 credits of gas tungsten welding and brazing to the common base
- Welding (45 credits)—All the welding and fabrication courses from all the certificates, plus a math class and a certification class.
- Associate in Applied Science (61 credits)—Everything in the Welding Certificate, plus a couple specialized welding courses and a handful of classes in business, communications, fine art or science.
CLC has the largest welding and fabrication laboratory in Illinois located at the Advanced Technology Center (ATC). At 28,000 square feet, we are a true snapshot of what you will find in real-world facilities. The ATC features an extensive variety of arc welding equipment, laser welders and orbital welders. Other equipment include:
- 4 welding robots for tungsten inert gas (TIG) and metal inert gas (MIG) welding
- laser and plasma CNC cutters
- CNC press brakes
- lathes, mills, drill presses, iron workers and various saws
CLC students won first through third place trophies in speed cutting and multiple categories of welding during the American Welding Society's "Behind the Mask" welding competition.

Recent graduate of CLC, Ethan Klisch, used his Welding and Fabrication A.A.S. degree to fabricate a design that matched a client's needs. Using SolidWorks and a CNC plasma cutter, Klisch designed, shaped and welded the components for the National Loon Center's outdoor exhibits. Maybe they'll come back as a client for his future business!

See what students love about the welding and fabrication technology program at CLC. Picture yourself here:

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Highlights

Career Certificate

Earn a career certificate in 2 years to refine your skills into an in-demand career.
Aligned with AWS and SME Standards

Earn American Welding Society (AWS) and Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) credentials.
Metallica Scholarships

View the available heavy metal scholarships.
Advanced Technology Center (ATC)

Build career-ready skills with our state-of-the-art facilities in Gurnee, IL.
Credit for Prior Learning

Receive college credit for what you already know.
Financial Aid / Scholarship Opportunities

Explore ways to pay for college (based on need/achievement).
Program Length: 2 Years

Finish in 2 years as a full-time student.

*Estimated cost is based on the minimum number of credit hours to complete the program. This estimate includes in-district tuition and comprehensive fees for the 2026-2027 academic year, before financial aid, including grants, loans and scholarships, is applied. Actual cost may vary to include additional fees, materials and other cost of attendance factors such as living expenses, transportation, etc. Explore opportunities for financial assistance at CLC. Learn more about the Cost of Attendance.

Career Outlook

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $55,452
  
  Median
  
  $101,750
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $139,699
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $26.65
  
  Median
  
  $48.91
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $67.16
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  42.74%
  
  Certificate
  
  27.04%
  
  Some college
  
  7.84%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  11.88%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  10.49%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Perform work involving the skills of two or more maintenance or craft occupations to keep machines, mechanical equipment, or the structure of a building in repair. Duties may involve pipe fitting; HVAC maintenance; insulating; welding; machining; carpentry; repairing electrical or mechanical equipment; installing, aligning, and balancing new equipment; and repairing buildings, floors, or stairs.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $36,679
  
  Median
  
  $58,254
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $84,775
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $17.63
  
  Median
  
  $28.00
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $40.75
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  26.02%
  
  Certificate
  
  62.97%
  
  Some college
  
  6.62%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  2.85%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  0.35%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  1.17%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases. May install heating and cooling equipment and mechanical control systems. Includes sprinkler fitters.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $44,272
  
  Median
  
  $89,567
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $120,752
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $21.28
  
  Median
  
  $43.05
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $58.05
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  42.78%
  
  Certificate
  
  43.26%
  
  Some college
  
  4.63%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  9.34%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Position and secure steel bars or mesh in concrete forms in order to reinforce concrete. Use a variety of fasteners, rod-bending machines, blowtorches, and hand tools. Includes rod busters.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $40,952
  
  Median
  
  $67,637
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $134,682
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $19.68
  
  Median
  
  $32.51
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $64.74
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  70.42%
  
  Certificate
  
  29.58%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Fabricate, assemble, install, and repair sheet metal products and equipment, such as ducts, control boxes, drainpipes, and furnace casings. Work may involve any of the following: setting up and operating fabricating machines to cut, bend, and straighten sheet metal; shaping metal over anvils, blocks, or forms using hammer; operating soldering and welding equipment to join sheet metal parts; or inspecting, assembling, and smoothing seams and joints of burred surfaces. Includes sheet metal duct installers who install prefabricated sheet metal ducts used for heating, air conditioning, or other purposes.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $38,807
  
  Median
  
  $91,645
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $119,417
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $18.65
  
  Median
  
  $44.05
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $57.41
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  56.2%
  
  Certificate
  
  43.81%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Raise, place, and unite iron or steel girders, columns, and other structural members to form completed structures or structural frameworks. May erect metal storage tanks and assemble prefabricated metal buildings.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $65,100
  
  Median
  
  $102,839
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $125,535
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $31.30
  
  Median
  
  $49.44
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $60.35
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  75.77%
  
  Certificate
  
  19.21%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  5.03%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $37,351
  
  Median
  
  $50,536
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $74,714
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $17.95
  
  Median
  
  $24.29
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $35.92
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  74.38%
  
  Certificate
  
  11.64%
  
  Some college
  
  11.28%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  1.75%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  0.94%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).

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Recommended Pathway

Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their College and Career Navigator (CCN) to identify coursework that will meet degree requirements based on individual academic goals. View degree requirements in the college catalog.

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Welding & Fabrication Technology at CLC: Get the bigger picture

An Advanced Welding-Fabrication Certificate is just one possible way to study Welding & Fabrication Technology. Get the bigger picture—degrees, credentials and extra options.

View the Welding and Fabrication Technology program overview

Apply now: It's easy and free

Complete the application form to begin your program.

After you apply, a Career and College Navigator (CCN) will reach out to answer your questions, guide your next steps and help you get enrolled. Explore steps to apply at CLC.

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Frequently asked questions

Some of the skills you need to be successful in this program are:
- ability to work with your hands
- work both independently and as a team player
- ability to prioritize
- organizational skills
- attention to detail
- self-motivated
- critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- comfortable using technology and hand tools
- ability to write clearly
You can earn the American Welding Society (AWS) Welder Performance Qualifier Endorsement.
You also have the opportunity to earn additional American Welding Society (AWS) and Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) credentials.
With an Advanced Welding-Fabrication Certificate, you gain the following skills.
General knowledge:
- basic math: adding and subtracting fractions and decimals, geometry
- material knowledge: types of materials, material properties, material recognition, metal limits
- measure using the metric system
- basic metallurgy
- safety requirements
- blueprint reading
- read a tape measure
- weld terminology and symbols
- industry codes
- finishes
- basic layout
- tolerances
- machine knowledge
- safety certifications
- gain welding certifications
Safety regulations and requirements:
- inspect personal protective equipment
- wear personal protective equipment
- maintain safe work area
- provide for work area ventilation
- identify a confined space
- apply confined space safety practices
- follow Hot Work safety requirements
- monitor environment for safety hazards
- participate in safety briefing
- inspect equipment for safety hazards
Prepare welding materials:
- interpret prints, drawings, sketches and welding procedure specifications (WPS)
- gather welding materials
- select welding equipment
- certify welding equipment per job specifications
- perform minor repairs on welding equipment and accessories
- measure welding parts and materials
- drill or bore holes in parts and materials
- shear metal parts and materials
- bend or form metal parts and materials
- cut, bevel, deburr, or pierce metal parts and materials
- de-scale welding materials
- fit up parts or assemblies
- confirm materials according to the welding procedure specifications
- set up jigs and fixtures
Perform cutting, brazing and gouging:
- prepare job layout
- cut and bend with oxy-fuel equipment
- cut metal with arc-air equipment
- cut metal with plasma arc welding equipment
- cut metal using hand tools
- cut metal using power tools
- select material preparation method
- clean thermal affected area (remove slag)
Perform oxy-fuel cutting, brazing and welding:
- prepare job layout for oxy-fuel process
- set up oxy-fuel equipment
- confirm filler material and oxy-fuel
- verify flux for brazing
- check annealing requirements for brazing
- weld using oxy-fuel process (all positions) on common carbon steel, low alloy steel, sheet metal
- cut using oxy-fuel process (all positions) on common carbon steel, low alloy steel, sheet metal
- braze using oxy-fuel process in flat, inclined, or horizontal position on common carbon steel, low alloy steel, sheet metal
- clean oxy-fuel welds, cuts and brazes
- measure oxy-fuel welds, cuts and brazes for conformance to acceptance criteria
- perform required finish operations
- store oxy-fuel welding materials
Perform sub-arc welding:
- prepare job layout for sub-arc welding
- setup sub-arc equipment
- confirm filler material and flux
- preheat base metal to required temperature
- weld using sub-arc process on common carbon steel, low alloy steel, sheet metal
- clean sub-arc welds (remove slag)
- measure sub-arc welds for conformance to acceptance criteria
- perform finishing operations
- store sub-arc welding material
Employers who offer these types of jobs in Lake County include:
- AbbVie Inc.
- Geremarie Corporation
- JST
- Larsen Manufacturing LLC
- Ludlow Manufacturing
- S & C Electric Company
- Sargent & Lundy
- Wabtec Corporation
- MacLean-Fogg Company
- Waukegan Steel
- William M. Meyer & Sons
The cost is based on recommended pathway credit hours. It includes in-district tuition and fees. It does not factor in the cost of books and materials. It does not account for financial aid (grants, loans, scholarships) that you may receive.
View current tuition and fees
Some courses in this program are subject to variable tuition and course fees because they provide specialized experiences, instruction or technology/equipment.
View courses with variable tuition and fees
Many opportunities exist at CLC to get financial aid. Learn more about Cost of Attendance.

What students say about CLC

Kyle Thorne
Graduate
"While I love the space and equipment, it was the instructors that kept me at CLC. They helped make sure I learned the right way, and I had fun doing it."
Kyle took welding and fabrication classes at the CLC Grayslake campus and Advanced Technology Center in Gurnee. He then started his own mobile welding business.
Explore ways to build the future
Ian Velasquez
Graduate
“At CLC I learned all the skills I need to enter the welding and fabrication industry one step ahead of everyone else. The teachers were attentive and helpful throughout my time in the program.”
Ian earned a General Welding Certificate at CLC. A workforce grant paid for his education so he can start a career in a high-demand field.
Explore financial aid options
Ebony Williams
Graduate
“The program opened my eyes to the world of trades. Welding is just the tip of the iceberg for me. I’m excited to see what other skills I can learn next.”
Ebony earned a General Welding Certificate at CLC with help from a workforce grant.
Explore financial aid options

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Register for Summer and Fall 2026 classes

All-around welding & metalwork

What can you do with this Advanced Welding Fabrication Certificate?

Earn while you learn with stackable credentials

Learn at the ATC: The largest in Illinois

Students succeed at CLC

Highlights

Career Certificate

Aligned with AWS and SME Standards

Metallica Scholarships

Advanced Technology Center (ATC)

Credit for Prior Learning

Financial Aid / Scholarship Opportunities

Program Length: 2 Years

Career Outlook

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Maintenance and Repair Workers, General

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Sheet Metal Workers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Structural Iron and Steel Workers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Need help getting started?

Recommended Pathway

Welding & Fabrication Technology at CLC: Get the bigger picture

Apply now: It's easy and free

Frequently asked questions

What are some skills I need to be successful in this program?

What exams will I qualify for after I complete the program?

What skills will I learn in this program?

Where will I find these types of jobs in Lake County?

How much does this program cost?

What students say about CLC

Kyle Thorne

Ian Velasquez

Ebony Williams

Take the next step...

Be debt-free at CLC

Request info

Visit us

Get started