NIC brings welding, laser engraving courses to Kellogg

KELLOGG — A new set of North Idaho College Workforce Training courses will give Silver Valley residents a chance to try welding, laser engraving and cutting close to home.

The introductory courses will be offered at Kellogg High School and taught by instructor Cory North, who brings decades of real-world experience to the classroom. North is a retired Idaho Army National Guard soldier who served 20 years, has worked as an auto mechanic for 29 years and has 10 years of experience as a welder-fabricator.

Ken Rolle, workforce development program manager for the NIC Workforce Training Center, said the new offerings are good news for students, employers and the broader Silver Valley community.

“These classes create a first step for people who want to explore a trade, build confidence with tools and equipment, or see whether welding or fabrication might be part of their future,” Rolle said. “It’s exciting because students don’t have to leave the Silver Valley to get that hands-on experience.”

Intro to TIG Welding begins July 20 and introduces students to gas tungsten arc welding, including equipment setup, tungsten selection, shielding gases, and welding steel and aluminum.

Intro to Laser Engraving begins Aug. 3 and covers laser safety, machine setup, material selection, file preparation and basic design workflow. Students will complete hands-on projects using materials such as wood, acrylic, leather and coated metals.

Intro to Stick Welding begins Sept. 14 and teaches the fundamentals of structural steel welding, including how to safely set up and operate an AC/DC welding machine using 7018 and 6010 welding rods.

The courses are introductory and do not provide certification.

For more information or to register, visit nic.edu/welding.