GTAW NC II study plan
GTAW NC II · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Workplace safety, health, and environment (OHS) compliance & Preparation of materials, tools, equipment, and work area
Set up a GTAW work area layout that satisfies OHS requirements, identifying fume extraction, fire watch, and hot-work permit obligations for each task
Select and inspect PPE for GTAW (welding helmet shade, gloves, leathers, eye protection for grinding and cleaning) and document why each item is required
Inspect a torch, regulator, gas hose, and ground clamp for damage and record each defect with the corrective action taken
Identify cylinder handling, storage, and leak-testing rules for argon and shielding-gas mixes, and explain what to do for a leaking regulator
Prepare base material (degrease, grind, fit-up, tack) for a carbon steel butt joint and record the sequence used
Your checkpoint
A one-page pre-job checklist covering PPE, ventilation, hot-work permit, cylinder handling, and equipment inspection, plus a photographed fit-up of one prepared carbon steel butt joint
GTAW process fundamentals, power sources, and parameter selection & Preparation of materials, tools, equipment, and work area
Match GTAW power source characteristics (CC/CV, AC/DC, high-frequency start, pulse) to the metals and positions you will weld
Calculate and set amperage, travel speed, gas flow, and electrode diameter for a given plate thickness using a parameter table you build yourself
Compare 2% thoriated, lanthanated, and ceriated tungsten electrodes and select the right one and grind angle for DCEN carbon steel and AC aluminum
Set up and leak-test a complete torch-to-cylinder assembly and confirm gas flow at the cup with a flowmeter
Explain the effect of arc length, torch angle, and cup size on shielding coverage and record your settings for three test beads
Your checkpoint
A personal parameter sheet listing voltage, amperage, gas flow, cup size, tungsten type and grind, and travel speed for at least four metal/position combinations, verified by running one bead per setting
GTAW welding of carbon steel and stainless steel (plate and pipe) & Interpretation of welding drawings, symbols, and specifications
Read a welding drawing and extract the joint type, groove preparation, base metal specification, filler classification, and position from the title block and symbols
Decode the common GTAW-related weld symbols (groove, fillet, all-around, field weld, tail notes) and write them out in plain language
Weld carbon steel plate in the flat and horizontal positions with a consistent bead profile and document the parameters used
Identify the WPS essential variables that must not be changed without requalification and mark them on a sample WPS
Perform a visual self-check of your plate welds against acceptance criteria and record undercut, spatter, and bead width deviations
Your checkpoint
A symbol-decoding worksheet for five weld symbols plus two carbon steel plate test coupons with a written parameter record and visual inspection notes for each
GTAW welding of carbon steel and stainless steel (plate and pipe) & GTAW welding of aluminum and other non-ferrous metals
Weld carbon steel pipe in the 6G or 5G position, maintaining root fusion and consistent reinforcement around the full circumference
Switch to AC and weld aluminum plate, adjusting balance, frequency, and cleaning action for the oxide layer
Weld stainless steel plate with controlled heat input to limit sensitization and discoloration, and record interpass temperature
Diagnose three common GTAW defects (porosity, tungsten inclusion, lack of fusion) and correct the parameter or technique that caused each
Compare filler metal selection for carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum and justify each choice
Your checkpoint
Three coupons (carbon steel pipe, stainless plate, aluminum plate) each with a defect log identifying cause and the corrected parameter, plus a one-page filler selection table
GTAW welding of aluminum and other non-ferrous metals & GTAW welding of carbon steel and stainless steel (plate and pipe)
Weld aluminum pipe or tube and explain how thermal conductivity affects preheat, amperage, and travel speed
Weld stainless steel pipe with a purged root and verify the purge setup and oxygen indicator reading before welding
Identify and correct arc blow, wandering arc, and inconsistent penetration on thin-gauge material
Adjust pulse settings for thin stainless and aluminum sheet and record the effect on heat input and distortion
Explain how to weld a dissimilar joint (carbon steel to stainless) and select the filler metal for it
Your checkpoint
Two advanced coupons (aluminum pipe or tube, purged stainless pipe) with a before/after parameter comparison showing the correction applied to at least two defects
Weld inspection, testing, and defect identification/correction & Interpretation of welding drawings, symbols, and specifications
Perform a structured visual inspection of your accumulated coupons using a checklist of acceptance criteria for each defect type
Explain the purpose and limitations of PT, RT, and UT for GTAW welds and state which defects each method detects best
Prepare a weld for bend or nick-break testing and interpret the failure mode from the fracture surface
Cross-check your coupons against the drawing requirements and flag any dimensional or profile nonconformance
Write a corrective action for each defect you found that names the root cause and the parameter or technique change
Your checkpoint
An inspection report covering at least six coupons with defect classification, root cause, and corrective action for each nonconformance
Documentation, recording, and reporting of welding activities & Weld inspection, testing, and defect identification/correction
Complete a weld map and traceability record linking each coupon to its WPS, filler lot, and welder identification
Record welding parameters in real time on a log sheet and reconcile it against the WPS ranges after the fact
Write a nonconformance report and a repair record in the format a fabrication shop would file
Explain retention, sign-off, and traceability requirements for welding records and who is responsible for each
Review your full coupon set and re-test the two defect types you corrected least reliably
Your checkpoint
A complete documentation packet: weld map, parameter log, one nonconformance report, and one repair record, all internally consistent with the coupons produced
Workplace safety, health, and environment (OHS) compliance & GTAW process fundamentals, power sources, and parameter selection & GTAW welding of carbon steel and stainless steel (plate and pipe) & GTAW welding of aluminum and other non-ferrous metals & Weld inspection, testing, and defect identification/correction
Complete a timed 60-question mixed mock exam weighted by domain percentage and score at least 80%
Re-drill every missed item by domain and write the correct reasoning in your own words
Recite the OHS and documentation requirements that are easy to forget (permits, cylinder handling, record retention) from memory
Run a final full-length practice coupon in your weakest metal/position and inspect it against acceptance criteria
Build a one-page exam-day reference sheet of parameters, symbols, and defect causes that you can review in 15 minutes
Your checkpoint
A scored mock exam with a written error analysis by domain, plus a final inspected coupon and a one-page reference sheet
Milestones
Week 2: You can set up a complete GTAW station from cylinder to torch, pass a leak test, and state correct parameters for four metal/position combinations without looking them up
Week 4: You have produced carbon steel plate, carbon steel pipe, stainless plate, and aluminum plate coupons, and can name the cause and fix for porosity, tungsten inclusion, and lack of fusion
Week 6: You have visually inspected at least six coupons against acceptance criteria and written a root cause and corrective action for every nonconformance found
Week 8: You score at least 80% on a timed mixed mock exam and can explain every missed item by domain, with a completed documentation packet and final inspected coupon on file