Welder certification, (also known as welder qualification) is a process which examines and documents a welder's capability to create welds of acceptable quality following a well defined welding procedure.
Method
Welder certification is based on specially designed tests to determine a
welder
In a broad sense, a welder is anyone, amateur or professional, who uses welding equipment, perhaps especially one who uses such equipment fairly often. In a narrower sense, a welder is a tradesperson who specializes in fusing materials together ...
's skill and ability to deposit sound
weld metal. The main part of the welder's test consists of welding one or more test coupons which are then examined using
non-destructive
Minimally invasive procedures (also known as minimally invasive surgeries) encompass surgical techniques that limit the size of incisions needed, thereby reducing wound healing time, associated pain, and risk of infection. Surgery by definition ...
and
destructive methods. The extent of certification is described by a number of variables, which include the specific welding process, type of deposited metal, thickness, joint design, position, backing, and others. Most often, the test is conducted in accordance with a particular code. Depending on product requirements the test can be administered under the auspices of a national or international organization, such as the
American Welding Society
The American Welding Society (AWS) was founded in 1919 as a non-profit organization to advance the science, technology and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes, including brazing, soldering and thermal spraying.
Headqu ...
(AWS), or American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), but manufacturers may specify their own standards and requirements as well. 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 D1.1, ASME Section IX
[ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code section IX: "Qualification Standard for welding and brazing procedures, welders, brazers and welding and brazing operators". Article III: Welding Performance Qualifications.] and
API
An application programming interface (API) is a way for two or more computer programs to communicate with each other. It is a type of software Interface (computing), interface, offering a service to other pieces of software. A document or standa ...
1104 standards, which are also used in some other countries.
Some States have their own Welder Qualifications that supersede AWS Qualifications, but most defer to AWS, ASME or API.
In Canada, welder qualification is carried out according to CSA Standards and ASME.
The ASME code is typically used for pressure vessel and pressure piping applications, and CSA Standards are used for structural, general manufacturing and non-pressure applications. There are 3 major CSA Standards to which welders may be qualified: CSA W47.1 for steels (including stainless steels), CSA W47.2 for aluminum, and CSA W186 for reinforcing bars. Under these CSA standards, welder qualification testing is carried out every 2 years by the
Canadian Welding Bureau
The Canadian Welding Bureau is a certification and registration organization for companies involved in the welding of steel structures. Welders in Canada are required to be retested every two years by the Canadian Welding Bureau. The CWB Group was ...
to ensure ongoing competence.
In Europe, the
European Committee for Standardization
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN, french: Comité Européen de Normalisation) is a public standards organization whose mission is to foster the economy of the European Single Market and the wider European continent in global tr ...
(CEN) has adopted the ISO standards on welder qualification (ISO 9606), to replace the old European EN 287 series. Operators of automated welding systems are certified according to EN 1418. In Europe welders are often certified by third party Personnel Certification Bodies, like
The Welding Institute
The Welding Institute (TWI Ltd) is a research and technology organisation, with a specialty in welding. It has had headquarters near Cambridge, England, since 1946, and has other facilities across the UK and around the world. TWI works across a ...
(TWI/CSWIP).
Welders involved in the manufacture of equipment that falls within the scope of the
Pressure Equipment Directive
The Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 2014/68/EU (formerly 97/23/EC) of the EU sets out the standards for the design and fabrication of pressure equipment ("pressure equipment" means steam boilers, pressure vessels, piping, safety valves an ...
must be approved by a competent third party which may be either a
notified body
A notified body, in the European Union, is an organisation that has been designated by a member state to assess the conformity of certain products, before being placed on the EU market, with the applicable essential technical requirements. These e ...
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 their 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). Normally this document is valid for a limited period (usually for two years), after which the welder must be retested. However some Qualifications are only valid for a single project, while others are unlimited as long as welders do not go beyond a specified length of time without performing that specific type of welding (this period is typically 6 months). Welders must maintain a log to demonstrate they have maintained their Qualifications.
Welding inspector certification
In addition to welders and welding machine operators, there are also schemes to independently certify
welding inspector
Weld quality assurance is the use of technological methods and actions to test or assure the quality of welds, and secondarily to confirm the presence, location and coverage of welds. In manufacturing, welds are used to join two or more metal surf ...
s and related specialities. The duties of the welding inspector are described in ISO 14731; however the requirement for inspector certification are not standardized, so there are differences in requirement between the various schemes. Some notable schemes established by
personnel certification bodies are those of the
American Welding Society
The American Welding Society (AWS) was founded in 1919 as a non-profit organization to advance the science, technology and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes, including brazing, soldering and thermal spraying.
Headqu ...
, of the
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. The institute was founded in 1976, ...
(PCN), of
The Welding Institute
The Welding Institute (TWI Ltd) is a research and technology organisation, with a specialty in welding. It has had headquarters near Cambridge, England, since 1946, and has other facilities across the UK and around the world. TWI works across a ...
(CSWIP) and of the
Canadian Welding Bureau
The Canadian Welding Bureau is a certification and registration organization for companies involved in the welding of steel structures. Welders in Canada are required to be retested every two years by the Canadian Welding Bureau. The CWB Group was ...
(CSA W178.2).
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 with radiographic interpretation
The Welding Institute (TWI) in the United Kingdom offers the following certification scheme:
* CSWIP 3.0 (Level 1): Visual Welding Inspector
* CSWIP 3.1 (Level 2): Welding Inspector
* CSWIP 3.2 (Level 3): Senior Welding Inspector; with or without radiographic interpretation (3.2.1 or 3.2.2 respectively)
The
Canadian Welding Bureau
The Canadian Welding Bureau is a certification and registration organization for companies involved in the welding of steel structures. Welders in Canada are required to be retested every two years by the Canadian Welding Bureau. The CWB Group was ...
offers the following programs:
* Level 1 Certified Welding Inspector
* Level 2 Certified Welding Inspector
* Level 3 Certified Welding Inspector
The BINDT/PCN and TWI/CSWIP schemes are
accredited
Accreditation is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (such as certification body, inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to ...
by
UKAS
The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the sole national accreditation body recognised by the British government to assess the competence of organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services. It e ...
under
ISO/IEC 17024
ISO/IEC 17024: Conformity assessment - General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons is an International Standard which specifies criteria for the operation of a personnel certification body (also known as a 'certification ...
. There are many other general schemes, as well as sector specific schemes.
In 2008, the
American Petroleum Institute
The American Petroleum Institute (API) is the largest U.S. trade association for the oil and natural gas industry. It claims to represent nearly 600 corporations involved in production, refinement, distribution, and many other aspects of the pet ...
introduced the API 577 Advanced Welding Inspection and Metallurgy programme of certification. Certification is issued following the successful completion of a multiple choice exam which is based on the recommended practice document API 577. Certification identifies the candidate as a 'Welding Inspection and Metallurgy Professional', as opposed to a certified welding inspector under other programmes.
API 577 – Advanced Welding Inspection & Metallurgy Professional Program
- American Petroleum Institute. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
See also
* Welding
Welding is a fabrication (metal), fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by using high heat to melt the parts together and allowing them to cool, causing Fusion welding, fusion. Welding is distinct from lower ...
* Welding Procedure Specification
Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by using high heat to melt the parts together and allowing them to cool, causing fusion. Welding is distinct from lower temperature techniques such as braz ...
* List of welding codes
This page lists published welding codes, procedures, and specifications.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Codes
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) covers all aspects of des ...
References
External links and further reading
Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) home page
American Welding Society (AWS) home page
*
*
Canadian Welding Association (CWA) home page
TWI Certification Ltd (UK) CSWIP scheme
* {{cite web , url=http://www.ewf.be/media/documentosDocs/doc_127_doc_142_ewf-654-13-ewf-guide-for-transition-287-to-9606.pdf , title=EWF Guide to deal with the transition from EN 287-1 to EN ISO 9606-1 as efficiently as possible (EWF-654-13) , publisher=European Federation for Welding, Joining and Cutting (EWF) , year=2013 , type=PDF , accessdate=2013-12-15
Welding, Certification