What is
welder certification?
The certification of welders guarantees that the appropriate methods and procedures are carried out for the correct fulfillment of the requirements prescribed in the regulations, codes, standards, specifications, operating procedures or work instructions to be used during the welder qualification activity.
To certify that the person who wants to be certified meets these requirements, the certifier (in this case, Apave) performs a practical test based on the application of different standards or codes, depending on the welding process in which he/she is certified. The test consists of the execution of a weld under the supervision of our expert personnel.
Reference standards for certification
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Welders
- UNE-EN ISO 9606-1 - Qualification of welders. Fusion welding. Part 1: Steels. Qualification testing of welders - Fusion welding - Part 1: Steels.
- UNE-EN ISO 9606-2 - Qualification of welders. Fusion welding. Part 2: Aluminum and aluminum alloys. Qualification testing of welders - Fusion welding - Part 2: Aluminium and aluminium alloys.
- UNE-EN ISO 9606-4 - Qualification of welders. Fusion welding. Part 4: Nickel and nickel alloys. Qualification testing of welders - Fusion welding - Part 4: Nickel and nickel alloys.
- UNE-EN ISO 13585 - Brazing. Qualification testing of brazers and brazing operators. Brazing - Qualification test of brazers and brazing operators.
- ASME BPVC IX. ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code. Qualification Standard for Welding, Brazing and Fusing Procedures; Welders; Brazers; and Welding, Brazing, and Fusing Operators. Part QW. Article III and Part QB. Article XIII
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Welding operator
- UNE-EN ISO 14732 Welding personnel. Qualification testing of welding operators and weld setters for mechanized and automatic welding of metallic materials. Welding personnel - Qualification testing of welding operators and weld setters for mechanized and automatic welding of metallic materials.
- UNE-EN ISO 13585 - Brazing. Qualification test of welding operators and welding setters for mechanized and automatic welding of metallic materials. Brazing - Qualification test of brazers and brazing operators.
- ASME BPVC IX. ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code. Qualification Standard for Welding, Brazing and Fusing Procedures; Welders; Brazers; and Welding, Brazing, and Fusing Operators. Part QW. Article III.
The rationale for these standards or codes is that a qualification test qualifies the welder not only for the conditions used for the test, but also for those conditions under which it is considered easier to weld.
The standard establishes associated ranges for each essential variable within which the welder becomes qualified.
What is the
the certification process?


The certification of welders does not require any prerequisites for access to the certification process, which will consist of a practical examination, where a specific weld (test coupon) is performed, depending on the welding process in which it is certified.
The standard or test code will determine the corresponding test coupon.
The certification process consists of the following phases:
- Application for certification: the applicant person or entity initiates the process by submitting the"Application for Certification/Recertification" Form.
Based on the information provided by the applicant and the attached documentation, we will proceed to its analysis and confirm or not the pre-acceptance of the applicant to the certification process.
An application may be rejected for any of the following reasons:
- Incomplete information
- Failure to attach the requested documents
- Failure to meet the requirements of the certification scheme
- The information provided cannot be verified
After pre-acceptance, the applicant must send the accepted certification offer, at which time the candidate's acceptance to the certification process is formalized.
The date and place of the certification examination will then be scheduled with the client and, if possible, the examiner for this certification process will be appointed.
On the day of the examination and before it begins, the examiner confirms all the data on the application form, which is validated at that time by the examiner. The candidate may, up to the time of the examination, justifiably challenge the designated examiner in the event of any conflict of interest.
- Assessment/Examination: The designated examiner assesses the candidate's competence according to the standard or certification code of the welding process applied for. Therefore, the examination may only be conducted in the presence of the examiner and after confirming the identity of the candidates.
The examiner will perform the visual analysis according to the reference standard or code and validate this information. If the result of the visual examination is satisfactory, the examiner will send the test pieces to the destructive or non-destructive testing laboratory or supervise the destructive testing performed expeditiously in a shop environment.
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Apave believes that a certified welder candidate should possess the following competencies:
- Know how to interpret the solder specification (WPS/WPS) that underpins your test work
- Confirm the adequacy of the soldering specification to the test coupon(s)
- Know how to select and operate the welding equipment and the necessary consumables
- Have the ability to perform the welding of the test piece: plate or plate/tube or tube to tube.
- Know how to adjust the power source according to the parameters defined in the welding specification.
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Apave believes that a certified welder candidate should be able to perform the following tasks according to the required competencies:
- Know how to interpret the welding specification underpinning the examination.
- Check the condition of the welding equipment supplied and adjust it if necessary (inter alia, wiring, electrode clamps, torch, power source, wire feeder, flow meter, rheostats for regulating welding parameters).
- Check the conformity of the base and filler materials with those mentioned in the welding specification (among other things, the dimensions of the test pieces, their preparation - type of bevel and angle, and the type and size of the filler material and its state of preservation).
- Place the test papers correctly, according to the application conditions.
- Perform bead root protection with gas purge (if applicable).
- Preheat, if applicable, and control the temperature with a thermal pencil or other suitable means.
- Perform welding to an acceptable quality and visually analyze the joint for imperfections and correct them (the candidate welder, when authorized, may remove minor imperfections by grinding, except on the last pass). If necessary, control the temperature between passes with a thermal pencil or other suitable means.
- Know how to use and properly store the consumables provided for the examination.
Examination Venue
The examination for certification will take place at the customer's premises provided that adequate conditions of lighting, temperature, noise, smoke extraction, physical separation between candidates, necessary material, PPE, etc. are met.
The client will make available the measuring equipment used, if required by the examiner. This equipment shall be properly calibrated and the calibration test shall be available to the examiner for verification.
The Client must ensure the Occupational Health and Safety conditions during the execution of the certification process. The Candidate must use the appropriate personal protective equipment for the certification, such as appropriate clothing, safety footwear, protective mask, gloves, etc.
Apave guarantees access to certification for people with special needs, adapting its methodology to the particular situation allowed by the selected certification scheme.
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Certification decision
the certification decision will be made by a person designated as a certifier who has not participated in the examination process.
Upon completion of all non-destructive and/or destructive testing required by each certification standard/code, the outcome of the entire certification process is evaluated based on the acceptance criteria of the certification process:- If the result is acceptable, the candidate's certification decision is positive and a qualification certificate is issued.
- If the result is not acceptable, the certification decision is negative, in which case the candidate is informed of the reasons for non-approval.
- If the result is acceptable, the candidate's certification decision is positive and a qualification certificate is issued.
-
Issuance of the certificate
The certification decision is formalized with the issuance of the qualification certificate, which will contain as a minimum
- your personal data and those of your company,
- Name of the Certifying Body (Eurocontrol)
- Reference to the Certification Scheme, standard or other relevant document, including the date of publication (if applicable)
- Scope of the certification including, if applicable, the conditions and limits of its validity
- Effective date of certification (when the certification decision was taken) and expiration date according to the requirements specified in the applicable reference documents.
- your personal data and those of your company,
-
Apave, will only issue the Certificate of Qualification when:
- A decision has been made to grant or extend certification,
- Certification requirements have been met,
- The agreed payment has been made
- A decision has been made to grant or extend certification,
Renewal
When the Certificate of Qualification reaches its period of validity, it is necessary to proceed with the Renewal, evidencing the maintenance of the requirements established in the normative documents of reference.
-
Renewal of Welder:
- UNE-EN ISO 9606-1. Every 3 years according to item 9.3.a or 2 years according to item 9.3.b.
No renewals according to section 9.3.c of standard 9606-1.
- UNE-EN ISO 9606-2. Every 2 years according to pt. 9.3
- UNE-EN ISO 9606-4. Every 2 years according to pt. 10.2
- UNE-EN ISO 13585. Every 3 years according to pt. 9.2
- ASME BPVC IX. Every 3 years
- UNE-EN ISO 9606-1. Every 3 years according to item 9.3.a or 2 years according to item 9.3.b.
-
Welding Operator Renewal:
- UNE-EN ISO 14732. Every 6 years according to section 5.3.a or 3 years according to section 5.3.b.
No renewals according to section 5.3.c of standard 14732.
- UNE-EN ISO 13585. Every 3 years according to item 9.2
- ASME BPVC IX. Every 3 years
- UNE-EN ISO 14732. Every 6 years according to section 5.3.a or 3 years according to section 5.3.b.
-
Specifications
In the case of certification according to option 9.3.b and 5.3.b of EN ISO 9606-1 and EN ISO 14732, respectively, the renewal shall be carried out within the period of validity of the certificate by means of
- Record of continued activity issued by the client and the certified person, and
- X-ray, ultrasonic or destructive testing of two welds performed during the last 6 months of the period of validity of the initial certificate, traceable to the certified person and whose test reports are issued by an accredited body with an acceptable result. The welds tested must reproduce the conditions of the initial examination.
In the case of certification according to UNE-EN ISO 9606-2 and 9606-4, the renewal will be carried out successively as long as evidence of the continuity of the welding is provided, sending, after 2 years, the certificate with the record of the half-yearly follow-ups.
In case of certification according to ASME BPVC IX QW, the renewal will be carried out successively as long as evidence of welding continuity is provided, sending, after 3 years for ASME BPVC IX QW or 5 years for ASME BPVC IX QB, the certificate with the record of the half-yearly follow-ups.
To start the process, the "Request for certification" must be submitted, specifying the renewal option and according to the system established in the previous section.
The examiner analyzes all the documentation submitted with the certification application and if it is in conformity, it will be submitted to the Certifier for a decision. If the result is favorable, a new certificate will be issued based on the initial certificate and with a period of validity in accordance with the terms indicated above.
- Record of continued activity issued by the client and the certified person, and
Suspension, Reduction or Withdrawal of Certification
Apave upon identification of a potential non-conformity with the certification requirements shall proceed to its confirmation and take the necessary actions, which may include evaluation, review and decision on certification.
-
Potential nonconformities can arise when they are violated:
- Obligations of the certified person.
- Professional conduct.
- Use/publicity of certification.
- Failure to correct new requirements as a result of changes in certification system standards.
- Obligations of the certified person.
-
Such decisions may include the following:
- Warning or reprimand
- Suspend certification pending corrective action by the client,
- Withdrawal of the granted certification
Applicant/Candidate Rights and Duties
-
Rights
- Receive information about the overall certification process and the complaints and appeals process.
- Receive an impartial and independent certification service that ensures the confidentiality of their data.
- Receive a certificate issued by the Certification Body that includes the scope of its certification.
- To be included in the Certification Body's list of certified persons.
- Appeal or appeal any decision on the certification process taken by the Certification Body with respect to which he/she does not agree.
- Participate in the activities developed by the Certification Body under the terms and conditions established.
- Benefit from all outreach and promotional activities carried out by the Certification Body regarding certified professionals.
- Be informed of substantiated complaints received about their person, within the scope of the certification issued.
- Be informed of the suspension, reduction or revocation of the certificate.
- Receive information about the overall certification process and the complaints and appeals process.
-
Duties
- Comply with the certification requirements and provide all the necessary information for the evaluation.
- To reliably inform Eurocontrol, S.A. about any modification or change in the data or about any issue that may affect their ability to continue complying with the certification requirements.
- Not to disclose confidential examination materials or to take part in fraudulent examination practices.
- Not to make statements regarding certification that do not correspond to the scope of certification granted, that may be considered misleading or that are unauthorized.
- Not to use the certification in a manner that may be misleading or may damage the reputation of Eurocontrol, S.A. as a Certification Body.
- To stop making statements related to the certification, after a suspension or withdrawal of the same, as well as to return the certificates issued by Eurocontrol.
- Comply with the certification requirements and provide all the necessary information for the evaluation.
Confidentiality and data protection
Apave guarantees that the information obtained during the certification process will not be disclosed without the written consent of the applicant, candidate or certified person.
However, such information, or part of it, may be disclosed if legally required by the Competent Body, Accreditation Body, Insurer, etc. or in compliance with our obligations as an Authorized Body/Entity.
Apave ensures that all employees have signed a declaration of commitment not to disclose any information obtained about the People Certification System, as well as the performance of their duties, maintaining an impartial attitude towards the evaluations they perform.
Complaints or
Complaints or Claims
Do you wish to consult the information on the complaints process?
Certification Fees
Information on
certificates in force
If you need more information about the certification scheme, the rights and duties of the applicant, etc. you can request it through the mail dd.serviciosintegrados@es.apave.com or through our contact form.
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