28 Sep What Are The Difference Between Coded And Certified Welders

What is a Coded Welder?

A coded welder is a welder who’s taken an exam in a specific welding process using a specific configuration. The exam is called a Welding Approval Test. Some codes may be more general than others, but they are usually more specific, requiring a particular method.

Coded welders must hold a valid welder coding certification, signed every 6 months by a qualified person, confirming that the welder has still been producing welds to the required standard.

Whilst skilled welders may find the regular testing frustrating, it keeps the standard for coded welders high.

What is a Certified Welder?

A certified welder is a welder who has passed an apprenticeship and has a trade certificate, so is fit to work within the industry. Coding tests are generally more crucial than certification since most employers believe that it’s more important that their employees are able to produce high-standard welds.

Typically certified welders have previously worked under other welders through an apprenticeship to gain their certified status and may or may not have the practical experience to pass coding tests. However, some coding tests are specific and complex to provide for the work required.

What are the Differences Between Coded Welders and Certified Welders?

Whilst these terms are largely interchanged, the difference between coded welders and certified welders is the practical degree of mastery.

Certified welders can produce certification proving their knowledge of welding and the associated industry.

Coded welders are tested biannually to prove that they continue to produce high-quality welds that meet industry standards.

Coded welders have demonstrated practical ability, whilst certified welders have theoretical knowledge – although nothing is stopping a welder from being both coded and certified, as many skilled welders are.

What is the Welder Coding System?

Welder coding tests are not standardised; this may be beneficial as it makes it easy to test for the exact work needed. However, this also means that skilled welders, often with decades of experience, may have to prove even the most basic of competencies on a regular basis. Since the employer usually sets coded tests, this may also mean the welders need to retake the same tests every time they move onto a new project, which can be frequent as some welders may move between projects to work on maintenance. 

The advantage to a varied set of welder coding tests is that some welding work is less technical than others, so can have a less challenging coding test to come with it. However, since there are thousands of possible welding variations, a skilled career welder will frequently need to undergo many different coding tests to prove they’re still fit for the job at hand.

On top of this, as coding tests only tend to require one successful weld, a welder can pass a coding test for work they can not consistently produce – in other words, it’s possible to pass coding tests through sheer luck, resulting in a lot of wasted time and money for the employer.

Welding Codes

Welder coding tests are based on the type of welding required, so they are generally industry-specific, for example, pipeline, structural or aerospace. They will also be specific to the jurisdiction or country since there is no standardised format for welder coding tests.

However, one thing is standard throughout coding tests – they are specifically designed to match the type of welding work required for the job. Many welders, such as the experts at Baker Steel Trading, are available as mobile welders, meaning the quality of their welds must be consistent and reproducible enough to be applied in many environments.

Professional Mobile Steel Welding and Steel Fabrication from Baker Steel Trading

Baker Steel Trading are the South East’s chosen steel fabricators and mobile welders. With years of experience in high-quality mobile welding for steel to our client’s exact specifications, Baker Steel Trading have a track record of delivering quality and excellence in steel fabrication and mobile welding. Please get in touch with us to learn about our mobile welding services, and how we can help you.