Program Overview

If you like troubleshooting, strategy, and working with high-tech equipment, College of Western Idaho (CWI) can offer you a start to an exceptional career as a machinist. This two-year program has top-quality training and long-standing support from local employers thanks in part to our accomplished graduates who have won top national and international awards. At CWI, you will learn basic skills and quickly advance into areas such as interpretation of drawings, proper measurement, design adaptation, computer numerical programming, and much more.

What will you learn to do?

• Set up and operate manual machines including engine lathes, milling machines, grinders, and surface grinders
• Program, set up, and operate computer-numerically controlled (CNC) milling machines and lathes
• Operate precision measurement and test equipment used by metals-manufacturing industries
• Properly heat-treat various metals
• Understand and identify the many different materials, processes, and techniques used by the machining industry
• Utilize Virtual GIBBS programming software and SolidWorks modeling software

What kind of degree(s) can you earn?

• Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) – approximately two years
• Advanced Technical Certificate (ATC) – approximately 16 months
• Technical Certificate (TC) – approximately one year
• Postsecondary Technical Certificate (PTC*) – usually less than one year
• Basic Postsecondary Technical Certificate (PTC*) – usually less than one year
• Advanced Postsecondary Technical Certificate (PTC*) – usually less than one year

* PTC not eligible for federal financial aid due to program length.

What else should you know?

A typical day includes seven hours of classroom and lab work.

All students accepted into this program must submit to a drug or alcohol test at the beginning of the program and at their own expense.

Previous training or experience may be substituted for coursework if competence is demonstrated through testing, with permission of the instructor.