North Idaho College’s Workforce Training Center is expanding access to skilled trades instruction by bringing welding and laser engraving courses to Kellogg High School this summer and fall. The initiative offers introductory training designed to help North Idaho residents explore career paths in fabrication and technical crafts.
New Course Offerings
NIC Workforce Training is rolling out three introductory courses across the next few months. The Intro to TIG Welding course begins July 20 and covers gas tungsten arc welding fundamentals, including equipment setup, tungsten selection, shielding gas techniques, and welding both steel and aluminum. An Intro to Laser Engraving course launches August 3, teaching laser safety protocols, machine operation, material selection, file preparation, and basic design workflows. Students in the laser program complete hands-on projects using wood, acrylic, leather, and coated metals. A third offering, Intro to Stick Welding, starts September 14, focusing on structural steel welding foundations and instruction on AC/DC welding machine operation using 7018 and 6010 welding rods.
Each course is introductory in nature and does not result in formal certification, but rather provides foundational knowledge and practical experience for those considering a trade career.
Experienced Instruction
The welding instruction is led by Cory North, a retired Idaho Army National Guard soldier with 20 years of military service who also brings nearly three decades of experience as an automotive mechanic. North has spent the last decade working as a welder-fabricator, combining technical expertise with practical field knowledge. Ken Rolle, the workforce development program manager for NIC’s Workforce Training Center, emphasizes the program’s accessibility and purpose.
“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.
Meeting Regional Demand
The expansion to Kellogg reflects broader efforts by North Idaho College to bring workforce development closer to students across Kootenai County and the surrounding region. By locating courses at the high school, NIC removes geographic barriers for Kellogg-area residents interested in hands-on technical training. The Panhandle region has long struggled with workforce shortages in skilled trades, and programs like these aim to build pipelines of trained workers for local employers.
The move also aligns with NIC’s commitment to dual-enrollment and career pathways that begin in high school, a strategy that has gained traction across Idaho as the state seeks to address labor gaps in construction, manufacturing, and other sectors.
How to Register
Residents interested in any of the three courses can find registration details and course scheduling at nic.edu/welding. Prospective students are encouraged to inquire early, as introductory courses in skilled trades often fill quickly during peak hiring seasons.
The Kellogg-based courses represent one of several ways North Idaho College is making workforce training more accessible across the region, complementing its campus-based programs in Coeur d’Alene and supporting the broader economic development agenda of North Idaho.