Hello,

This guide is intended to give you the knowledge you need to decide if Welder Qualification Testing is right for you and your business.

Most welding work done in this country requires some kind of performance testing. Sometimes a fabrication company will pay for this testing but more and more often these days fabrication companies want some kind of assurance that you have the skills to pass this test before you are hired.

There are a few ways to aquire this certification, they include:

1. Taking classes at a community college that offers a welding program, most of the time you will need to take the basic and advanced level classes before you are allowed to take the qualification test. The cost for these classes usually falls between 800.00 and 1200.00.

2. Go to a testing facility in your local area. These facilities are usually only open during normal business hours during the work week and this can neccesitate you taking anywhere from a few hours to an entire day off depending on the schedule at the testing site. This testing will usually run between 600.00 and 800.00 for the most common required tests.

3. Look for testing services on this and other websites. This type of testing can cost significantly less than other options but does require you to have access to welding equipment and the required steel to perform the test. The good news is that most fabrication companies have both of these things at their disposal. This type of testing can run as little 170.00 for the most common testing procedure.

There are many different welding codes in this country and abroad. The three most common in this country are:

1. AWS (American Welding Society)- This code is most commonly used as in the structural or construction business. It also has parts of it that cover pipeline and other kinds of welding work. The most commonly used section of the AWS code is the D1.1 section that covers structural steel. The typical required weld tests are vertical up SMAW and overhead SMAW which, if passed will qualify you to weld in all positions.

2. ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers)- This code covers most welding done in the pressure vessel industry. There are many applications of pressure vessels including pipeline work in the energy industy, power plants, boilers and other highly pressurized systems. The qualification tests are usually based on the actual process and material to be welded for each job.

3. API (American Petroleum Institute) This code covers most of the transfer pipeline work done in America. These Pipelines may transfer crude oil, refined liquids such as gasoline or diesel and sometimes gases such as LNG. As with ASME the testing is usually tied to the actual work being performed for the job.

As you can see there are a great many different types of welding and consequently different codes that govern this industry. The need for welding to be done according to a code is mandatory in many cases and is needed due to liability issues and to address quality control issues.

If you are an owner of a fabrication business there are many jobs that you cannot even bid on if your welders do not have this kind of certification. Even if the job does not require you to adhere to any type of code the fact that your competition has code qualified welders may be the difference between winning or losing the bid. The investment to get your employees code qualifed is usually more than paid off after your first code compliant job is complete.

If you are just getting started in this business you need to be very aware of the gowing competition you face in this industry. Just like the fabrication companies, you too will need to take this important step to show your level of skill and proffesionalism which will allow you to get the job you want.

This industry is growing rapidly and looks like it will continue to do so for a long time. This industry can be very lucrative and for those proffesionals who take this work and their level of skill seriously there is no better way to be able to show your years of hard work and study more than to prove your skill with qualifiation testing.

If you have any questions please direct them to my Ebay profile, ctironworks. I will be happy to help in any way that I can.