Welding Certifications and Welder Qualification Tests!

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What is a Welding Certification?

Definition: Welding Certifications are technically a hands-on welder qualification test that is conducted by
certified welding inspector that will determine if the person or machine can produce a sound quality weld
up to the code or welding procedure needed for a Company, job site or a particular industry standard.

Bottom line, can you produce a sound quality weld by following the procedure/instructions?

1. Weld the metals given by the welding inspector in the position the test is designed for by following
the instructions provided.
2. Cut the metal welded according to the instructions and prepare them for a bend test or some
approved form of quality testing.
3. Test the materials welded according to the procedure. If they pass the test then you just earned
your welding certification. The testing ranges from a bend test to Radiographic (x-ray) or even just
a visual exam of the quality. In most cases a welding inspector will have a excellent idea if your
welds will pass just by visually inspecting them.

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Welding certifications are designed to ensure the welders skills are up to the code they will be working
under. Welding certifications are also documented to prove that the welder is qualified under that code.
Welding codes vary a lot depending on the type of work being done. There are many organizations that
have different procedures depending on the type of work they oversee.

In the United States there are quite a few organizations that have certified welding procedures. The three
largest organizations are:

The American Welding Society / AWS. www.aws.org They typically deal with structural codes
mostly involved with buildings and bridges.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers /ASME Section IX. www.asme.org They deal with
boiler and pressure vessel codes.
The American Petroleum Institute / API. www.api.org They oversee pipeline welding codes for the
gas and oil industries.

Welding Certification Positions

The largest organization in America that certifies welders is the American Welding Society. The welding
certification procedures they have approved have been tested many time to ensure that if followed the
welder taking the welding certification follows the rules and has the skills will pass the test.

Welding certifications come in many positions, metal thickness, welding processes, and metal types.
When the term “Certified Welder" is used it only means that welder is certified under the welding
procedures they have tested under. There is not a single welding certification that covers all types of
welding.

All welding certifications come in many positions. The positions are different depending if the welder will be
welding on plate or pipe. The terms properly used in the welding field refers to plate as “structural welding"
and pipe and “pipe welding".

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Plate Welding Certification Positions
For welding plate the positions typically come in two different joint types. Fillet welds and grove welds.
Most plate welding certifications are performed in groove welds. This is because in most welding codes,
grove welds will also qualify you for fillet welds, but fillet welds do not cover grove welds. Fillet welds and
grove welds also vary in different positions. The positions are flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead.
There is also a coding system to identify the welding position.

The coding system for plate and structural welding is as follows:

1 is for the flat position. F is for a fillet weld.

2 is for the horizontal position. G is for a groove weld.
3 is for the vertical position.
4 is for the overhead position.

The way this coding system works is the number stands for the position and then the letter identifies the
type of weld joint. For example if you take the number 3 for the vertical position and G is for a groove
weld. Then you put them together like “3G” then that is the code for a vertical grove weld. In the case of a
fillet weld you would simply replace the G with an F, then you would get a “3F” weld joint and that is a
vertical fillet weld.

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When getting certified for structural welding it’s very common to take the 3G and 4G welding certification
together. These two tests usually cover all the positions and most codes allow fillet welds on pipes that are
a minimum diameter of 24″.

Pipe Welding Certification Positions

When it comes to welding pipe there are four main positions and again they are typically groove welds.
There is also a coding system to identify the positions and joint types.

They are as follows:

1 is for a pipe in the horizontal position that is F is for a fillet weld.

rolled. G is for a grove
2 is for a pipe in the fixed vertical position. weld.
5 is for a pipe in the fixed horizontal position.
6 is for a pipe in a 45 degree fixed position.
R is for the restricted position.

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2 & 5G Combo Pipe Welding Certification Positions

The 2G and 5G combo tests are sometimes done to qualify a welder for all pipe welding positions. It can
sometimes be substituted for the *6G position.

*Then there is the 6G pipe welding certification. This is a pipe that is in standing on a 45 degree angle and
cannot be moved. This test incorporates all of the positions. What makes this position so hard is there is
an easy side and a hard side. This all depends if you are right handed or left handed and the welding
processes being used. This one test will qualify the welder to weld pipe and plate in all positions. This is the
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hardest of all welding positions and the test
typically given for the higher paying jobs. If
you need to get one welding certification this
is the position to go for!

6g pipe test position front view

Restricted Pipe Welding Certifications and Test Positions

Restricted pipe welding positions are the most difficult type of welder qualification or welding
certifications a welder can pass. These welding certifications and test positions are designed to test your
ability to weld in tight and confined spaces.

Access to the weld joint is limited in three ways:

Forcing the welder to find unusual stances and body position.

Other pipes, a ceiling or walls, and restrictive rings are some of the various obstacles used to block
access to the weld joint.
Blocking visual access of the welding area by forcing the welder to use a mirror to see the weld
joint.

Many times it is a combination of the obstacles and visual restriction that the test will incorporate.
Restricted tests come in the 2G, 5G, and 6G positions but most of the time it will be a 6GR or 6G restricted
test positions.

6GR Restricting Ring Pipe Welding Certification Position

The 6G restrictive ring test position is typically an 18″ restrictive ring placed 1/2″ above the weld joint. I
have seen this illustrated in welding books and the AWS code. The picture is of a practice test I took and
was going to get this welding certification. Unfortunately when looking for a welding procedure this test is
not available. It was shown but not tested. Other codes may use it and have a procedure that is tested.

6GR Restricted Boiler Tubing Test Position

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The 6GR boiler tubing test is restricted by placing a boiler tube on each side of the coupon to be welded.
You have exactly 1 inch of clearance to weld on the side of the tube. This is probably the most difficult
tests to pass. Boiler tubing tests are typically TIG welded and must be free-handed at all times.
You are also required to weld half of the tube right handed and the other half left handed. Walking the cup
is not allowed and will cause an instant failure of the weld test!

Another type of boiler tubing test I took had only has 1/2 of an inch of clearance and all I could say is
“Wow that was tight”.

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6GR Box Type Restriction Pipe Welding Certification Position

Shipyards typically test pipe welders using a box type restricted position. There restricted 6G test does
not use a ring or other pipes to block access. Instead it’s more realistic for the type of work being done in
a shipyard. The pipe is put into the 6G position inside of a welding booth that has a steel grading ceiling.
The pipe is placed on the right side of the booth (if you are right handed) 12″ from the right wall. Then 12″
from the ceiling and 12″ from the back wall. If you are looking at the pipe straight on, the right side of the
pipe from the 3 to 12 o’clock positions is almost inaccessible. 12 inches of clearance sounds like a lot,
but that is 12 inches to the center of the weld joint. So a 6″ pipe has only 9″ of clearance. The restricted
area is too tight to put your head in there or too see anything.

I recently passed this type of test for my current job using a TIG root and hot pass with the rest Stick
welded out. The hardest part of this test is the TIG welding part. To pass you need to weld the first quarter
of the pipe right handed, the second quarter left handed, then the third quarter right handed using a mirror,
and finally the last quarter left handed using a mirror. Finally the weld had to pass an x-ray test.
Unfortunately I could not get permission to take any pictures.

Welder Certification Backing Bar vs. Open Root Weld

As with all welding certifications many offer two types of root openings. The first is typical ofplate or
structural welding certifications and that a backing bar is used. The second is an open root type of weld
that is commonly used on pipe welding certifications. These two types of roots both have advantages
depending on the type of work being done.

Root with a Backing Bar

Structural welding is typically done using a backing bar so in this situation a backing bar is appropriate.
With a backing bar in place it makes the root of the weld easier to do. At the same time this is the way
most structural welding jobs will test their welders.

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Open Root Weld

When it comes to pipe welding certifications even though they offer a backing bar, it is not very common
in the field. In some rare cases they may use a chill ring or backing ring. With pipe it’s always best to go
with the open root. As with all open root welds the inside or back of the weld must have full penetration
as if it were welded from the back side or inside of the pipe. In the field most welds done on pipe are
open root groove welds. Open root welds are harder to do! If you are certifying with SMAW most likely it
will be an E6010 root and an E7018 fill and cap. This will typically qualify you for more welding electrodes
then say a backing bar using a E7018 electrode alone .Another common combination for a open root pipe
welding test is a GTAW root and hot pass with a SMAW fill and cap. This is considered a combo type of
test because it certifies you in two welding processes.

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Welding Certification Processes
All welding certifications come in different process and procedures. The most widely used welding
processes are:

Stick welding properly known as Shielded Metal Arc Welding or “SMAW“

TIG welding properly known as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding or “GTAW“
MIG Welding properly known as Gas Metal Arc Welding or “GMAW“
Flux Core Arc Welding or Wire Wheel Welding

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These are the most common but there are many other types of welding processes that you can get
certified in. The only catch with the other types of processes is that they are so specialized that getting a
job might not be easy to do. If you don’t weld using the process you are certified in they usually expire
worthless after six months. Making the time and money spent wasted.

For someone new to the welding field the three best welding certifications to get that will pay off the
fastest are an AWS D1.1 3G and 4G SMAW combo done on carbon steel and a 3G MIG Welding
Certification. Most employers will be more than happy with someone who has passed these qualification
tests. These certifications open the door for shop work and field work.

Destructive Testing vs. Non Destructive Testing

When it comes to welding certifications and job site testing there are two methods for testing the quality
of the weld. Destructive Testing or “DT” and Non Destructive Testing or “NDT”. Both methods have their
advantages and disadvantages!

Destructive Testing or “DT”

For most welding certifications given at a welding school the method used is typically destructive testing.
This is a low cost and accurate way to find out if the welding student is making good quality welds. The
most common is a coupon bend test. This is done by taking the weld test and cutting it up into strips,
then bending them to see if the weld holds up. There are many rules concerning the amount the weld
coupon can open up or even break. The ideal bent test coupon should show no signs of defects or
opening up. There are many other destructive testing methods but the bend test is the most widely used!

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Non Destructive Testing or “NDT”

When it comes to job site testing many welding shops use different methods depending on the type of
work done. When it comes to Non Destructive Testing or “NDT” there are many ways to test the quality of
the weld. The three most common methods are:

Visual weld inspection.

Liquid dye penetrate testing
Radiographic testing or x-ray

Visual weld inspection is the most cost efficient of the NDT methods but at the same time it relies on the
sole discretion of the inspector. This method is mostly used for non critical welding inspection and
cannot detect internal weld defects.

This is a welding inspection camera used to find visual defects that are
Weld_Inspection_Camera
difficult to get too.

Visual weld inspection is the most cost efficient of the NDT methods but at the same time it relies on the
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sole discretion of the inspector. This method is mostly used for non critical welding inspection and
cannot detect internal weld defects.

Liquid dye penetrant testing involves the cost of the dye but it is excellent at detecting surface defects.
All this method does is high light any surface defects.

When it comes to Radiographic testing or x-ray weld inspection the cost is much higher and there are
also associated risks with this type of weld inspection. This type of weld inspection will show any type of
weld defect and is the most accurate way of inspecting weld quality. The down side is x-ray weld
inspection is it uses radioactive materials. Do Not Enter an Area that is labeled X-Ray or Radiographic
Testing! Just the slightest bit of exposure to gamma-rays and or x-rays will cause death in the near future!
This type of weld inspection is only used when the safety of the public is at risk and the people
conducting it are extremely qualified to do this type of work!

Common Welder Qualification Test for Jobs

When it comes to job site testing there are a few common combinations of tests. The tests vary in
positions, welding processes, and the type of welding inspection to be used. Some job sites may only do
a visual inspection, others might conduct a bend test, and for most pipe welding jobs it is likely your weld
will be x-rayed. Do not get the impression that a welder qualification test is easier than a welding
certification. In many cases the welder qualification test is harder than passing a welding certification. On
top of that even if you are certified in a processes and position you will still need to retest to the
company’s standards!

Structural Welder Qualification Tests for Industrial Construction

For most construction jobs you will most likely encounter a 3 and 4G combo welding test. Most of the
time the test will be either Stick or Flux Cored Arc Welding test or both at the same time. In some cases
you might be asked to do a 3 and 4G combo MIG welding test.

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Structural Welder Qualification Tests for Shipyards

Shipyards jobs typically test Stick welders in
the 3 and 4G combo welding positions and
do not allow weave beads. The tests are
usually done with a backing bar. When it
comes to Flux Cored Arc Welding the tests
are a combination of 2G, 3G, and 4G
positions, but it is almost always assumed it
will be a open root weld using ceramic
backing tape. If you have never used
ceramic backing tape to weld then get some
and practice before testing!

ceramic backing tape profile view

Pipe Welder Qualification Tests for Power Plant Construction

One of the typically welding test for pipe welders in a power plant construction is a pipe in the 6G position
using a TIG root and hot pass with the remainder of the pipe Stick welded out with either a E7018 or a
E8018″. The most common test is a 6″ heavy wall schedule 80 in the 6G position with a TIG root and hot
pass then the rest is Stick welded with a E8018. Typically this test will be x-rayed and no grinding is
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allowed but you can use a wire wheel to clean the slag! Any porosity, rough restarts, or trouble spots
cannot be fixed when taking this test! If your weld cap is more than 1/8 of an inch high then you have
failed based on the visual and weld reinforcement criteria! The pictures below are of a practice test I did
and it took me about 4 hours to weld this pipe out. That is 4 hours if you rush the test. The pipe got so hot
I needed to use a vice grip to lean on it.

When it comes to nuclear and coal fired power plant construction there are commonly three welding
tests you must pass for the job. The first test is a 2″ double heavy wall schedule 160 carbon steel pipe in
the 6G position with a TIG root and hot pass then the rest is Stick welded with an E8018“. The second test
given is also a 2″ double heavy wall schedule 160 carbon steel pipe in the 6G position but it is TIG welded
all the way out. Finally, a 4″ thin wall schedule 5 or 10 stainless steel pipe TIG welded all the way out.

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