Does a Welding Certification Expire?

3/18/2016

If you are an AWS Certified welder and your test was done through an AWS Accredited Test Facility (ATF) you will need to renew your certification regularly with AWS to keep them current. The back of your AWS card lists the certifications you are qualified in and the expiration date for each. Certifications in accordance with Supplement C or D9.1 for the Sheet Metal Welding Code require maintenance every 12 months. Certifications in accordance with D1.1 and all other codes require maintenance every 6 months. The cost for renewal is $15.00. You must also keep an auditable record of welding activity within every 6 month period.
If you are an AWS Certified Welder in need of renewing your certification, download the form below, fill out and send in by the expiration date to properly maintain your certification.

maintenance of welder certification form

If you did not take your test through an ATF center, or elected not to take the ATF upgrade, you will not need to submit maintenance forms. However, you still must keep an auditable record of welding activity within every 6 month period.

Not sure if you took an ATF test? An easy way to check is if you received a wallet card from AWS . If necessary, call the center that you tested with to verify.

16 Comments

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10/31/2017 01:42:47 pm

very informative article

Dustin Brennan

9/5/2018 10:47:44 pm

Is the ATF upgrade an option with the "send in test kits"?

Allison link

9/6/2018 09:32:24 am

Hey Dustin- excellent question. The ATF option is not available through the send in test kits. ATF tests must be administered with a CWI present.

Michael Foley link

2/12/2019 09:17:24 pm

Why do I need to get my certification renewed every 6 months?

2/13/2019 09:16:28 am

Hey Michael! If you have a certification through the AWS ATF program, it needs to be renewed every 6 months so that there is an auditable record that you have welded in that particular process/application. AWS charges a fee for this for the maintenance of your record within their system.

Devin

4/6/2019 08:23:12 pm

Lost my certification and wanted to no how long my certification lasts thank you

Jeff Shepard

7/3/2019 09:45:30 am

So, you mean that every welder is responsible for keeping their cert. current? I thought that if you stayed actively welding, that it could not expire. Please advise.

7/3/2019 09:56:01 am

Hi Jeff! It depends on the type of test that you took. Please call us to verify if you took the test through our facility.

Timothy E.

1/6/2020 05:46:49 am

There are some other organizations like the unions who certify through multiple individual contractors with one test for each type of weld, and as long as you have welded on a job or you take an update which is usually a 1F bead on a plate they will update all your certifications for all your contractors you hold a cert for.

Don link

1/6/2020 02:07:22 pm

Hi Timothy, With regard to multiple contractors with 1 test. I am aware of some unions who keep records in a central location and allow them to be utilized by multiple contractors. Currently the only certifications that are recognized in a national database and truly travel with the welder would be tests taken in accordance with the AWS Accredited Test Facility guidelines. Whether you are in the AWS National database, or take a "standard" Code qualification test, all require welder continuity, which generally states that the welder must utilize the discipline tested every 6 months for a qualification to remain active. In some cases, If a welder exceeds the continuity time period, there are protocols to renew continuity. Depending on the code/test, some type of retest would most likely be required.

Chris link

4/11/2020 05:12:46 pm

I lost my aws welding certificate, how can I renew if I don’t have the certificate number

Tig Welding Auckland link

10/3/2019 08:07:24 am

Thank you for this article because it’s really informative welding blog/does a welding certification expire.The article is nice and it’s pleasant to read. I have known very important things over here.Thank you so much for this post.

Billie De La O

10/10/2020 10:13:32 pm

I recieved my cert at a community college. We had a inspector come in from another state to certify us. I still have my original cert with his info. Never recieved a card nor do I have a number on my cert. Does that mean I have to still retest or send in the proper paperwork to stay current?

Don Hodges link

10/12/2020 09:34:22 am

Hi Billie, It appears as if you did not test at an Accredited Test Facility (ATF). Therefore, you would not receive a card from the AWS and would not be required to submit a continuity form, or fees associated with it.
For clarity, your qualification document is most likely a legitimate AWS document and you still need to maintain welder continuity (weld every 6 months using the process in which you qualified and document it). Hope this helps

Steven h.

12/13/2020 09:19:18 pm

I have a 6g cert in tig and stick that I got while in school. Would it be important for me to update these certs while working as a full time mig welder? Will these certs be beneficial for a future job?

12/14/2020 10:40:12 am

If possible, I would always try to not let a qualification expire. Updating would require re-testing if you have not maintained your welder continuity. Maintaining welder continuity entails simply using the process that you qualified to at least once every 6 months. With that in mind, I would recommend keeping track of this so your qualifications are always active. It's easy enough to do, and expensive to re-qualify.

Does a Welding Certification Expire?

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