Welding Resources and Tips

Pass the 3G MIG Welding Certification Test [VIDEO]

If you had the opportunity to pass the 3G MIG certification test in less time than it usually takes, would you take it? Great (I’m assuming there was a silent “Yes!” on your part). Let’s put aside taking the test, because first we need to tackle what material the test actually covers.

For welders interested in manufacturing or fabrication, the 3G MIG welding certification test is one of the most required certifications to have. Earning this certification enables you to weld flat, horizontal, vertical, 1G – 3G, or 1F – 3F positions.

To become qualified to weld in flat, horizontal and vertical positions, you should try to pass the American Welding Society (AWS) D1.1 3G GMAW welding certification test. The people behind GoWelding.org have put together a great guide that details what it takes to pass the 3G MIG welding certification test.

For those of you that need a visual aid, the welding experts over at WeldingTipsandTricks.com are back with a helpful welding video on 3G MIG welding certification. If you want to follow along, grab the materials listed on the side and pay close attention.

Welding Resources - Welding Certification

This is the next installment of a monthly Welding Resources series. In this series, we’ll be covering key topics relevant to welding and welders. Rather than providing one narrative article detailing a specific tip, procedure, or issue, these Welding Resources posts are meant to serve as a consolidated list of the top online resources for the given topic.

Introduction

In this month’s welding resources column, we’ve consolidated some of the top online resources for preparing for the welding certification test. There are many benefits to earning your welding certification, especially if you want a career in welding, but the process is not necessarily an easy one. Should you decide to pursue certification, be sure to get familiar with a lot of the resources below. 

First Step - Get Educated

Technical Schools Guide, www.technical-schools-guide.com - The first step in earning your welding certification is admission to a welding school or program. Many technical and trade schools offer welding programs, and the first thing you need to do is find out whether your nearby schools have the program(s) you’re hoping to get into. If you aren’t already familiar with your local schools, visit the Technical Schools Guide website to find the welding programs closest to your zip code. Once you know where to apply, you’ll be able to get in touch with the school to find admissions information and go from there. 

American Welding Society, www.aws.org - The AWS offers conferences and seminars to welders and would-be welders who want to learn more about current technology and applications. These events could also offer the opportunity to network and learn more about the different fields and aspects of welding.  

Next Step - Register to Take the Certification Exam

There are several organizations in the US that offer and oversee certification programs. Visit each one to learn more about the opportunities available to you and to select a field or specialty you want to pursue. 

American Welding Society, www.aws.org - AWS welding certification prepares you for structural welding, including buildings and bridges.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers, www.asme.org - The ASME certification program prepares welders to work on boilers and vessels. 

American Petroleum Institute, www.api.org - API certification deals with welding codes specific to pipelines for the oil and gas industries. 

Welding School Locator, http://www.aws.org/w/sense - Often you’ll be able to take your certification exams at your local trade school, but if the exams you need aren’t being offered, visit AWS’s welding school locator to find a facility that offers the specific test(s) you need. 

Next Step - Consider an Internship or Apprenticeship

An internship or apprenticeship may be just the thing you need to keep your skills sharp and make valuable connections while you wait to take your certification exams. Countless job boards carry listings for welding internships, but you may find that some of these resources offer better results for your time. 

AWS Internship List, http://www.aws.org/w/a/membership/internlist.html - Among the AWS’s many resources to prospective welders is this free internship board. 

Indeed, www.indeed.com - Do a search for "welding internships" at Indeed to find a great list of welding internships. 

You may find, however, that the best way to find an internship or apprenticeship is to speak with the faculty at your local trade school or to call your local welding companies directly to find an internship. Odds are good that these wouldn’t be paid, but the experience will more than make up for that, if you’re in a position to do so. 

Other Certification Prep Resources

Check out these past WeldMyWorld.com posts to get more information on welding certification: 

• Welding Certification: The Basics
• Welding Certification Resources to Help You Get and Stay Certified
• How to Prepare for a Welding Certification Test
• Are Welding Certifications Really Worth It?

 

Welding Procedure Specification

The Welding Procedure Specification or WPS is a document that is used to describe welding procedures.  The objective of this document is to inform welders of the accepted procedures to insure that repeatable and proven welding techniques are used.  A Welding Procedure Specification is developed for each metal alloy and for each welding technique used.  A Welding Procedure Specification is also used to explain specific codes or engineering techniques that a specific company uses.

A Welding Procedure Specification is often accompanied with a Procedure Qualification Record or PQR or WPQR.  A Procedure Qualification Record is a record of a test weld that was performed to insure that the technique will produce a weld of high quality.  Individual welders are required to be certified with a qualification test documented in a Welder Qualification Test Record that proves that they have the knowledge and skill to complete the work within the specified Welding Procedure Specification.

In accordance with the American Welding Society a Welding Procedure Specification should provide a detailed description of the necessary welding variable for a specific application to assure its repeatability by skilled welders.  The American Welding Society clearly defines that a Procedure Qualification Record be a record of welding variables that are used to produce an acceptable weld test and that the results of tests on the weld can be used to qualify a Welding Procedure Specification.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers also defines a Welding Procedure Specification as a written document that will provide directions to the welder or welding operator to properly produce welds in agreement with the Code requirements listed in the Welding Procedure Specification.  The American Society of Mechanical Engineers also clearly defines a welding Procedure Qualification Record as a record of variables that were recorded during the welding of the test weld.  The record should also contain the results from the test weld.

For welders who are working overseas, the European Committee for Standardization or CEN, has adopted the ISO standards regarding the procedure qualification and on welder qualification with the only exception being for the qualification of steel welders.  The European Committee for Standardization states that a Welding Procedure Specification is a document that has been proven by testing one of the methods described in clause six and provides the necessary required variables of the welding procedure to insure its repeatability during production welding.  The same standard is also used to define a Welding Procedure Qualification Record or WPQR as a record that includes all of the necessary data required for qualification of a preliminary welding procedure specification.  In addition to the standard Welding Procedure Specification qualification procedure detailed in ISO 15614, the ISO 156XXX series of standards should also provide for alternate Welding Procedure Specification methods of approval.  These include but are not limited to test welding consumables, previous welding experience of the welder, standard welding procedures and Preproduction welding tests.

In the oil and gas pipeline area, the American Petroleum Institute API 1104 standard is the common method used almost exclusively worldwide.  API 1104 includes the definitions of the American Welding Society code AWS A3.0.  If you require further information on any of these explanations you can contact the American Welding Society for a complete description of what they require to be included in all Welding Procedure Specifications and Procedure Qualification Records.  They will be able to provide all of the necessary information that you require to better understand the guidelines and requirements of these documents.  These documents were designed to provide welders with a clear understanding of the procedures to be followed and proof that the technique will work adequately.

Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welding_Procedure_Specification

More About Welding Procedures, Quality Control, and Certification

• Qualification of Welding Procedures
• Weld Quality Control & Inspection
• Welding Certification -- The Basics

 

How to Become a Certified Welder

In the early days of welding, many welders were not required to become certified.  Welding was just seen as a useful tool that was learned while working.  Today, it's more common for welders to be required to be certified before being hired for a position that involves welding.  Being a certified welder shows prospective employers that you have taken the time to become properly trained as a welder and that you know what you are doing when you pick up a welding torch.

To become a certified welder the first thing you should do is find out what welding schools require before you can be admitted.  Typically the only requirement needed to begin welding school is a high school diploma or equivalent.  Some welding schools may have different requirements, which is why you should contact them prior to filling out an application for admittance.  Once you have found a school that meets your welding needs, you will then want to sign up and take the proper courses that will educate you on the techniques of welding.

After you have taken and passed all of the necessary welding courses, you are now ready to take and pass your certification exams.  Depending on the type of welding you will be specializing in, or if you would prefer to be certified in many different areas of welding, you will need to find out when and where the next certification exams will take place.  It is during this time that you will also want to look into becoming an apprentice welder.  When choosing an apprenticeship you should choose one from a reputable company or from a welder who has achieved the certification you will be attempting.  The requirements of apprenticeships often vary from state to state, find out what your state requires before applying for an apprenticeship.  While waiting for your exam it is important that you keep practicing and studying the welding technique you will be testing in.  This will enable you to be ready when exam day comes.

Once you have completed your apprenticeship and have passed the necessary certification requirements of your state, you are now ready to apply for thousands of welding positions that are available.  As you continue to grow your experience over the years, it is important that you also remember to update your welding certifications as necessary.  Becoming a certified welder will help you find a welding job and allow you to further educate yourself in other welding processes.

Certification and Welding School Resources

• Welding Certification – The Basics
• Welding Certification: Resources to Help you Get and Stay Certified
• How to Prepare for a Welding Certification Test
• The Three Big Welding Schools
• American Welding Schools by State

Are Welding Certifications Really Worth It?

When it comes to welding certifications there are many things to consider. Before going out and paying for a test that may or may not be needed you need to ask yourself three questions?

• Does my experience make up for the need to be certified?
• Do I do enough code work to justify the cost?
• Can I afford the cost and keep the cert active?

For many welders being certified comes down to previous welding experience. If you have been welding for three or more years, chances are you don’t need a welding certification. For most people a welding certification is a crutch to get your foot in the door. This applies to experienced welders and the less experienced. For example if you are a structural welder and want to break into the pipe welding field, then a pipe welding certification would be a BIG HELP! Or let’s say you are a student who is about to graduate. In this case a few welding certifications would also be a big help in getting hired.

The funny thing about employers is that the human resource department does not look at anything but experience. If you lack the experience then being certified could be what is needed to get a weld test. As for most jobs you will still need to take a weld test and that is what is really going to get you hired. As I previously stated the human resource department decides who gets an interview and weld test. The reality is they have no clue to what your skills are or care to find out. It comes down to giving them something that looks good on paper that makes them say WOW. I have run into a many really good welders that could not get a job because they lacked the experience that the employers wanted. So when it comes to the welding certification it is great way to make up for a lack of experience.

Welding codes are why people get certified. If you are planning to do code work then getting a welding certification in that code would be a good idea. On the other hand if you are not sure of what type of work you will be doing then a certification would be a waste of money. The weld test can cost as little as $200 to more than $1000 for a single shot at a pass or fail test. The big down side of getting certified is there are many codes to choose from and there is not a single cert that covers all of them. If you specialize in a specific type of work then it makes it much easier to decide if the cost justifies the risk.

As a student or someone with less experience, the cost of getting certified can be a lot. There is a big risk you run if you don’t weld for a while after getting certified. Most welding certifications expire in six months if you do not weld during that time. Think about it? You spend a few hundred dollars and get certified but then you don’t work for six months. That time and money just went down the drain.

In the end welding certifications are great for someone who either lacks experience or is looking to break into a specific type of welding. On the down side they expire if you don’t weld for six months or they might not have any use to you if the code you are working under is not covered by your certification.