FCAW NC II study guide
FCAW NC II · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The FCAW NC II is a Philippine national certificate issued under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) system. It certifies that a welder can perform flux-cored arc welding to the standards expected in industry. The FCAW NC II study guide has 9 sections and about 3,175 words.
01Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Protection in the Welding Workplace
This domain tests whether you can identify FCAW hazards, pick controls in the right order, and apply the specific numbers (lens shade, clearance distance, fire-watch time) that examiners use as discriminators. Environmental questions focus on fume, waste segregation and consumable disposal rather than general green-office ideas.
387 words, about 2 min02Use and Maintenance of Hand Tools, Power Tools and Welding Equipment
This domain checks that you can select, inspect and maintain the tools around a FCAW station - chipping hammers and gauges, angle grinders and cut-off saws, and the wire feeder and gun itself. Questions usually hinge on a safety interlock, a speed rating or a maintenance symptom.
371 words, about 2 min03Interpretation of Welding Drawings, Symbols and Specifications
This domain tests fluency with AWS A2.4 symbols and the drawings and specifications that carry them, plus the ability to convert a symbol into a buildable joint. Expect a symbol to be described in words and a question on how to read it.
376 words, about 2 min04Preparation of Materials, Joint Configuration and Fit-up
This domain covers what happens before the arc starts: cleaning, bevelling, joint geometry and tack-up. It is the highest-leverage domain for defect prevention, and exam questions often present a fit-up that is out of tolerance and ask what to do.
372 words, about 2 min05Set-up, Adjustment and Troubleshooting of FCAW Equipment and Parameters
This domain tests the relationship between the machine settings and the arc, and your ability to diagnose a symptom back to a cause. It rewards knowing which knob does what.
334 words, about 2 min06Execution of FCAW Welds and Welding Procedure Compliance
This domain is about running the bead inside the qualified envelope: following the WPS, controlling heat input, and keeping the technique consistent enough that inspection passes first time. Read the WPS: process, consumable classification, polarity, current range, voltage range, travel speed, preheat and interpass temperature, position, and whether stringer or weave beads are permitted.
332 words, about 2 min07Inspection, Testing and Defect Identification of Completed Welds
This domain tests the inspection sequence, the acceptance logic, and your ability to name a defect from a description of its appearance or its radiograph. Before welding: material identity, fit-up, WPS, consumable.
328 words, about 2 min08Post-weld Operations, Finishing and Documentation
This domain covers what happens from the last arc to hand-over: cleaning, finishing, marking and the records that prove the weld met specification. Chip and brush slag as soon as the weld cools enough - FCAW slag is thin, glassy and sometimes self-peeling, so missed patches show up later as false indications or coating defects.
336 words, about 2 min09Quality Management and Continuous Improvement in Welding Work
This domain tests how a shop controls and improves welding quality as a system rather than as individual effort: documented procedures, calibration, traceability, nonconformance handling, and structured problem solving. A welding quality plan names the inspections, hold points, records and responsibilities for each joint type.
339 words, about 2 min