Structural Welding Certification

Structural welders must pass a series of qualification tests before they can receive certification in those skills, completing them under the eye of a trained instructor. These tests require no previous classes or other certifications.

Purpose

Builders and manufacturers depend on welding certifications to assure a structural welder can perform according to relevant industry code or required standards. According to the American Welding Society (AWS), the increased use of robotics, lasers and other technologies in welding requires ever-increasing levels of skill and education.

Tests

No one certification covers all types of welding situations; different certifications address specific skills and processes. Welders may gain certification in techniques such as gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding and shielded metal arc welding. They can also become certified in essential structural welding tasks such as pipe welding, plate welding and ring welding.

Organizations

Several national welding associations offer the testing procedures needed to obtain welder certifications. GoWelding.org lists the American Welding Society, the American Petroleum Institute and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers among these associations. Fees can vary according to test and equipment charges, such as $143 for a plate test plus $20 for each plate used (as of January 2011).

References

• GoWelding.org: What is a Welding Certification?
• American Welding Society: Welding is a Dynamic Industry with a Big Future
• American Welding Society: Certified Welder