In short
A welding certification is official proof that you can make welds that meet an industry standard. It documents the process, material and position you're qualified in. The most common starting point is the American Welding Society (AWS) Certified Welder credential, which is performance-based and has no prerequisite courses. You test at an AWS Accredited Test Facility. Employers may have their own requirements too. Fill out the form to hear from welding schools near you.
What a certification is
A welding certificate shows you passed a test: you made a weld, someone checked it, and it met the standard. It lists what you were tested on. That might be structural steel, pipe or something specialty. It's not a degree. It's closer to a driver's license for a particular kind of welding.
BLS says welders must be licensed in some states and cities, and that employers may require general or specific certification for particular jobs. Some employers pay the cost of the training and testing for their employees, so ask. BLS also says OSHA requires welders to complete training on electrical safety.
AWS Certified Welder
The American Welding Society (AWS) runs the Certified Welder program. It's performance-based, and AWS says no prerequisite courses or certifications are required. The result is a credential you can take with you from job to job. The most common way to get one is to be qualified at an AWS Accredited Test Facility. There you weld using specific processes, positions and materials and the weld is evaluated.
AWS also runs online tools, including one called QuikCheck, that an employer can use to verify a certification, and a national registry of certified welders.
Want to see welding schools near you?
Welding is picked for you. When schools call, ask which certifications they test for.
Process, position and material
Every certification covers three things.
- Process. The welding method, like stick, MIG or TIG.
- Position. How the metal is oriented. Plate welds are tested flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead. Overhead is the hard one.
- Material. The metal you welded.
That's why two welders with certifications can be qualified for different jobs. Your certificate says what you were tested on.
The 6G pipe test
AWS says there isn't one best or highest welding certification. But for certified welders, the 6G pipe test is one of the most respected because it covers all positions on a fixed pipe. Pipe certifications also come in small-diameter and large-diameter versions. AWS says advanced performance tests like the 6G pipe position are often seen as the toughest. Welders who want pipe work often aim for it, along with whatever other tests an employer asks for.
D1.1, API 1104 and other codes
The code is the rulebook your weld is judged against. AWS says structural welders often pursue AWS D1.1, which is the structural steel code, and pipeline welders test under API 1104. If someone says "I'm D1.1 certified," they've passed a test under the structural steel code. If a job posting names a code, your school or employer can tell you what the test involves.
Inspector and other advanced credentials
Once you have experience, AWS offers professional credentials. The best known is the Certified Welding Inspector (CWI). CWIs decide whether a weld meets acceptance criteria, handle qualification records and oversee non-destructive testing. AWS calls it one of the welding industry's most recognized certifications. There are also credentials for supervisors, educators, engineers, robotic arc welding, resistance welding and radiographic interpretation. The Certified Associate Welding Inspector (CAWI) credential is for people who want to become a CWI but haven't yet met the work experience requirement. None of these are first-year goals, but it's good to know there's a ladder.
Where to start
Start with the school. Ask any welding school three things, and don't sign until you hear answers.
- Which certifications does the program prepare me to test for, and is the school an AWS Accredited Test Facility or does it work with one?
- Is the test cost in the tuition, or extra?
- How many hours do I spend welding, actually striking an arc, and which processes and positions?
Ask employers too. They may have their own requirements, and BLS says some will pay for training and testing. Our welder page covers the job, the pay and the paths in. If you're interested in pipe, the pipefitter page covers the pipe trade side.
Questions about certification
Do I need a certification to get a welding job?
Not always. BLS says some employers hire inexperienced entry-level workers and train them, though many prefer people who have completed training or credentialing programs. Some jobs require specific certifications. Ask employers in the area where you'd like to work.
Do certifications expire?
AWS has a maintenance process for the Certified Welder credential: you file a maintenance application and pay renewal fees through an online portal to keep it current. Check the current rules with AWS or your test facility.
Is the 6G test the best one?
AWS says there's no single best or highest certification. 6G pipe is one of the most respected. The right one depends on where you want to work.
Will the school pay for my test?
It depends on the school. Ask whether testing is part of tuition. Some employers pay for training and testing for their employees, according to BLS.