Welder certification
Encyclopedia
Welder certification, is a process which examines and documents a welders capability to create welds of acceptable quality following a well defined welding procedure.
's skill and ability to deposit sound weld
metal. The tests consist of many variables, including the specific welding process, type of metal, thickness, joint design, position, and others. Most often, the test is conducted in accordance with a particular code. The tests can be administered under the auspices of a national or international organization, such as the American Welding Society
(AWS), or American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), but manufacturers may specify their own standards and requirements as well. Welders can also be certified in specific welding related professions: for example, American Welding Society
certifies welding inspectors and welding instructors, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers certifies high capacity fossil fuel fired plant operators and several other professions. Most certifications expire after a certain time limit, and have different requirements for renewal or extension of the certification.
In the USA, welder qualification is performed according to AWS, ASME and API
standards, which are also used in some other countries.
In Europe, the European Committee for Standardization
(CEN) has adopted the ISO standards on welder qualification (ISO 9606), with the exception of qualification for steel welders, where a new version of the old European EN 287-1 standard still applies. In Europe welders are usually certified by third party Inspection Bodies or Personnel Certification Bodies. Welders involved in the manufacture of equipment that falls within the scope of the Pressure Equipment Directive
must be approved by a competent third party which may be either a notified body
or a third-party organization recognized by a Member State.
Once a welder passes a test (or a series of tests), their employer or third party involved will certify the ability to pass the test, and the limitations or extent they are qualified to weld, as a written document (welder qualification test record, or WQTR). This document is valid for a limited period (usually for two years), after which the welder must be retested.
are those of the American Welding Society
, of the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing
(PCN) and of The Welding Institute
(CSWIP).
The American Welding Society offers the following programs:
The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing offers three levels of certification:
The Welding Institute (TWI) in the United Kingdom offers the following certification scheme:
There are many other general schemes, as well as sector specific schemes.
Method
Welder certification is based on specially designed tests to determine a welderWelder
A welder is a tradesman who specializes in welding materials together. The materials to be joined can be metals or varieties of plastic or polymer...
's skill and ability to deposit sound weld
Weld
Weld most commonly refers to a joint formed by welding.Weld may also refer to:-People:* Weld family, an extended family of New England** Theodore Dwight Weld** Tuesday Weld* Weld-Blundell family* Cecil Weld-Forester, 1st Baron Forester...
metal. The tests consist of many variables, including the specific welding process, type of metal, thickness, joint design, position, and others. Most often, the test is conducted in accordance with a particular code. The tests can be administered under the auspices of a national or international organization, such as the American Welding Society
American Welding Society
The American Welding Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the science, technology, and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes, including brazing, soldering, and thermal spraying...
(AWS), or American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), but manufacturers may specify their own standards and requirements as well. Welders can also be certified in specific welding related professions: for example, American Welding Society
American Welding Society
The American Welding Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the science, technology, and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes, including brazing, soldering, and thermal spraying...
certifies welding inspectors and welding instructors, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers certifies high capacity fossil fuel fired plant operators and several other professions. Most certifications expire after a certain time limit, and have different requirements for renewal or extension of the certification.
In the USA, welder qualification is performed according to AWS, ASME and API
American Petroleum Institute
The American Petroleum Institute, commonly referred to as API, is the largest U.S trade association for the oil and natural gas industry...
standards, which are also used in some other countries.
In Europe, the European Committee for Standardization
European Committee for Standardization
The European Committee for Standardization or Comité Européen de Normalisation , is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to foster the European economy in global trading, the welfare of European citizens and the environment by providing an efficient infrastructure to interested parties for...
(CEN) has adopted the ISO standards on welder qualification (ISO 9606), with the exception of qualification for steel welders, where a new version of the old European EN 287-1 standard still applies. In Europe welders are usually certified by third party Inspection Bodies or Personnel Certification Bodies. Welders involved in the manufacture of equipment that falls within the scope of the Pressure Equipment Directive
Pressure Equipment Directive
The Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC of the EU sets out the standards for the design and fabrication of pressure equipment generally over one litre in volume and having a maximum pressure more than 0.5 bar gauge...
must be approved by a competent third party which may be either a notified body
Notified Body
A Notified Body, in the European Union, is an organisation that has been accredited by a Member State to assess whether a product meets certain preordained standards. Assessment can include inspection and examination of a product, its design and manufacture...
or a third-party organization recognized by a Member State.
Once a welder passes a test (or a series of tests), their employer or third party involved will certify the ability to pass the test, and the limitations or extent they are qualified to weld, as a written document (welder qualification test record, or WQTR). This document is valid for a limited period (usually for two years), after which the welder must be retested.
Welding inspector certification
In addition to welders and welding machine operators, there are also schemes to independently certify welding inspectors and related specialities. Some notable schemes established by personnel certification bodiesPersonnel certification body
A personnel certification body is an organization that administers individual credentials. A personnel certification body develops criteria against which an individual needs to demonstrate competencies and ensures these criteria are held by applicants before certifying them.Most personnel...
are those of the American Welding Society
American Welding Society
The American Welding Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the science, technology, and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes, including brazing, soldering, and thermal spraying...
, of the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing
British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing
The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing or BINDT is a professional body for engineers and other technical professionals involved in non-destructive testing and condition monitoring in the United Kingdom...
(PCN) and of The Welding Institute
The Welding Institute
The Welding Institute or TWI is a research and technology organisation with a specialty in welding. The Welding Institute is based in Cambridgeshire, England, since 1946, and has several offices around the world....
(CSWIP).
The American Welding Society offers the following programs:
- Certified Associate Welding Inspector
- Certified Welding Inspector
- Senior Certified Welding Inspector
- Certified Radiographic Interpreter
The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing offers three levels of certification:
- PCN Level 1
- PCN Level 2 Weld Inspection
- PCN Level 3 Weld Inspection
The Welding Institute (TWI) in the United Kingdom offers the following certification scheme:
- Level 1: Visual Welding Inspector
- Level 2: Welding Inspector
- Level 3: Senior Welding Inspector with or without radiographic interpretation
There are many other general schemes, as well as sector specific schemes.
External links and further reading
- American Welding Society (AWS) home page
- "Welding Inspection Handbook", 3rd edition, American Welding SocietyAmerican Welding SocietyThe American Welding Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the science, technology, and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes, including brazing, soldering, and thermal spraying...
, ISBN 0-87171-560-0, Miami, FL, 2000 - American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) home page
- Canadian Welding Association home page