The profession of a welder is in demand in all industries.
Mechanical engineering, agriculture, construction, and electric power need welders.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) confirms that experienced welders receive a higher salary, compared to other workers.
That’s because employers value certified and licensed welders.
Certifications For Welders
To become a certified welder, you can address multiple organizations.
All of them provide you with the rules of licensing and levels of professional training.
You will also learn the requirements for education, preliminary training, and your rights.
Besides, they show the procedure for certification of welding specialists.
For instance, welding engineers in the U.S. must pass Welding Engineer AWS Certification.
In particular, they take the test to show the knowledge of a number of welding topics and disciplines.
As a result, welding engineers become certified welding engineers (CWE).
Certification Options
Several certification options are available.
Certified Welder: Everyone has the right to take this test.
It checks the candidate’s ability to work in accordance with requirements.
In case of failure, you can take the test again.
Certified Welding Inspector: For this test, you need to take certain training courses.
Otherwise, pass additional performance tests.
Certified Robotic Arc Welding: In order to take this test, candidates must show their skills and meet certain requirements.
Most often, there’s a specific code to perform the test.
Depending on the product requirements, national or international organizations such as the American Welding Society (AWS) can do this.
Certifications For Industries
An organization which is responsible for welder certification checks the documents of a welder.
They should be able to prove that they are qualified enough for the welding job.
Certification by the American Petroleum Institute (API): Welders can obtain a certificate for the gas and oil industry.
After that, they can get another certificate for their specific jobs.
Certification by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME): This standard specifies the requirements for design, manufacture, and inspection of boilers and other pressure equipment.
Regardless of the choice of the certification document, international standards stick to a uniform approach to the certification process for welders.
Thus, each welder must demonstrate the skills required to create a quality welded joint that successfully passes all tests defined by the standard.
Licenses
In addition to certification, some states require additional licensing.
For example, the welder must hold an ABS or the State Department of Transportation certification in New York.
Also, in order to work for the government, some cities such as Los Angeles have their own licensing programs.
Therefore, to work in a local, regional or national project, the welder should clarify the employer’s requirements for certification first.
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