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Welding classes in Ottawa, Illinois

10 welding programs with results and funding that can make them free

1 school offers these welding programs with classes in the Ottawa area, and every one is approved for workforce funding. Each shows how past students did; Illinois files no usable prices.

Welders join and cut metal parts with hand-held or remotely controlled equipment. Most have a high school diploma plus technical training, and some employers ask for a certification for particular jobs.1

In Ottawa, 4 of the 10 programs take students without a high school diploma and 6 ask for a diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 10 programs here are single welding process (4 programs), general welding (4 programs) and welding (associate degree, 2 programs).

See the 10 programs

All 136 welding programs in Illinois, including online programs

How much do welding classes cost in Ottawa?

Not reported

Illinois files no usable prices, so none can be shown.

In the typical program

Finished the program
Not reported
None of the 10 programs report it
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length
32 to 62 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Ottawa may also offer welding classes. How these figures are made

Are there free welding classes in Ottawa?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 10 welding programs in Ottawa approved for WIOA funding

Filters
What you need to enroll
Kind of program
School
How it's taught
How to show the list

10 programs

  • Single welding processIn personNo diploma needed

    GMAW Basic Welding Certificate

    Illinois Valley Community College

    Oglesby

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Illinois Valley Community College, OglesbySingle welding process · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$48,500
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out

    3 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, GMAW Basic Welding Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College
    More details about GMAW Basic Welding Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    81%
    Earned in a quarter
    $12,137
    Length
    32 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    69
    Earned a year, estimated
    $48,500
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    students trained with WIOA funding
    3
    Program website, GMAW Basic Welding Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College

  • Single welding processHybridNo diploma needed

    GMAW Intermediate Welding Certificate

    Illinois Valley Community College

    Oglesby

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Illinois Valley Community College, OglesbySingle welding process · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$48,500
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, GMAW Intermediate Welding Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College
    More details about GMAW Intermediate Welding Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    81%
    Earned in a quarter
    $12,137
    Length
    32 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    69
    Earned a year, estimated
    $48,500
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, GMAW Intermediate Welding Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College

  • Welding (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Welding Construction AAS

    Illinois Valley Community College

    Oglesby

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Illinois Valley Community College, OglesbyWelding (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$48,500
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, Welding Construction AAS at Illinois Valley Community College
    More details about Welding Construction AAS at Illinois Valley Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    81%
    Earned in a quarter
    $12,137
    Length
    72 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    69
    Earned a year, estimated
    $48,500
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, Welding Construction AAS at Illinois Valley Community College

  • Single welding processIn personNo diploma needed

    GTAW Welding Certificate

    Illinois Valley Community College

    Oglesby

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Illinois Valley Community College, OglesbySingle welding process · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, GTAW Welding Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College
    More details about GTAW Welding Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    32 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, GTAW Welding Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College

  • General weldingIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    OAW Welding Certificate

    Illinois Valley Community College

    Oglesby

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Illinois Valley Community College, OglesbyGeneral welding · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    School website, OAW Welding Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College
    More details about OAW Welding Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    16 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    School website, OAW Welding Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College

  • Single welding processHybridNo diploma needed

    SMAW Basic Welding Certificate

    Illinois Valley Community College

    Oglesby

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Illinois Valley Community College, OglesbySingle welding process · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, SMAW Basic Welding Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College
    More details about SMAW Basic Welding Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    32 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, SMAW Basic Welding Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College

  • General weldingIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Welding Advanced Construction Certificate

    Illinois Valley Community College

    Oglesby

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Illinois Valley Community College, OglesbyGeneral welding · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, Welding Advanced Construction Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College
    More details about Welding Advanced Construction Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    80 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, Welding Advanced Construction Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College

  • General weldingIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Welding Basic Construction Certificate

    Illinois Valley Community College

    Oglesby

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Illinois Valley Community College, OglesbyGeneral welding · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, Welding Basic Construction Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College
    More details about Welding Basic Construction Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    32 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, Welding Basic Construction Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College

  • Welding (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Welding Production AAS

    Illinois Valley Community College

    Oglesby

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Illinois Valley Community College, OglesbyWelding (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, Welding Production AAS at Illinois Valley Community College
    More details about Welding Production AAS at Illinois Valley Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    72 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, Welding Production AAS at Illinois Valley Community College

  • General weldingIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Welding Production Certificate

    Illinois Valley Community College

    Oglesby

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Illinois Valley Community College, OglesbyGeneral welding · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfLeft out
    Program website, Welding Production Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College
    More details about Welding Production Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    32 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Left out
    Program website, Welding Production Certificate at Illinois Valley Community College

How to pay for welding classes in Ottawa

WIOA funding can pay for welding classes in Ottawa

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for welding classes

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.67

GI Bill for welding classes

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.8

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Other training in Ottawa

How welding classes compare with the rest of skilled trades across Illinois: Trade school programs in Illinois

Where the Ottawa welding program numbers come from

Which Ottawa welding programs are on this list?

These are the welding programs with classes in the Ottawa area that are approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).9 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Online programs are left out here; they are on the Illinois page. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what the area offers.

How the prices and results of Ottawa welding programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

How reliable are the Illinois figures?

The US Department of Labor's own results site lists Illinois among the states with "known data quality concerns".10 We leave out the share who finished for Illinois: only a few programs report it, and those at a typical 11%. We leave out prices for Illinois: the state files a code in place of each price, so no price can be shown.

Sources for the facts about welding classes in Ottawa

Show the 10 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List
  10. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: search page, note on states with known data quality concerns