Definition: Welding Certifications are technically a hands-on welder qualification test that is

conducted by certified welding inspector that will determine if the person or machine can
produce a sound quality weld up to the code or welding procedure needed for a Company, job
site or a particular industry standard.
Bottom line, can you produce a sound quality weld by following the procedure/instructions?

FCAW 3G Weld Cap Cleaned

Weld test coupons cut up.

3G FCAW Root and Face Bend with the Alternate

The above pictures are a structural welding certification given by the American Welding
Society. The very basics of a welding welding certification are:
1. Weld the metals given by the welding inspector in the position the test is designed for
by following the instructions provided.
2. Cut the metal welded according to the instructions and prepare them for a bend test or
some approved form of quality testing.
3. Test the materials welded according to the procedure. If they pass the test then you
just earned your welding certification. The testing ranges from a bend test to Radio

graphic (x-ray) or even just a visual exam of the quality. In most cases a welding
inspector will have a excellent idea if your welds will pass just by visually inspecting
them.
Welding certifications are designed to ensure the welders skills are up to the code they
will be working under. Welding certifications are also documented to prove that the
welder is qualified under that code. Welding codes vary a lot depending on the type of
work being done. There are many organizations that have different procedures
depending on the type of work they oversee.
In the United States there are quite a few organizations that have certified welding
procedures. The three largest organizations are:

The American Welding Society / AWS. www.aws.org They typically deal with
structural codes mostly involved with buildings and bridges.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers /ASME Section IX. www.asme.org

They deal with boiler and pressure vessel codes.

The American Petroleum Institute / API. www.api.org They oversee pipeline welding
codes for the gas and oil industries.

Welding Certification Positions

The largest organization in America that certifies welders is the American Welding Society.
The welding certification procedures they have approved have been tested many time to
ensure that if followed the welder taking the welding certification follows the rules and has
the skills will pass the test.
Welding certifications come in many positions, metal thickness, welding processes, and metal
types. When the term Certified Welder is used it only means that welder is certified under
the welding procedures they have tested under. There is not a single welding certification that
covers all types of welding.
Next Welding Certification Positions.

FCAW 3G Weld Cap Cleaned

6G Pipe testing position

All welding certifications come in many positions. The positions are different depending if
the welder will be welding on plate or pipe. The terms properly used in the welding field
refers to plate as structural welding and pipe and pipe welding.

Plate Welding Certification Positions

For welding plate the positions typically come in two different joint types. Fillet welds and
grove welds. Most plate welding certifications are performed in groove welds. This is
because in most welding codes, grove welds will also qualify you for fillet welds, but fillet
welds do not cover grove welds. Fillet welds and grove welds also vary in different positions.
The positions are flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead. There is also a coding system to
identify the welding position. The coding system for plate and structural welding is as
follows:

1 is for the flat position.

2 is for the horizontal position.

F is for a fillet weld.

3 is for the vertical position.

G is for a grove weld.

4 is for the overhead position.

The way this coding system works is the number stands for the position and then the letter
identifies the type of weld joint. For example if you take the number 3 for the vertical
position and G is for a groove weld. Then you put them together like 3G then that is the
code for a vertical grove weld. In the case of a fillet weld you would simply replace the G
with an F, then you would get a 3F weld joint and that is a vertical fillet weld.

1G Welding Certification Position

The 1G welding certification position is a plate

in the flat position that is beveled. This position is the most basic and only covers the welder
in that position. Its the easiest test to pass and the least desired by employers.

2G Welding Certification Position

The 2G welding certification position is a plate

in the horizontal position that is beveled. This position is a little harder than the 1G test but
by passing it you do not need to take the 1G test. This one test covers the 1G and 2G
positions.

3G Welding Certification Position

The 3G welding certification position is a plate

in the vertical position that is beveled. This position varies depending on the travel direction.
The vertical welding certification can be taken traveling vertical up. Meaning you start on the
bottom of the plate welding upward to the top. Sometimes welding vertical down meaning
welding from the top down. The 3G test position covers the 1G, 2G, and 3G positions.
Typically this test is done in the vertical up progress.

4G Welding Certification Position

The 4G welding certification position is a plate

in the overhead position that is beveled. This position is considered the hardest for welding
plate but in reality its not much harder then welding flat. The 4G welding test covers the 1G,
2G, and 4G positions, but does not cover the 3G position.

3G test position.

4G test position.

When getting certified for structural welding its very common to take the 3G and 4G
welding certification together. These two tests usually cover all the positions and most codes
allow fillet welds on pipes that are a minimum diameter of 24.

Pipe Welding Certification Positions

When it comes to welding pipe there are four main positions and again they are typically
groove welds. There is also a coding system to identify the positions and joint types.They are
as follows:

1 is for a pipe in the horizontal position that is rolled.

2 is for a pipe in the fixed vertical position.

F is for a fillet weld.

G is for a grove weld.

5 is for a pipe in the fixed horizontal position.

6 is for a pipe in a 45 degree fixed position.

R is for the restricted position.

1G Pipe Welding Certification Position

The 1G pipe welding certification position is a

pipe in the horizontal position and the pipe is rolled when welding. This is basically welding
in the flat position. The 1G pipe welding certification is rarely used.

2G Pipe Welding Certification Position

The 2G pipe welding certification position is a

pipe that is standing in the vertical position. The weld being done is a horizontal weld and the
pipe cannot be rotated. It is in a fixed position.

5G Pipe Welding Certification Position

The 5G pipe welding certification position is a

pipe welding in the horizontal position that is fixed and cannot be moved. The welding done
is overhead, vertical, and flat with a full transition of all of those positions. This position
comes in two travel directions. The first is a vertical up travel and that is the most commonly
used progression. The second is vertical down progression and this is commonly used for
pipe line welder qualification.

Then there is the 6G pipe welding

certification. This is a pipe that is in standing on a 45 degree angle and cannot be moved. This
test incorporates all of the positions. What makes this position so hard is there is an easy side
and a hard side. This all depends if you are right handed or left handed and the welding
processes being used. This one test will qualify the welder to weld pipe and plate in all
positions. This is the hardest of all welding positions and the test typically given for the
higher paying jobs. If you need to get one welding certification this is the position to go for!

2 & 5G Combo Pipe Welding Certification Positions

2G pipe welding position.

5G pipe welding position.

The 2G and 5G combo tests are sometimes done to qualify a welder for all pipe welding
positions. It can sometimes be substituted for the 6G position.

Restricted Pipe Welding Certifications and Test Positions

Restricted pipe welding positions are the most difficult type of welder qualification or
welding certifications a welder can pass. These welding certifications and test positions are
designed to test your ability to weld in tight and confined spaces. Access to the weld joint is
limited in three ways:

Forcing the welder to find unusual stances and body position.

Other pipes, a ceiling or walls, and restrictive rings are some of the various obstacles
used to block access to the weld joint.

Blocking visual access of the welding area by forcing the welder to use a mirror to see
the weld joint.

Many times it is a combination of the obstacles and visual restriction that the test will
incorporate. Restricted tests come in the 2G, 5G, and 6G positions but most of the time it will
be a 6GR or 6G restricted test positions.

6GR Restricting Ring Pipe Welding Certification Position

The 6G restrictive ring test position is

typically an 18 restrictive ring placed 1/2 above the weld joint. I have seen this illustrated
in welding books and the AWS code. The picture is of a practice test I took and was going to
get this welding certification. Unfortunately when looking for a welding procedure this test is
not available. It was shown but not tested. Other codes may use it and have a procedure that
is tested.

6GR Restricted Boiler Tubing Test Position

The 6GR boiler tubing test is restricted by placing a boiler tube on each side of the coupon to
be welded. You have exactly 1 inch of clearance to weld on the side of the tube. This is
probably the most difficult tests to pass. Boiler tubing tests are typically TIG welded and
must be free-handed at all times. You are also required to weld half of the tube right handed

and the other half left handed. Walking the cup is not allowed and will cause an instant failure
of the weld test!

6G restricted boiler tubing test coupon

Boiler tubing test with 1 of cleareance.

Bottom of 6GR restricted boiler tubing test.

Top view of 6GR restricted boiler tubing test.

Another type of boiler tubing test I took had only has 1/2 of an inch of clearance and all I
could say is Wow that was tight.

6GR Box Type Restriction Pipe Welding Certification Position

Shipyards typically test pipe welders using a box type restricted position. There restricted 6G
test does not use a ring or other pipes to block access. Instead its more realistic for the type
of work being done in a shipyard. The pipe is put into the 6G position inside of a welding
booth that has a steel grading ceiling. The pipe is placed on the right side of the booth (if you

are right handed) 12 from the right wall. Then 12 from the ceiling and 12 from the back
wall. If you are looking at the pipe straight on, the right side of the pipe from the 3 to 12
oclock positions is almost inaccessible. 12 inches of clearance sounds like a lot, but that is
12 inches to the center of the weld joint. So a 6 pipe has only 9 of clearance. The restricted
area is too tight to put your head in there or too see anything.