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What Welding Certification Do I Need?

3/18/2016

67 Comments

 
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If you need to take a welding certification test, you might be wondering which test do I take? This is the big question. There is not a single welding certification test that will certify you to weld everything. Most welding certification tests are done under the codes written by AWS (the American Welding Society) or ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers.) There is a specific code written for virtually every application of welding- AWS has published 240 codes alone. Knowing which code to be certified to is essential, as welders are only certified to weld within the code parameters of the test they have taken.
​
There are two common scenarios in which someone will seek certification- you would like to add to your credentials, or it is required for a specific job.

If you would like to get a certification to add to your credentials, you should seek a certification that would cover you for the type of welding you most frequently use. You will need to know what welding process (Stick, TIG or MIG), material types and thickness, and what positions you will use in production. 

One of the most common welding codes is AWS D1.1, which covers structural steel welding like I-beams, channel, or a handrail. If you test and pass on a 3/8" thick plate, using a single vee groove with backing in the vertical position, you would then be qualified to weld in the flat, horizontal and vertical positions on 1/8"-3/4" thick steel members. The test is also offered in 1" thick plate which would also cover all positions, but with no limits on the plate thickness.

If you are welding pipe that is being used to contain fluid or gas, such as a high pressure water line, then ASME Section IX is probably the way to go. If you test and pass on a 5" Schedule 80 (3/8" thick wall) steel pipe in the 6G (45 degree incline position), you will be qualified to weld 2.875" OD pipe, 3/4" wall thickness and less, in all positions.
​
If neither AWS D1.1, nor ASME Section IX would cover the work you most commonly do, it is best to speak to a welding engineer or CWI to help with your selection. 

If you are seeking certification for a specific job, check the blueprints or project documents to see if a specific code is referenced and if there is not, please consult with the customer to determine which code they intend for you to use.

Once you have identified the code you will be working to, you will need to determine if you need to have a Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) written for you. All code work requires written welding procedures. A WPS is essentially the recipe for a weld. It documents the combination of variables that are to be used in production such as welding process, base material, travel speed, position, etc. Once the WPS is written, it will need to be tested to ensure that these variables are being combined to make a sound weld. The next step is to test each welder that will be welding in production using the parameters in the WPS. To go back to the recipe analogy, this is like a team of chefs being individually quizzed on their ability to follow through a recipe. 

Some codes have "pre-qualified" procedures, meaning they already have the recipe written for you, using known variables that have a long history of producing quality welds. Because of this, it bypasses the requirement for the WPS to be tested. However, it does not bypass the requirement for each welder to be individually tested following the WPS. Testing is still required for the WPS if any variables are changed from the accepted pre-qualified procedures.


If you need help selecting the applicable code and certification test, or need to have a procedure written, it is recommended to work with a welding engineer. Please give us a call for any questions you may still have, we have a team of engineers and CWI's that can assist you with any problems you face. 

67 Comments
JR Bailey
3/9/2017 07:52:24 am

I work heavy highway construction looking to get a certificate in general stick wielding. Work mostly on heavy equipment cranes any info would be great

Reply
Allison link
3/9/2017 09:23:55 am

Hey Jr! Unfortunately, there isn't a general stick welding certification. Paragraph one of the article explains this a little more in depth. Do you need a certification for a specific job or are you just looking to have one to boost your credentials?

Reply
Josh
10/25/2017 08:02:36 pm

I just weld as a hobby. But, man, to get a thing, saying I took classes and passed them, would be great. I would love to take stick, mig and tig. Beginner and advanced. I think I would also have to take two other classes.

I wonder if they teach aluminum, bronze or copper welding also? I like learning all kinds of stuff.

Reply
Allison link
10/31/2017 04:56:11 pm

Hey Josh! We teach aluminum welding in our Intermediate TIG class. Bronze and copper welding is less common so it's not part of our standard curriculum but we can do custom training if you ever have a need for it.

Reply
Josh
10/31/2017 05:02:22 pm

Cool. Do you let people come and see the teaching places? It would be a cool thing to do before I decide to take classes there.

myhelmetsguide link
11/1/2017 02:21:10 pm

very informative welding blog
thanks for posting bro

Reply
Allison link
11/1/2017 03:11:55 pm

Glad to hear you enjoyed my article!

Reply
Allison link
11/6/2017 09:09:17 am

Hey Josh! Yes, you can schedule a tour by visiting http://earlbeck.weebly.com/welding-school-tour.html

Reply
welders link
1/13/2018 02:33:19 am

can you post some stuff regarding glass welding

Reply
Jessy
2/6/2018 04:42:14 pm

I would like to set up an appointment to look at the training facility but would also like to know more about training on 1” to unlimited

Reply
Allison link
2/7/2018 11:50:04 am

Hi Jessy! You can schedule a tour of the training facility by visiting this link http://earlbeck.com/welding-school-tour.html or by giving us a call at (410) 687-8400
Training for D1.1 Unlimited would be covered in our Intermediate classes. http://www.earlbeck.com/welding-classes.html
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to let us know. Thank you!

Reply
Adam Burris
4/5/2018 12:33:40 am

I would like a aws certification for welding tubing and heavy plate. What do I need and what is it going to cost for the test?

Reply
Allison link
4/5/2018 08:39:00 am

Hey Adam! We'll need to know a little more about the type of materials you'll be welding. Can you give us a call at (410) 687-8400? We'll have one of our CWI's help you select the right test. Thank you!

Reply
william miller link
6/23/2018 09:53:14 am

Cost for EN ISO 9606 1.111T carbon steel pipe?

Reply
Allison Earlbeck link
6/25/2018 11:09:18 am

Hi William,

ISO 9606 is not a commonly used code within the US so it would be a specialized test.

Please give us a call at (410) 687-8400 so we can prepare a quote for you. Thank you!

Reply
Mike shipe
8/12/2018 01:53:21 pm

Need to renew my sticking welding certificate how di I do that

Reply
Allison Earlbec link
8/13/2018 10:19:30 am

Hi Mike!

Depending on the type of certification you have, you would need to either send in a maintenance form to AWS, or you would need to retest.
For specifics on how to figure out which you would need to do, check out our article- http://www.earlbeck.com/welding-blog/does-a-welding-certification-expire

Reply
Sam Li link
11/8/2018 03:18:21 pm

I appreciate what you said about seeking certification for the type of welding you most frequently use. When looking for a custom welder, it's a great idea to hire a service that has properly certified employees. If I were to need the services of a custom welder, I would make sure they are qualified and trained to do the job.

Reply
Karol Quezada
2/1/2019 12:59:19 pm

I have a welder who got his welding certificate for shield metal arc welding, i was wondering does he need to renew his certification? he's had it for abou 2 years already

Reply
Allison link
2/1/2019 01:20:23 pm

Hey Karol! We have a blog article that will help you determine if the certificate is still valid or needs to be renewed- www.earlbeck.com/welding-blog/does-a-welding-certification-expire
I hope this helps!

Reply
Caden Dahl link
3/14/2019 10:49:39 pm

I've been thinking about getting into welding as I do a little bit of it in my spare time. Seeing that I have some experience, I think it would still be a good idea to get certified so that way, I could turn the profession into a career. If that does happen, I could see about getting certified for a specific job as you did mention.

Reply
David Huerth
10/25/2019 02:13:50 pm

Do you need to be certified to weld on a water main?

Reply
Don Hodges link
10/28/2019 10:15:15 am


Whether you need to be certified to perform welding for a project depends on whether the contract or drawing specifies a code requirement.
If there is no code requirement on these documents, you may want to have the discussion that there should be, as a code will have all parties on the same page with regard to requirements and expectations.
Generally, a project such as a water main, would fall under that guidelines of ASME (American Society Of Mechanical Engineers).

Reply
COREY N HOFFERT
3/3/2020 07:04:31 pm

I was wondering if i am "required" by Michigan code to be certified for the welding/installation of natural gas piping within buildings? And if so which certifications are required as i am not finding in in NFPA 54, International fuel gas code, Michigan mechanical code.....

Reply
Madelyn link
10/26/2020 01:32:23 pm

After I have done my training in welding I have received a certificate but my instructor said that there is more certificate I will get for me to work full-time on the company he is working on.

Reply
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2/25/2021 09:07:04 am

It really helped when you talked about the different types of certifications you need to perform a quality welding job. One of my cousins works in the automotive industry, and he recently became interested in learning how welding works. He wants to add it to his portfolio, so he's looking to get certified. That's why I think this article will help my cousin out. Thanks for the tips about how to know which welding certification you need.

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