AWS Certified Welder

It is practical. The program is performance-based: you weld at an Accredited Test Facility using specific processes, positions, and materials, and your work is inspected to ensure it meets AWS standards. Passing earns a Certified Welder card documenting those qualifications. There is no prerequisite course or prior certification required to attempt it.

No. Formal training is not always required, but AWS states it is highly recommended, especially for early-career welders. A program at a welding school, technical training center, or employer-based program helps you build the skills for the test and get comfortable with the specific processes, positions, and materials being tested.

It depends on your experience, the certification type, and your preparation. AWS notes that for early-career or student welders, Certified Welder training programs can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. The test itself is a single scheduled performance exam, so most of the timeline is your preparation.

Cost depends on the certification type, where you take the exam, and any training completed beforehand. AWS states entry-level certifications like the Certified Welder often range from a few hundred to around a thousand dollars, including testing fees and materials. Check the AWS Program Price List for current pricing.

At an Accredited Test Facility. Many welding schools coordinate with ATFs so students can test for the Certified Welder credential as part of the training curriculum. AWS publishes an Accredited Test Facilities Directory you can use to find one near you. Certification cannot be earned fully online, though online training and exam prep are available.

AWS does not rank difficulty by pass rate, but it notes that advanced performance tests like a 6G pipe position are often seen as the toughest, and that a 6G pipe test is one of the most respected because it covers all positions on a fixed pipe. Choose based on the work you actually intend to do.

Match the test to your career goal. Structural welders typically test under AWS D1.1, while pipeline welders may go for API 1104. Plate tests cover flat, horizontal, vertical, or overhead positions, and pipe certifications cover small- and large-diameter pipe. Many welders pursue multiple certifications over time to broaden their skills.

First confirm the exact process, position, and material you will be tested on, since your card documents only those qualifications. Then practice those specific conditions repeatedly under test-like restraint and joint configuration. AWS advises preparing through school, training, or on-the-job practice before scheduling your ATF test.

Beginning January 15, 2026, AWS will no longer accept paper applications for Certifications or Endorsements. All applications must be submitted online through the My AWS Portal. Create or log in to your account to complete your application digitally, and review the Portal Application Submission Instructions for guidance.

AWS states the length of time a welding certificate is good for depends on the specific certification; some require regular recertification or refresher tests, while others do not expire as long as you maintain your skills. Employers can verify credentials through AWS Certification QuikCheck and the National Registry of Certified Welders.