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qualification vs Certification

By Biazzio Giordano posted 07-16-2016 09:38

  

I often get a call from companies or individuals saying that they need to get "Certified in welding". My first question is which process and for what job, and then do you have a WPS for what you are trying to do? Many times the ones involved have no ideal what a WPS is let alone what they want to accomplish. I usually try and explain to them that, certifications are job specific, and qualifications are process specified. Most students from welding schools are qualified in the various processes by the school they attend, all this means to the employer is that this person has passed a specific process test and that gets them the opportunity to "Certify" for the job they are applying for. I have seen from various Union Halls that now they may have certification day, with numerous employers in attendance and many welders testing on the same day. They then become CERTIFIED to weld for any number of employers so long as they stay current.


Being a former welder who had to certify for each job, process, and pipe size I feel that that kept me current with my skills and also kept the records in order. My only concern is that it leaves open the door for unqualified people getting paperwork that they really did not accomplish. I am in favor of schools issuing the standard QUALIFYING paperwork, but feel that testing (certification) should be done for every job.


What is the opinion of those here as to this process and am I correct in my assumption that Schools Qualify and jobs certify?


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07-26-2016 08:08

Was wondering if I could still post.

07-22-2016 15:42

Just another opinion.

As far as the WPS goes AWS D1.1 Clause 4.2.1.1 states: Each Manufacturer or Contractor shall conduct the tests required by this code to qualify the WPS.  (and we all know what shall means) To me this means the company your are welding for needs to qualify a procedure or adopt a prequalified procedure to use for welding.

Then after the company has a procedure they can present to someone they can use it. 

As far as the welders go Clause 4.2.2.2 states: Each Manufacturer or Contractor shall be responsible for the qualification of welders, welding operators and tack welders, whether the qualification is conducted by the manufacturer, contractor, or an independent testing agency.  To me this means the company can use their procedure to test their welder and qualify the welder to weld that procedure. (which could also qualify him to weld other procedures)

After this the company has to maintain welder continuity to document that the welder has welded using the process he was tested for in the last six months.

With the weld procedure, welder qualification, and the welder continuity, the company can document that this welder is qualified to perform this weld.

Then if the company wants to they can create a Certificate for the welder that certifies that the company has given him a welder qualification test.

 

07-17-2016 08:57

Certification is one of the most abused terms in the industry. In some cases, it has no reflection on ability since many can be documented as having the ability to meet the requirements for performance qualification as detailed by many codes.

 

However that may not accurately represent the skills needed for a specific weld. However it is an industry agreed upon "level" of ability. 

Regardless of where you complete a specific code based welder performance qualification test (school or work), it still only represents a basic skill set.

Many companies assume that the "paperwork" representing a welder being certified is the only thing needed for their perceived "liability" related to welding. Welder Performance qualification is such a small part of the overall picture.