CERTIFICATION

WELDER

QUALIFICATION

How to Read an ISO 9606-1 Welder Qualification Certificate: A Field-by-Field Guide

By First Welding Certification Technical Editorial Team

6 Min Read

22 Aug 2026

Key Takeaways

Identify the key fields on the qualification certificate

Check the qualified welding process and conditions

Verify thickness, diameter and qualification ranges

Match certificate details with production requirements

ISO 9606-1 certification includes a lot more data than just the name of a welder and the certification date. Each field contains particular conditions at which the welder proved his or her welding performance.

For welding contractors, quality managers, inspectors, production engineers and manufacturers, the ability to understand these data prior to allocating a welder to production activities is important.

ISO 9606-1:2012 sets qualification testing requirements for welders involved in the fusion welding of steels, focusing on the welder’s ability to manually control the welding equipment and make an acceptable weld. This standard relates to manual and partly mechanized welding, rather than fully automated welding.

What Does an ISO 9606-1 Certificate Show?

An ISO 9606-1 welding certificate records the conditions of the test and the qualification range achieved by the welder as a result of this test.

The particular certificate format may differ depending on the certification organization or examining authority. Nevertheless, the technical data usually include such important elements as:

Identification of the welder
Welding process
Type of product
Type of the weld
Group of materials
Information about filler metal
Dimensions of the test piece
Welding position
Welding conditions
Information about test and examination
Qualification range
Examiner or examining body
Dates and certificate identification

The main thing is that the certificate must be understood as a set of qualified welding conditions, but not as just the confirmation of being “a qualified welder.”

Field-by-Field Explanation

1. Welder’s Name or Identification

Begin by identifying the welder’s name or identification.

Check:

Full name
Identification number, if any
Employer or organization, if provided
Certificate or qualification number

The identity must match the individual designated for the welding operation.

2. Applicable Standard

Locate the standard reference such as ISO 9606-1:2012 or national/European adoption if it is available. It proves that the qualification has been recorded against a particular technical standard.

According to ISO, ISO 9606-1:2012 is the current publication as per the last review, but the new ISO/DIS 9606.2 is being developed.

3. Welding Process

It refers to the process which has been used to make the test weld.

You will find process numbers, such as:

111 – manual metal arc welding
135 – MAG welding
136 – MAG welding with flux cored wire
141 – TIG welding

This is important since the qualification is linked to the process used in the testing. Do not consider that qualification in one process means automatic qualification for all other welding processes.

4. Product Type and Weld Type

The certificate may identify whether the test is for:

Plate
Pipe
Butt weld
Fillet weld

These are relevant to the resulting qualification range. For instance, a pipe test and a plate test are not interchangeable. You have to determine the qualification range from the standard.

5. Material Information

The material designation or material group will be available here.

The certificate identifies the material as per the classification system applied in the testing process.It is relevant since qualification is linked to the material which has been tested. In the assessment of qualification for production use, compare the certificate qualification material with the material specified in the welding documentation.

6. Filler Material

There could be information about the filler material or consumables in the test.

Depending on the welding process, it may include information on:

Electrode type
Wire classification
Filler material designation
Diameter

This information helps in knowing the testing conditions under which the qualification test has been completed by the welder.

7. Test Piece Thickness

Thickness is among the most important fields to be reviewed.

The certificate may provide the thickness of the test piece together with the qualified range of thickness.It should not be assumed that the thickness of the test piece is equivalent to the production thickness.The qualified range in the certificate should be compared with the corresponding rules.In particular, ISO/TC 44 published interpretations specifically address questions about the qualified ranges including special attention to butt and fillet welds.

8. Outside Diameter for Pipe Tests

Diameter may play an important role for pipe qualifications.The certificate may give the outside diameter of the test piece together with the qualified range.

If the production project concerns the pipe welding, it is necessary to compare the production diameter with the qualified range provided in the certificate rather than to simply consider the pipe qualification of the welder.

9. Welding Position

Welding position is another essential field.

The commonly used designation includes such positions as:

The welding position in the test influences the qualified range. Thus, in order to plan production, the actual welding position should be compared with the qualified position from the certificate.

10. Backing and Other Welding Conditions

Depending on the process and test configuration, the certificate can also have information about such conditions as:

Backing
Gas backing
Consumable insert
Flux backing
Single-side or relevant joint conditions

All these features may affect the qualification range of the welder.

In particular, ISO/TC 44 interpretations address how backing and gas-backing conditions are reflected in qualification ranges.

How to Read the Qualification Range

It should be noted that the most crucial point of the certificate is not the test condition but the qualified range resulted from this test.

The certificate can be considered as consisting of three layers:

TEST CONDITION → QUALIFICATION RANGE → PRODUCTION APPLICATION

As an example:

Tested process
↓
Test material and joint configuration
↓
Test thickness / diameter
↓
Test position
↓
Examination results
↓
Qualified range

Then the production engineer can compare the actual production with the qualified range.

Quick Certificate Review Table

Certificate Field	What to Check	Why It Matters
Welder identification	Name / ID	Confirms the person
Standard	ISO 9606-1 reference	Identifies qualification basis
Process	Process number	Defines welding process
Product type	Plate / pipe	Establishes test configuration
Weld type	Butt / fillet	Defines joint qualification
Material	Material group/designation	Checks material applicability
Thickness	Test and qualified range	Checks production thickness
Diameter	Pipe test diameter/range	Checks pipe applicability
Position	PA, PB, PC, etc.	Checks welding position
Backing	Applicable backing condition	Checks joint conditions
Examination	Test results	Confirms test outcome
Qualification range	Stated limits	Determines production applicability

Certificate Reading Flow

STEP 1
Identify the welder
↓
STEP 2
Determine which standard is used
↓
STEP 3
Identify welding process
↓
STEP 4
Determine which product and type of weld
↓
STEP 5
Determine which material and filler metal
↓
STEP 6
Determine thickness / diameter
↓
STEP 7
Determine welding position and other conditions
↓
STEP 8
Read the qualification range
↓
STEP 9
Compare with production welding requirements

This straightforward sequence will facilitate checking the certificate when reviewing documents and preparing production.

Common Mistakes When Checking a Certificate

Error #1: Relying only on the date of the certificate

A date does not give you any idea whether the certificate applies to your production application or not.

Error #2: Confusion about welding process qualifications

Qualification that applies to one welding process should not be automatically considered qualification for another process.

Error #3: Overlooking the position

A welder may have a valid qualification but the real position of production may be out of range.

Error #4: Concentration only on the test thickness

Test piece thickness and qualification range may not be the same.

Error #5: Overlooking the diameter of the pipe work

Pipe work diameter may be a qualifying feature of the certificate.

Error #6: Expectation of the same format of all certificates

Not all examining bodies lay out certificate information in the same manner. Look at technical fields only.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What kind of information is included in ISO 9606-1 certificate?

ISO 9606-1 certificate includes information about welder identity, applicable standard, welding procedure, test layout, material data, dimensions, welding position, examination results and corresponding qualification range. The format might vary between certificate issuers.

How can I verify if a welder qualification covers certain welding job?

Compare the production requirements with the welder’s qualification range. Make sure that the welding procedure, product, weld type, material, thickness or diameter, welding position and welding conditions match.

What does it mean when a thickness range is indicated in a welder qualification certificate?

The thickness range indicates the thickness limits of qualification according to applicable qualification rules. It should not be presumed that thickness of the test piece is the full range of production range.

What should I consider to confirm welding position on qualification certificate?

Identify the position identification, like PA, PB, PC, PD, PE, PF and PG, and compare it with the welding position for production welding. Always check the applicable qualification range and not the assumption that all positions are covered.

What fields should I pay attention to in welder qualification certificate when deciding which welder to assign?

Among the most important fields are the welder identification, standard, welding procedure, product type, weld type, material, test dimensions, welding position, backing conditions, examination data and qualification range.

Conclusion

Correctly reading the welder qualification certificate goes beyond checking only the name and expiry date. A welder qualification certificate includes information about the welding procedure, material, joint type, dimensions, position and other conditions that define the qualification range. From manufacturer, welding coordinator and quality department point of view, the solution is easy: Identify the test conditions, read the applicable qualification range and compare it with the production welding requirement. ISO 9606-1:2012 is the technical standard for qualification testing of welders for fusion welding of steels and ISO/TC 44 regularly publishes interpretations regarding its application.

To learn more about the validity, continuity and renewal of a welder qualification, read our article: ISO 9606-1 Welder Qualification: Validity, Continuity & Renewal Explained (2026).

Verify Your ISO 9606-1 Welder Qualification

Certification verification should be done precisely, especially when it comes to allocation of welding personnel to production tasks. First Welding Certification Pvt Ltd (PRVÁ ZVÁRAČSKÁ,a.s.) provides certification of welding personnel according to relevant international standards.

Review the qualification information. Identify the relevant scope. Ensure that you have reliable welding certification.