How Do I Become
A Certified Welder?
Welding certification is one of the most commonly misunderstood things in our industry. Unlike the plumbing or electrical, welding certification is not a "license". 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.
Most welding certification tests are done under codes written by AWS or ASME. 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, etc. You will need to know what welding process you intend to use (Stick, TIG or MIG), material types and thickness, as well as what positions you will use in production.
Learn More About Certification
How Do Send-In Test Kits Work?
Although there are over 200 codes between AWS and ASME, AWS D1.1 is a common welding code that covers many of the industry’s needs, certifying a welder for jobs involving structural steel- like I-beams, handrails, car trailers, machine supports, and more. We offer a convenient option for those seeking this certification in the form of an AWS D1.1 send-in test!
The way it works is we supply you with the paperwork, coupons, and backing materials needed to both practice and complete the test. You complete the test at your facility with the instructions provided, and send it back to us for processing. We notify you with the results within 5-7 business days from the receipt of your test plate. If your test passes, we will mail your welder qualification document!*
Which Test Kit Do I Need?
AWS D1.1 qualification is dependent on both plate thickness and position. It also requires that a welder follows an approved Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) when completing a Welder Qualification Test and that a company has its own WPS for production work.
Plate Thickness Options:
- Limited thickness (3/8" Test Plates),,which will qualify for fillet welds on any thickness material and groove welds on 1/8"-3/4" material
- Unlimited thickness (1" Test Plates), which will qualify for groove and fillet welds on 1/8" and greater material.
Position Options:
- 1G (Flat) tests qualify you for production flat grooves and flat & horizontal fillet welds
- 2G (Horizontal) tests qualify for production flat & horizontal groove and fillet welds
- 3G (Vertical) tests qualify for production flat, horizontal and vertical groove and fillet welds
- 4G (Overhead) tests qualify for production flat & overhead groove & filllet welds
- 3G & 4G (Two position) tests qualify for production welding in any position
Provided WPS:
- SMAW-Limited - 3/8" Plate welded with 3/32", 1/8" or 5/32" E7018 Electrodes
- SMAW-Unlimited - 1" Plate welded with 3/32", 1/8" or 5/32" E7018 Electrodes
- FCAW-Limited - 3/8" Plate welded with 0.045" or 0.052" E71T-1M Wire with 75% Ar/25% CO2 Shielding Gas
- FCAW-Unlimited - 1" Plate welded with 0.045", 0.052" or 1/16" E71T-1M Wire with 75% Ar/25% CO2 Shielding Gas
The included prequalified WPS are for this testing only and cannot be used for production work. If you do not have a valid production WPS and would like us to help you prepare one, please contact our Engineering Department at (410) 687-8400.
*Under AWS D1.1, the formal responsibility for “certifying” a welder always rests with that welder’s employer, so after we attest to the validity of the test results on the coupon we receive and inspect, your employer must sign off on the legitimacy of who welded that coupon and under what conditions for official certification. If you have questions about the testing process, please call us at (410) 687-8400.
