certs??

[ascwldr24]

what certs does a mobile welder need?
I have aws cert but those expire? I got the AWS cert in college. What can that cert do for me? Ive been in a code pipe welding shop since Dec. any certs i get there are just company certs am i right?

Why i am asking is i was approached to do a job but they needed a certified welder to do it. what cert did they need? it was for low preasure natural gas pipe.

[Paul Seaman]

My understanding is that they do not expire unless you cease welding for 6 monthes. The AWS website will have the answers. On millers home page there is a link. Good luck

[Welder99]

ascwldr24,
Welding Certs.This subject can be talked about until the cows come home. most people think that if a welder is certified that he can weld on anything.(NOT SO).The certs that you hold is for the company that you work for and are on record so there customers can see that you as a welder has proven under guide lines AWS, .(To Code)to have shown you posess the skill to preform a weld to a certain criteria.example-(AWS.D1.1) is for struct,steel.Pipe,bridge,aero-space.....the list goes on and on as what cert applies to what appication.Most companies that i have cert, for wont give you the paper work and X-ray to you for you own private use.(but some might).what you can do is Check with the american welding society and see where the closest testing faciality is to you then you can pay out of you own pocket to get your own paper work and follow the guide lines to keep it current.(such as youe pipe cert with stamp).I have also had a Millwright company pay for my test so i could do the work for them.In todays world alot of companies are looking to have skilled certified welders in there work place because of insurance reasons,and also to prove that there workers are skilled.I have read several times or have seen welders on job sites doing shabby work from slugging welds using the wrong welding rod to applications.Then you see where a weld failed and caused major damage or even death.Im sure theres going to be others add to this subject.

[Welder99]

ascwldr24
Sorry for the long post. when asked about welding certs.i get all pumped up.(been asked a million times about certs),Anyway...as a mobile welder,your structure steel cert and pipe would be the most wanted here in ohio.most companies that would call you would want to see your paper work.(certs and xray reports),i have copies i carry on board so i can give them so they have them on record.That way in the future when they need that kind of service again.all they have to do is give you a call.Hawk im sure can shead some light into your post.One other thing i might add....DONT SELL YOURSELF CHEAP.get what you deserve.we just had a post in here about WAGES.
Hope this is helpfull.
welder99

[HAWK]

ascwldr24,

I think Welder99 has you covered. Here is my additional 2 cents. Welding certifications are only necessary if the customer you are working for requires them. If this is the case, then the customer needs to specify the necessary procedure for their particular job. If I have previously tested on the required procedure and the cert papers are held by another company, sometimes I will ask the customer if he/she will accept those papers. If they will, great! If they won't, then I make them pay for the cert test and results. If they refuse to pay, then I pass on the job. I have never seen a welder who pays for his/her own certification papers.

It is good to have certified welders on any welding work where a failure could potentially cause loss of life or property: bridges, skyscrappers, gas lines, oil lines, etc. All of my certs are owned by somebody other than me: previous customers, contractors, subcontractors, machine shops and others.

There is this little critter called liability. If something goes wrong on a project you welded and you have the proper certifications, required or not, then you have a better chance of winning a lawsuit. At the very least you will have demonstrated proficiency in the required job procedure. This can go a long way in court. It has never happened to me personally, but I have friends in the business, certified and highly skilled welders with years of experience, who have been dragged into court more than once over welding incidents.

You cannot be too careful. If my customer does not require any type of welding certification and I do not have any certs pertaining the the particular procedure required, then I make sure I am comfortable with the work at hand. If I can't do the work in my sleep, I usually won't take the job. People are too willing to scream lawsuit!

[DDA52]

Looks like they covered you pretty good. The only thing I can add is this. If you do any work for the Army Corps of Engineers ( military or civillian work ) you WILL be retesting every six months. Government mentality I guess. Maybe they think you forget to weld in six months time!?!

[Canuck]

What kind of certs do your Trade schools offer in America I assume it is much diferent then it is in Canada. As of right now I am taking our provinces basic training. Where I am we have three diferent main levels as well as similar certs that you receive from a company. The first level of training or the "C" level is flame cuting, stick and wire welding of plate the next level( the "B" level) is more pipe and you start to TIG, and the "A" level is advanced alloys with stick,TIG and MIG.

[JTMcC]

Originally posted by DDA52
Looks like they covered you pretty good. The only thing I can add is this. If you do any work for the Army Corps of Engineers ( military or civillian work ) you WILL be retesting every six months. Government mentality I guess. Maybe they think you forget to weld in six months time!?!

Just about everything pipe related is only good for 6 months as well.

JTMcC.

[HAWK]

JTMcC,

When working for the utility companies in the East TN area most will aceept your certs forever as long as it is their specific procedure. Otherwise they are being generous at 90 days.

[Welder99]

Just to add a little info.I was employed by a Gov't Contractor for 10 yrs welding for the Millitary.During part of that time we had to recert every yr.Then they came up with welding (auditors),there job was to come out to the project you were welding on ,Pull out the prcedure book,get under the helment and watch you for a day or two.depending on how big the project you were working on.when i say WATCH,,,,i mean WATCH every little thing..after HE was done he would sign you cert papers.(that was the recert) rather than going back to retest.if you failed there,they would send you back for retesting.I asked the Auditor why this was being done,because we were welding 12-14 hrs a day 7 days a week.(HOW CAN I FOGET WHAT IM DOING)>His reply was that you dont forget...BUT you Can pick -up BAD Habbits.ANd he was there to make sure we were follwing it by the book.Makes sence.
. welder99

[DDA52]

Originally posted by JTMcC
Just about everything pipe related is only good for 6 months as well.

JTMcC.

I never could stand pipe. I guess I don't like going in circles!! Structural recerts @ 6 mos. is a little out of the ordinary. Sheetmetal,too. I guess you do what you gotta do.

[JTMcC]

Originally posted by HAWK
JTMcC,

When working for the utility companies in the East TN area most will aceept your certs forever as long as it is their specific procedure. Otherwise they are being generous at 90 days.

There is a big difference between local distribution work, and high pressure piping. A lot of folks make their living welding distribution lines that would be in deep trouble on a 100% X Ray high ball pipe welding job where the inspection is very harsh, or worse. No gas company recognizes a welding cert that is from another company, or one that is over 6 months old. Every job you test, that's just the way they do it. Local gas distribution companies usually require 6 month testing, some, but not many, go a year, if they go forever in your area then they are the exception to the low pressure rule. Anyone that doesn't like to test should stay out of pipe. I'm talking about high pressure pipe, for a living. Not a little off brand pipe work now and then, we do those as well but the money is in pure dee pipe welding, and we try to stay there. Cause we need the money : )
The test just gives you an opportunity to make field welds, every weld you make on the job will be in effect a test, and often under harsher conditions that the qualifying test.

JTMcC.

[HAWK]

JTMcC,

I am speaking only of a couple of particular utility companys that recognize their in house procedures. For example one company specifies 6010 root, fill, and cap with uphill direction of travel on API 5Lxxx schedule 40 1" and up. If you have papers on their procedure and do work for them every 90 days or so they just let you go right on. Occasionally they will x-ray on site welds. Other than that they are very lax.

[JTMcC]

I understand. But even in distribution work it's pretty rare to be lax on the welders. And that's a good thing imo.

JTMcC.

[HAWK]

JTMcC,

I agree that laxed is a bad thing. I try to keep my certs current for regular work. Otherwise I take it as it comes.