Welder certification, (also known as welder qualification) is a process which examines and documents a welders capability to create welds of acceptable quality following a well defined welding procedure.
Contents |
Welder certification is based on specially designed tests to determine a welder'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[1] and API [2]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),[3] with the exception of qualification for steel welders, where a new version of the old European EN 287-1[4] 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. [5]
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.
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 bodies 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: [6]
The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing offers three levels of certification: [8]
The Welding Institute (TWI) in the United Kingdom offers the following certification scheme: [9]
There are many other general schemes, as well as sector specific schemes.