Graduates of the CNC Machine Operator/Programmer program are employed as:

• Machinists
• CNC machinists
• Quality control inspector
• CNC Operator
• CNC programmers
• Field service representatives

• Overview

• Is This Program for You?

  Students entering the CNC Machine Operator/Programmer program should:

  • Have good reading and math skills.
  • Have good hand-eye coordination.
  • Pay attention to details and neatness.
  • Have a mechanical aptitude.
  • Enjoy researching technical information.
  • Have good communication skills.
  • Enjoy problem solving.
  • Think creatively.

  Program Basics

  • Technical diploma
  • Classes are offered daytime, face to face, and on campus
  • Fall start
  • Credit for prior learning may be available
• Curriculum & Costs
• Cost of Attendance (COA) 24-25

  Cost of Attendance (COA) is a total of all the usual expenses of being a student. The COA sets the maximum amount of financial aid a student can receive.

  Category	Amount
  Tuition and Fees	$4,820
  Living Expenses (Housing and Food)	$9,148
  Books and Supplies	$1,466
  Personal Expenses	$3,608
  Transportation	$4,018
  Charger Tech 360 Fee	$600
  Loan Fees	$84
  Yearly Total (Living Away from Home)	$23,744
  1 Semester Total (Living Away from Home)	$11,872

  Based on Wisconsin Residents.

  Approximate school costs are for a full-time (12 credit) student over a semester span of 17 weeks.

  Fees are legislated by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.

  These costs are estimates and are subject to change without notice.

• Requirements

• Admission and Program Requirements

  • Submit Application
  • To make sure your classes are the right fit, we consider any previous college credit you've earned, Accuplacer or ACT scores, high school GPA, or an assessment at your registration session. Submit High School Transcripts, College Transcripts, and Test Scores to: Southwest Tech, Attn: Admissions, 1800 Bronson Blvd, Fennimore, WI 53809
  • Admissions Preference Policy

    Priority for program acceptance will be given in this order until May 1, 2024:

    1. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College District Residents (permanent address is in one of Southwest Tech’s 30 school districts the College serves) Southwest Tech District Information
    2. Non-District State Residents
    3. Out-of-State Residents

  Helpful Academic Background

  • Math and science
  • Written and oral communications

  Program Fees

  • This program is eligible for Financial Aid.
  • Estimated cost for each semester can be found under the Curriculum tab. Please note that costs are approximate and are based on the current academic year.
  • Please discuss additional fee questions with the program advisor or instructor.

  Additional requirements

  Students must have eye protection (safety glasses with side shields or wrap around safety glasses over prescription glasses) and must meet OSHA Z87.1 or greater while they are conducting operations that are deemed hazardous in nature. These glasses can be purchased at the College Bookstore.

• Outcomes

• Program Outcomes

  At the completion of the program, students are expected to be able to:

  • Apply basic safety practices in the machine shop
  • Interpret industrial/engineering drawings
  • Apply precision measuring methods to part inspection
  • Perform basic machine tool equipment set-up and operation
  • Perform programming, set-up, and operation of CNC Machine Tools
• Career Opportunities

• Southwest Tech's Career Connections Center offers Services to assist students looking for job placement.

  Find a Job
• Transfers
• Prior Learning

• Credit for Prior Learning

  Experience Pays! You've Been There... You've Done That... Let's See If You Can Get Credit For It!

  Credit for prior learning gives you opportunities to earn credit for college-level knowledge that you have already acquired. This may be the result of work or volunteer experiences, certifications, apprenticeships, military training, extensive self-instruction, or professional development. Credit for Prior Learning affords you the opportunity to accelerate the completion of your educational goals.

  For more information on Credit for Prior Learning see our Credit for Prior Learning page.

  At any time, you may Request Credit for Prior Learning.

  CNC Machine Operator/Programmer Courses that may have Credit for Prior Learning options:

  Course #	Course Title	Challenge Exam (Demonstration)	Challenge Exam (Standard)	CLEP	Credential	Portfolio
  10-105-110	Computer Applications
  31-420-320	Intro to Print Reading
  31-420-322	Intro to Manual Mill
  31-420-323	Intro to Manual Lathe
  31-420-327	Intro to Surface Grinding
  31-420-328	Intro to Mastercam Mill 2D
  31-420-329	Advanced Manual Mill
  31-420-330	Advanced Manual Lathe Machine
  31-420-333	Intro to Mastercam Lathe
  31-420-336	Basic CNC Operation Mill
  31-420-337	Basic CNC Operation Lathe