Cert III Welding study plan
Cert III Welding · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Workplace Safety, Health and Environment (WHS) & Welding Processes and Equipment
List the hierarchy of control and match at least 10 welding-shop hazards to the correct control level
Identify the PPE required for each of the main arc, gas and resistance processes and state why each item is needed
Explain fume extraction, ventilation and confined-space entry requirements in your own words
Describe the duty-of-care and incident-reporting obligations that apply to a welding workplace
Your checkpoint
A one-page hazard-control matrix covering 10 shop hazards with control level and required PPE for each
Welding Processes and Equipment & Materials, Consumables and Preparation
Compare SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW and SAW on power source type, transfer mode and typical applications
Label the parts of a welding circuit and explain the role of each in a simple sketch
Match electrode and filler classifications to base metals using standard coding systems
Set up a practice station correctly for one chosen process and record the settings used
Your checkpoint
A process-comparison table plus a labelled circuit sketch with settings log for one setup
Materials, Consumables and Preparation & Welding Techniques and Joint Preparation
Identify at least eight common base metals and state a suitable filler and preparation method for each
Explain how to store and condition electrodes and consumables to avoid contamination
Describe edge preparation, fit-up, root gap and tacking for butt and fillet joints
Diagnose three common weld defects and trace each to a preparation or technique cause
Your checkpoint
A materials-and-joint-preparation reference sheet covering five metals and three joint types
Welding Techniques and Joint Preparation & Workplace Safety, Health and Environment (WHS)
Explain heat input, travel speed and interpass temperature control and their effect on the weld
Describe technique adjustments for vertical, overhead and horizontal positions
List the safety controls specific to hot work, including fire watch and permit requirements
Plan a practice sequence that builds position welding skill over the remaining weeks
Your checkpoint
A written practice plan with a position-welding progression and the safety controls for each session
Interpretation of Drawings, Plans and Specifications & Welding Techniques and Joint Preparation
Read a welding symbol and extract the joint type, size, length and process from it
Interpret plan, elevation and section views to locate a weld on a fabricated assembly
Identify the information found in a welding procedure specification and a procedure qualification record
Explain how a drawing tolerance or specification clause affects how a joint is prepared and welded
Your checkpoint
A symbol-decoding worksheet where five welding symbols are translated into plain-language instructions
Inspection, Testing and Quality Control & Welding Processes and Equipment
Compare visual, penetrant, magnetic particle, ultrasonic and radiographic inspection on what each detects
Explain the difference between a procedure qualification and a welder qualification test
Describe how to prepare and examine a test coupon for a bend or fracture test
List the acceptance criteria categories commonly applied to welds and how they are recorded
Your checkpoint
An inspection-method comparison chart plus a completed mock inspection record for one test coupon
Maintenance, Troubleshooting and Housekeeping & Welding Processes and Equipment
Diagnose five common equipment faults and state the first safe troubleshooting step for each
Draft a daily and weekly maintenance checklist for welding plant and leads
Explain housekeeping and storage practices that protect equipment and consumables
Describe lockout and isolation steps before servicing welding equipment
Your checkpoint
A maintenance and troubleshooting checklist with five fault scenarios and their first-response steps
Communication, Teamwork and Industry Practice & Workplace Safety, Health and Environment (WHS) & Inspection, Testing and Quality Control
Explain how to give and receive a technical handover at a shift change
Describe teamwork and communication duties during hot work and confined-space tasks
Complete a full-length practice exam under timed conditions and score it by domain
Review every missed question and write a correction note for each weak area
Your checkpoint
A timed practice exam score report with a written remediation list for the three weakest domains
Milestones
Week 2: Can explain all five main welding processes and their power source and transfer characteristics without notes
Week 4: Can state the safety controls for a hot-work task and describe a position-welding progression plan
Week 6: Can decode five welding symbols and match inspection methods to the defects they detect
Week 8: Scores at least 75 percent overall on the timed practice exam with no domain below 60 percent