Published on 01-Nov-2023

The Ultimate Guide to Welder Qualification Certificates

The Ultimate Guide to Welder Qualification Certificates

This article will guide you or your employer through the process of obtaining a welder qualification certificate.

Welding is a skill-based process that should be controlled by a proper welding procedure (WPS), The welding process involves liquefying the base metal by heating and allowing it to cool to join one together.

The heating can be done by various methods such as electric arc, gas flame torch, friction stir, electric resistance, or any other means.

There are several Welding methods used in various industries to join materials together. Here are some of the most common welding methods:

1. Arc Welding

 Done by creating an electric arc. Their subcategories are as below:

  • Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW/ MMAW) Manual Metal Arc Welding

Welder certificate

  • Metal Inert Gas Arc Welding (MIG)/Metal Active Gas (MAG)/Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW )

Welder Certificate

  • Tungsten Inert Gas Welding (TIG/GTAW)

welder certificate

  • Submerged Arc Welding (SAW)

Welder certificate

2. Gas welding 

Done by flame created from burning gases and heating the metals, for example: Oxy-fuel welding

3. Electric Resistance

Done by passing a current through the material itself and applying pressure on the ‘to be joined areas’

Welder certificate

    4. Friction Stir 

    Done by heat due to friction caused by rubbing the metals to be joined.


    And lot more………………

    What is the Difference Between a Welder & Welding Operator?

    The person who performs the operation is called a welder or welding operator.

    The person performing Manual Welding and Semi-Automated Welding is called Welder.

    The person performing Automated Welding is called Welding Operator.

     The Person performing the weld should carry a welder qualification test certificate, as per many of the industrial standard & project standards. Companies employing operators with Welding operator qualifications are more likely to be preferred.

    A proper welder certificate impresses your client, continue reading to know what the requirements are to qualify as a welder  

    To obtain a welder certificate of qualification, an operator should refer to a written Welding Procedure Specification- WPS.

     What is WPS/PQR?

    WPS – Welding Procedure Specification 

    It is the company document that shows the client what Welding process the company is qualified to do and what is the range of material grade and thickness range the company is capable to do, and also it instructs the welder on the parameters to be set during welding of a particular grade and thickness using a specific welding process.

    Find below the example of Welding Procedure Specification:

    wps

    Industrial Standards of International bodies have Welding qualification procedures, few international bodies are given below:

    • International Standards Organization (ISO),
    • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME),
    • American Welding Society (AWS),
    • British Standards of European Nation ( BS EN), 
    • Standards of Australia and New Zealand (AS/NZS),
    • Canadian Standards Association ( CSA )

    The Reference Standards for Welder Qualifications are given below:

    Welder Qualification Standards:

    • ASME Section IX – welder qualification for Boilers, Pressure Vessels, and Pipelines
    • AWS D1.1 – For Structural Steel Welding
    • AWS D1.3- For Sheet metal Welding (up to 5mm thickness )
    • AWS D1.6 – For Stainless Steel Structures welding
    • ISO  9606 – International Standard for Welder Qualification
    • BS EN 287 – British Standard for Welder Qualification (replaced by ISO 9606-1 in 2015)
    • AS/NZS 2980 – Australian Structural welding standard,
    • CSA W47.1 and W59 – Canadian Welding Standards for Welder Qualification

    Also Read, ASME Section V overview

    How to Qualify Welders?

    Welding 
    operator qualification services are usually carried out at a company’s facilities.

    A welder qualification certificate, referred to as a welder test certificate or welder qualification test record, is an official document validating a welder's competence in executing precise Welding procedures and methods.

    The welder certificate format affirms that the welder has effectively showcased the essential expertise and understanding to create welds conforming to established benchmarks for excellence and safety.

    As per the welder qualification test procedures, Test samples either Plates or Pipes are given to the welder, and the thickness of the plate and Pipe, and the diameter of the pipe are selected as prescribed in the WPS & reference standard, The fit-up is made in the position the welder is to be qualified. The root gap and bevel preparation are as given in the WPS.

    The Welding Positions for Welding Qualifications are as below:

    • for Butt weld plates and structures: 1G-Flat, 2G-Horizontal, 3G- Vertical (Uphill / Downhill), 4 G- Overhead
    • for Fillet Weld Plates and structures: 1F-Flat, 2F- Horizontal, 3F- Vertical (Uphill / Downhill), 4F – Overhead
    • for Pipe: 1G- Horizontal Pipe rotated, 2G – Vertical, 3G- Horizontal Pipe Fixed, 6G – 45° inclined, 6G-R – 45° inclined with retainer plate

    The welder is made to weld the fit-up test sample, the Welding should be made following the parameters in WPS.

    The welded test plate or pipe should be visually tested along with a surface defect detection NDT method.

    Other additional tests such as Radiography Testing, Bend Tests, Macro Analysis, Fillet break test, etc, which are specified in the reference standard should be carried out on the welded test coupon.

    If all the tests pass, the welder shall be qualified, and a welder test certificate shall be produced with all the essential variables mentioned in it.



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