Both commercial welders and industrial welders are entitled to get the so called welder certification or welder qualification. When the commercial welder has such a document, this means that this welder is capable of creating welds under specific welding procedure that are of excellent quality.

The certification of the commercial welder is based on certain special tests that determine one’s skill and ability to provide a sound weld metal. The welder tests can be different and can be quite specific depending on the type of the metal, type of the material (if not metal), joint design, thickness, as well as welding process including arc welding, mig welding, tig welding, etc.

In general, the test is done in accordance to the particular code and are usually administrated by the American Welding Society and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The commercial welding equipment of some manufacturers also can come with its own standards.

The welders can get certification in correspondence to certain professions. They can be welding inspectors or welding instructors, operators of high capacity fossil fuel, etc. In general the certifications are valid for a certain period of time, after which they expire. In order to be extended certain requirement should be met.

As a rule in the United States, the qualification of the welders is done according to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Welding Society. However, some states and many countries use own qualifications for the welders. When the commercial welder passes a test, the employer gives a certificate stating the ability of the worker to weld and the extent to which one is qualified to do the job. When the document expires, the welder must be tested again.

Needless to say, when performing their duties the commercial welders and the industrial welders should wear welding gloves and special welding helmet in order to protect themselves.

Independent certification of the welders and the welding machine operators is also possible. The certification of the welder inspector should answer different requirements according to the different institutions. The programs that are offered by the American Welding Society are for Certified Associate / Senior Welding Inspector, Certified Radiographic Interpreter.

The British Institute for Non-destructive testing offers Weld Inspection Certificate in three levels, while the Canadian Welding Bureau offers three programs for welding inspectors. Thus, depending on the country where the commercial welder will perform one’s duty, one should have the proper certificate.