AWS ASME IX Endorsement exam-day guide
AWS ASME IX Endorsement · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid government-issued photo ID
Bring an unexpired ID with a photo and signature; the name must match your registration exactly. Confirm which ID forms the test facility accepts before exam day.
Exam appointment confirmation
Bring your scheduling confirmation and the provider's reporting instructions (address, arrival time, contact number). Confirm the exact time and location with the provider 72 hours ahead.
Copy of the WPS(s) you will weld to
Review the qualified WPS before arriving: process, positions, base metal, filler classification, current/voltage ranges, travel speed, pass sequence, and any preheat or interpass limits. Confirm whether the facility supplies the WPS at the test station.
Welding consumables
Confirm with the provider whether electrodes/rods/wire are supplied at the test site or whether you must bring them. Bring the exact classification called out by the WPS; do not substitute without examiner approval.
Personal protective equipment
Welding helmet with appropriate filter shade and clean cover lens, flame-resistant jacket or sleeves, leather gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection if required, and leather work boots.
Hand tools
Chipping hammer, wire brush, file, soapstone or marker, tape measure, vise grips, and slag chippers. Label your tools so they are not mixed up with other candidates' equipment.
Power tools (grinder, wire wheel)
Confirm in advance whether grinders or power wire brushes are permitted at the test station and whether the provider supplies them. Some facilities restrict candidate-owned power tools.
Test coupons
Confirm whether plate or pipe coupons are supplied by the facility and which material specification and thickness/ diameter will be used. Do not bring your own coupon unless the provider instructs you to.
Paperwork and qualification test record
Bring any application form, qualification test record, or candidate information sheet the provider requested. Have your WPS number and essential variable information ready to record on the test record.
Water, snacks, and any required medication
Welding tests can run several hours. Bring water and a light snack. Confirm the facility's break policy and whether food or drink is allowed in the test area.
Notebook or parameter log
If the provider permits it, bring a small notebook to record your actual amperage, voltage, travel speed, and pass sequence. Confirm whether notes may be kept at the test station.
Plan the day
Confirm your appointment time, location, and what the provider supplies versus what you must bring. Re-read the WPS you will weld to and review ASME IX welder qualification essentials (essential variables, positions, test coupon requirements, bend test acceptance criteria). Do one or two practice coupons in the same process and position you will test in, using the same equipment type if possible.
Pack your PPE and hand tools. Inspect your helmet lens, gloves, and jacket for damage; replace anything worn out. Confirm consumable availability with the provider. Get a full night's sleep and avoid introducing new techniques or equipment you have not used.
Do a light review only: WPS ranges, pass sequence, and the bend test acceptance criteria. Prepare your ID, confirmation, and paperwork in one bag. Avoid alcohol and heavy meals late at night; aim for 7–8 hours of sleep. Confirm your travel plan and expected arrival time.
Eat a normal breakfast and hydrate. Arrive 30–45 minutes early to allow for check-in, ID verification, and any safety orientation. Dress in your PPE and set out your tools. Ask the examiner where to stage your equipment and what the coupon hand-off procedure is.
Inspect the coupon for condition before starting. Fit up per the WPS and your approved technique. Weld the root pass within the WPS current and voltage ranges, and clean the pass before the next one. Do not exceed interpass temperature limits. If something goes wrong (arc strike, porosity, power interruption), stop and notify the examiner before attempting a repair.
Continue to follow the WPS pass sequence, heat input limits, and cleaning requirements between passes. Keep your work area free of slag and spatter. Record parameters if required. Do not accept help or coaching from anyone other than the examiner.
Clean the completed coupon, remove spatter and slag, and mark it as directed by the examiner. Hand it in for bend testing or radiographic examination per the provider's procedure. Ask when results will be available and how they will be communicated.
Rules to check
Bring valid government-issued photo ID; admission may be refused without it. Confirm the accepted ID forms with the provider in advance.
Follow all site safety rules. PPE is mandatory in the welding area, and the examiner may stop the test for unsafe conduct.
Weld only within the ranges and essential variables of the qualified WPS. Departing from the WPS can invalidate the test, even if the weld looks sound.
No coaching, prompting, or physical assistance from other candidates, coworkers, or instructors during the test. Direct questions to the examiner only.
Use only tools and processes approved by the examiner. Ask before using a grinder, power brush, or any equipment that was not on the provider's approved list.
Breaks and restroom trips must be cleared with the examiner. Confirm the provider's break policy and whether the clock continues to run during breaks.
Scoring is pass/fail based on destructive bend testing or radiographic examination of the test coupon against the acceptance criteria of ASME IX. Confirm with the provider which examination method and acceptance criteria apply to your test.
Report any injury, equipment malfunction, or arc strike immediately. Concealing a defect or a safety incident can result in automatic failure.