Earlbeck Gases & Technologies provides welder certification testing to any code in our American Welding Society Accredited Test Facility. We have administered over 40,000 welding tests and have AWS Certified Welding Inspectors and Senior Certified Welding Inspectors on staff. We are Maryland's leading provider of welding certifications to AWS and ASME codes, and Maryland's only American Welding Society Accredited Test Facility.
Welding certification is one of the most commonly misunderstood things in our industry. There is not a single welding certification test that will certify you to weld everything, or certify you for all applications of a specific welding process (MIG, TIG, or Stick). Certification testing is done to a specific code, which is selected based on your application and job requirements. Welding codes are written for a particular industry or product type such as Structural Steel, Sheet Metal, Aluminum or Stainless Steel; Boilers, Pressure Vessels and Piping Systems; Aerospace Welding; and many more.
To put it plainly: welding certification is complicated! Follow the steps below to get started on your certification journey!
How to Become a Certified Welder
First, you must identify which code you need to be certified to. You can learn more about welding code selection here or use our convenient flow chart tool- simply follow the prompts on screen to help determine the most appropriate certification path.*
Interactive Welding Certification Flowchart
What welding certification do I need?
I am an individual seeking certification
I represent a company or organization
Why does the company need you to become certified?
We need certified welders to meet requirements set by a customer, contractor, or regulatory body. (Externally required)
We want to certify our welders to support consistent quality and meet our own internal standards. (Internally driven)
I would like to test at my own facility and I will provide my own test materials
I would like to test at one of Earlbeck's facilities in Baltimore or York.
Great! We offer certification testing at our Baltimore location starting at 8AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays and at our York location starting at 8AM on Thursdays and Fridays.
You can schedule your own test via our online form by clicking here
Or give us a call at (410) 687-8400
Great! We offer certification testing at our Baltimore location starting at 8AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays and at our York location starting at 8AM on Thursdays and Fridays.
You can schedule your own test via our online form by clicking here
I would like to test at my own facility and I will provide my own test materials
I would like to test at one of Earlbeck's facilities in Baltimore or York.
Has the customer, contractor, or inspector told you which welding code applies to the job?
Yes, the specific welding code was provided: AWS D 1.1
Yes, the specific welding code was provided: ASME Section IX
Yes, I know which WPS or welding code but do not see it listed here
No/Not sure- They haven't mentioned a specific code
⚠️ Why this matters:
The welding code serves as the quality control standard under which your work will be inspected. It must come directly from the authority responsible for reviewing the welds. Certifying to the wrong code can result in costly rework or project delays.
I would like to test at my own facility
I would like to test at one of Earlbeck's facilities in Baltimore or York.
Check the project documents- Look at blueprints, technical specifications, or contract documents to see if a welding code (such as AWS D1.1 or ASME Section IX) is referenced.
If no code is listed, contact the customer, general contractor, or inspecting authority to confirm which welding code they intend for you to follow and ask them to provide it in writing.
⚠️ Why this matters:
The welding code serves as the quality control standard under which your work will be inspected. It must come directly from the authority responsible for reviewing the welds. Certifying to the wrong code can result in costly rework or project delays.
I will provide my own test materials.
I need to purchase a test materials kit.
Why are you seeking welder certification?
I am starting my own business and want to be certified
An employer or contractor told me I need to get certified
I am applying for welding jobs and want to improve my qualifications
There are over 200 welding codes between AWS and ASME, but the good news is that 2 codes cover the majority of industry needs:
AWS D1.1- Structural Steel Welding Certification: For welding structural components like I-beams, support columns, or handrails.
ASME Section IX- Pipe Welding Certification: For welding piping systems that carry fluids or gases, such as steam, water, or chemicals.
If neither of these sounds right, or if your work involves something more specialized, gather any information you have about your project (materials, process, position, etc.) and give us a call at (410) 687-8400.
PRO TIP: Consider upgrading to an ATF test to be included in the American Welding Society’s National Registry of Welders, where potential employers can search to find certified welders in their area!
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*For the best results, collect the following information relevant to your certification needs before you start: welding process (e.g., SMAW, GTAW, GMAW), base metal type (e.g., carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum), filler metal type, welding positions required (e.g., 1G, 3G, 6G)
If you are taking a test to an AWS code, determine if you would like to take an Accredited Test Facility test upgrade or take a non-ATF test. When you take a ATF test, you will be registered in the national AWS certified welder registry, as well as receive a wallet card from AWS which can be taken to any employer without having to recertify. Learn more about the ATF Testing Program here.
Schedule your test using our online scheduling form or by calling us at (410) 687-8400. Testing starts at 8AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays at our Baltimore location, while testing at our York location starts at 8AM on Thursdays and Fridays. On the day of the test, please bring a picture ID, and your safety equipment!
Common Causes of Visual Inspection Failure
Underfill
This type of weld discontinuity (or defect) happens when the weld surface lies below the adjacent base metal surface. When testing for AWS D1.1, your entire test assembly is subject to visual inspection making this discontinuity both top priority and easily spotted
Excessive reinforcement
This weld defect happens when too much weld metal is deposited above the surface of the base metal. When testing for AWS D1.1, the maximum allowance for reinforcement is 1/8".
Overlap
This is what is commonly referred as "welder certification". It is a test that proves that the welder has the skills to produce a high-quality weld by following a specific WPS.
UNdercut
This weld defect occurs when a groove is melted into the base metal along the edge (toes) of the weld but not filled with weld metal. When testing for AWS D1.1 1/32" is the max allowance for undercut.
Confused by the Terminology?
WPS- Welding Procedure Specification
A written guideline for how production welding is to be done. Think of this as a recipe that is given to a welder- it outlines the specific variables and procedures for creating a weld (e.g. welding process, materials, filler metals, gases, position, volts, amps, etc.)
PQR- Procedure Qualification Record
This is a record of the test parameters used to produce a WPS document and proves that following this WPS will produce the quality of weld that the code requires.
WPQ- Welder Performance Qualification
This is what is commonly referred as "welder certification". It is a test that proves that the welder has the skills to produce a high-quality weld by following a specific WPS.
ATF Test- Accredited Test Facility Program
Most welding codes require that each manufacturer or contractor certify their own welders which means that a welding test taken for a specific company cannot be transferred to another company if you change employment.
However, the American Welding Society established the ATF program to help with this requirement! Once you successfully pass an ATF certification test at an accredited center like Earlbeck, you will receive a card from AWS which can be taken to any employer without having to recertify*. You will be also listed in the National Registry of Welders, where potential employers can search to find certified welders in their area.
*This certification option requires a qualified WPS to be submitted into the portal, for the welder to test to, pass, to then renew every six-months to remain active in the AWS database.
Continuity / Continuity Log
WPQ documents do not expire, unless the welder does not have record of continuity in their log. If there are no records, the welder must retest.
