GTAW NC II exam-day guide
GTAW NC II · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID document the test centre accepted at registration (passport, national ID card, or driver's licence). A photocopy or a photo on your phone is normally not accepted. Confirm with the provider which ID types are valid and whether the name must match your application exactly.
Admission letter / test permit and appointment confirmation
Print the confirmation showing your candidate number, test date, time, and site address. Some centres accept a digital copy, but a printed copy avoids problems with phone access or battery. Confirm with the provider whether printing is required.
Approved PPE: welding helmet with correct shade lens
Bring your own helmet with a spare outer and inner clear lens and a shade filter suitable for the amperage you will use on thin-gauge stainless and carbon steel. Inspect the headgear and lens for cracks before the day. Confirm with the provider whether personal helmets are permitted or whether the centre supplies them.
Leather gloves, flame-resistant jacket/apron, and safety glasses
Bring gauntlet gloves in good condition, a leather or FR sleeve/apron, and clear safety glasses to wear under the helmet. Do not bring synthetic clothing; cotton or wool workwear is expected in a welding booth. Confirm with the provider whether coveralls are supplied on site.
Respiratory protection and fume awareness
Tungsten inert gas welding on stainless steel produces fume and ozone; a disposable or half-face respirator may be required or recommended. Confirm with the provider what respiratory protection is mandatory and whether fit testing is required before the test.
No loose jewellery, no exposed synthetic clothing, tied-back hair
Remove rings, watches, and necklaces, and secure long hair. Loose metal can arc or short against the workpiece, and synthetic fabric can melt onto skin. This is a safety requirement in most booths.
Know the required joint, position, and process variables
Before the day, be able to state the plate thickness, joint type (butt, lap, T, corner), welding position (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead), current type (DCEN, DCEP, or AC), filler classification, and whether a root purge or backing is used. Confirm with the provider which test piece and position your assessment uses.
Practice the specific test piece under time pressure
Rehearse the exact joint and position at least twice in the final week, timing yourself against the assessment duration. Practise setting your machine parameters from scratch rather than on a pre-set machine.
Clean, correctly sized tungsten electrodes and a spare
Bring several electrodes of the diameter and type you use (for example 1.6 mm and 2.4 mm, ceriated or lanthanated for DC, pure or zirconiated for AC aluminium). Pre-grind them lengthwise to a point and bring a spare in case of contamination. Confirm with the provider whether electrodes and filler are supplied.
Filler rods of the correct classification and diameter
Bring filler matching the base metal (for example ER70S-2 or ER70S-6 for carbon steel, ER308L for 304 stainless, ER4043 or ER5356 for aluminium). Keep them clean and dry and store them in a tube. Confirm with the provider whether filler is provided and whether you must use the centre's stock.
Stainless steel wire brush, dedicated files, and cleaning cloths
Bring a stainless-only brush and a file for removing oxide and preparing edges. Cross-contaminating a stainless brush with carbon steel causes rust and can cost marks on cleanliness. Confirm with the provider whether tools are supplied.
Arrival logistics: route, parking, and early arrival
Plan the route and allow a buffer for traffic and site sign-in. Aim to arrive well before the reporting time so you can complete registration and safety induction without rushing. Confirm with the provider the exact reporting time and site entrance.
Plan the day
Re-read the assessment standard or candidate information sheet and list every variable you must set and record: current, gas flow rate, electrode type and diameter, filler classification and diameter, joint preparation, and position. Confirm with the provider which edition of the standard applies and whether you must submit a welding procedure or parameter sheet.
Do one full dry run of the exact test piece, including setup, tacking, welding, cleaning, and inspection, and time each stage. Identify where you lose time, usually in fit-up and cleaning rather than in the arc itself.
Check your consumables inventory: enough electrodes, filler, lenses, gloves, and cleaning tools for two attempts. Order or buy anything missing now, not the morning of the test.
Inspect PPE: helmet headgear, lens shade, glove condition, and respirator fit. Replace cracked lenses and worn gloves, because a failed lens or a hole in a glove mid-test is a distraction you cannot afford.
Pack the bag from the checklist and place ID, admission letter, and permit in a separate pocket. Charge your phone and any torch or inspection light.
Do a light practice session only, focusing on arc starting and bead consistency on scrap. Stop early enough to avoid fatigue; heavy practice the day before degrades hand steadiness.
Confirm the reporting time, site address, and entrance with the provider, and check the weather and traffic forecast for the route. Set two alarms.
Eat normally, avoid alcohol, hydrate, and get a full night's sleep. Fatigue shows up as arc-length variation and tungsten contamination.
Eat a proper meal, dress in cotton or wool workwear with no synthetic layers against the skin, and leave with a buffer of at least 30 to 45 minutes over the estimated travel time.
On arrival, complete sign-in and ID verification, attend the safety induction, and locate the booth, machine, ground clamp, gas supply, and fume extraction before the clock starts.
Inspect the test piece for thickness, edge condition, and any pre-machined bevel, then set up and tack with the same care you would give the final weld. Check gas flow at the torch, confirm polarity and current, and verify the ground connection.
Work to your rehearsed sequence and pace. Keep the tungsten clean, maintain a consistent arc length, and control heat input to limit distortion. If you contaminate the tungsten, stop, regrind or swap the electrode, and restart cleanly rather than trying to weld through it.
Clean the completed piece as specified, remove spatter and oxide, and check that identification marks are where the provider requires. Hand in the piece and any required parameter or procedure sheet before leaving the booth, and confirm with the assessor what else must be submitted.
Rules to check
Bring original government-issued photo ID. The name on the ID must match your registration; if your documents differ, resolve this with the provider before test day rather than at sign-in.
Follow the site safety induction and all booth rules without exception. Failure to wear required PPE, welding without fume extraction where it is required, or unsafe handling of hot metal or gas cylinders can result in removal from the assessment.
Use only the materials, consumables, and parameters permitted by the assessment. Substituting filler or base metal, or using a pre-set programme when you are required to set parameters yourself, may void the result. Confirm with the provider what is and is not allowed.
Do not communicate with other candidates about the test content during the assessment, and do not photograph or record the test piece, drawings, or assessment documents. Keep your phone stored as instructed.
Ask the assessor before leaving the booth, and only leave for breaks or personal needs when permitted. Confirm with the provider the break policy, whether the clock stops, and how much time is allowed.
If equipment fails, gas runs out, or the test piece is defective, stop and report it to the assessor immediately. Do not attempt repairs to centre equipment yourself. Confirm with the provider how lost time is handled.
Understand the scoring basis before you start: assessment usually combines visual inspection with destructive or non-destructive testing of the test piece and may include oral or written questions on parameters and safety. Confirm with the provider the pass criteria, the weighting, and whether a retest or appeal is available.
Comply with any site-specific rules on dress, jewellery, food and drink, and smoking, and treat assessors and staff with courtesy. Abusive conduct or attempts to influence the assessor are grounds for disqualification.