AWS D1.1 Welder Qualification
Questions Answered

Flat (1G), horizontal (2G), and vertical (3G) groove welds — plus fillet welds in flat (1F), horizontal (2F), and vertical (3F) positions per D1.1 Table 6.10. It does NOT cover overhead. If overhead work is in scope, get the 4G or go straight to 3G+4G all-position.

No. A standalone 4G qualifies flat, horizontal, and overhead. It doesn't cover vertical (3G). This is counterintuitive — overhead is "harder" but doesn't absorb vertical by itself. For everything, run the 3G+4G combo. That's the only plate test that covers all four positions.

Yes. Per D1.1 Clause 6.11.1, a CJP groove weld qualification also qualifies the welder for PJP groove welds and fillet welds in the same or lower positions tested. You don't need separate fillet weld tests if you've passed the CJP groove test.

5G is pipe fixed in horizontal position — the welder moves around it. Qualifies flat, vertical, and overhead. 6G is pipe fixed at 45° — the welder moves around it through all positions at compound angles. It's harder and qualifies more. A 6G typically covers everything a 5G does and then some.

Test on 1" plate = qualified for unlimited thickness (1/8" minimum, no maximum). Test on 3/8" plate = qualified for 1/8" to 3/4" only. If your production work ever exceeds 3/4", test on the 1" plate. Don't save a few dollars on plate material and create a re-test situation later.

Only up to a point. The general rule per D1.1 Table 6.11: the maximum qualified thickness is 2× the test plate thickness — until you hit 1" plate, which breaks to unlimited. So a 1/2" test plate qualifies you up to 1". A 3/8" plate qualifies up to 3/4". You cannot test on a 1/4" plate and qualify for unlimited.

No fixed expiration date. D1.1 qualifications stay valid as long as: (1) the welder uses the qualified process at least once every 6 months, AND (2) the employer documents it. Miss either condition and the WPQ is void. The clock is per process — if a welder has both SMAW and FCAW qualifications, both processes need to be used within each 6-month window.

D1.1 doesn't specify a required format. Time cards, weld maps, job travelers, project logs, or a dedicated continuity form with date, process, and supervisor signature all work. The burden is on the employer to demonstrate the welder used the process. When an auditor shows up, "we trust they welded" is not documentation.

Retest. That's it. Once continuity breaks, the WPQ is void and cannot be reinstated — a new qualification test is required. Call us. We'll get you scheduled and the retest handled as fast as possible so your welder gets back on the job.

Usually yes. Per D1.1 Clause 6.23.3, RT can substitute for bend tests on most qualification tests. The one exception: GMAW short-circuit transfer mode (GMAW-S). That process requires bend tests — RT substitution is not permitted. Tell us your process when you call and we'll confirm which method applies.

A WPQ (Welder Performance Qualification) is a code-required document issued by the employer/testing lab proving the welder passed a D1.1 test under specific conditions. It's tied to the employer's quality program and is what most structural steel job specifications actually require. An AWS Certified Welder card is a portable, individual credential issued directly by the American Welding Society — different document, different program. We issue WPQ records, not AWS Certified Welder cards.

No. Current type and polarity are not essential variables for welder performance qualification per D1.1 Table 6.12. A welder qualified on AC is qualified for the same process on DC without retesting, as long as all other essential variables remain within their qualified range.

Per D1.1 Clause 6.25, a retest is allowed. If the failure is lack of skill, the welder practices, runs new plates, and retests in the failed position. You can't resubmit the original plate. If only one position fails on a 3G+4G combo, only the failed position needs retesting — you don't redo both. Call us and we'll walk through the retest requirements.

No limit. We handle single-welder submissions and multi-welder batches regularly. Larger batches may affect turnaround time — call ahead so we can plan accordingly and give you an accurate timeline.