The short answer
A welder qualification is specific to a process, position, material group and thickness range. A welder qualified for one combination is not automatically qualified for another — which is why crews fail gate tests they expected to pass.
Losing a week at the gate because welders failed the client trade test is one of the most avoidable delays in erection work. It is almost always a matching problem, not a skill problem.
Qualification is narrow by design
A qualification covers a defined envelope: welding process, position, material group, thickness range and sometimes diameter. Move outside that envelope and it does not carry over.
| Variable | Typical effect |
|---|---|
| Process (SMAW / GTAW) | Separate qualification for each |
| Position (1G to 6G) | 6G covers most; 1G covers little |
| Material group | Carbon and alloy are distinct |
| Thickness | Qualifies a range, not all thicknesses |
Test before you travel
We test welders against the applicable WPS before deployment. It costs a coupon and a few hours; failing at a client gate costs mobilisation, accommodation and schedule for the whole crew.
What the client is really checking
- That the qualification record is valid and in date
- That it covers the actual joint about to be welded
- That the welder can reproduce it on a witnessed coupon
- That the welder ID stamp matches the paperwork
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