Craftsman Shielded Metal Arc Welding

Typically two parts: a written multiple-choice paper on safety, equipment, electrodes, technique, inspection and symbols, plus a practical weld test where an examiner watches you prepare, fit and weld a coupon. The coupon is then assessed visually and often by bend or fracture testing. Confirm the exact coupon and standard with the certifying body.

Question counts and time limits are set by the certifying body and are revised from time to time, so no figure is quoted here. Check the current candidate handbook or the official website for the live numbers before you plan your exam-day timing.

The written paper is manageable for anyone with real shop experience - most losses come from electrode classification, welding symbol reading and defect terminology, not from trick questions. The practical coupon is where people struggle, because a single slag inclusion, lack of fusion at the root or arc strike can fail an otherwise neat-looking weld.

Retake rules, waiting periods and any additional fees are set and periodically updated by the certifying body. Look up the current retake policy in the official candidate handbook rather than relying on what other welders tell you, since policies differ between test centres and can change between sittings.

Start with safety and fume control, because those habits carry into every practical session. Then study power sources, current settings and electrode classification together - they explain most welding faults. Move on to base metals, joint preparation and fit-up, then technique across positions. Finish with inspection, defect analysis and drawing symbols, which are easiest to absorb once you have welded the joints being described.

Incomplete fusion and slag inclusions from running too cold or travelling too fast, poor root penetration from a badly gapped or misaligned fit-up, restart defects where the arc was struck ahead of the crater, porosity from damp electrodes or dirty plate, and stray arc strikes outside the weld zone. Appearance alone does not save a coupon that fails on fusion.

Yes, at least for the common covered electrodes. You should be able to read an AWS A5.1 designation and explain the tensile strength, welding position, coating type and current polarity it implies, then match the electrode to the steel and position. You should also know storage and redrying rules for low-hydrogen electrodes, since damp consumables cause porosity and cracking.

Both, but soundness dominates. Examiners assess the visual profile - bead width and height, tie-in at the toes, spatter, undercut, arc strikes - and then a bend, nick-break or similar test exposes internal fusion and inclusions. A tidy-looking cap over a cold, unfused root still fails.

Test centres usually supply the machine, plate and electrodes, but you normally bring your own personal protective equipment: welding helmet with correct shade lens, flame-resistant clothing, leather gloves, safety glasses and boots. Small hand tools such as a chipping hammer, wire brush and slag pick are often expected. Confirm the permitted tool list with the centre beforehand.