AWS D1.1 qualifications don't expire on a date — they expire when a welder goes 6 months without using the qualified process. If that happened, the WPQ is void and a retest is required. We make that fast.
Per AWS D1.1 Clause 6.2.3, a welder's qualification stays valid indefinitely — as long as they weld with the qualified process at least once every 6 months AND their employer documents it. Both conditions must be met.
A 6-month gap breaks continuity. The WPQ becomes invalid. The welder must pass a new qualification test before they can weld on D1.1 structural steel projects again.
Most common. Welder was laid off, injured, switched jobs, or just wasn't running the qualified process. Over 6 months = retest required.
Many companies require welders to qualify under their own supervision, even if the welder has valid WPQ records from a previous employer.
No WPQ records = no proof of qualification. Re-testing is the fastest path to documented compliance.
Per D1.1, a CWI can revoke qualification if there's specific reason to question the welder's ability. Re-qualification resolves it cleanly.
Re-qualification is the same test as initial qualification — same plate prep, same CWI inspection, same pass/fail criteria. There's no shortcut. The welder runs the plate, it either passes or it doesn't.
The upside: if your welder has been welding regularly on another process, they're probably in good shape mechanically. The skill is there. They just need to demonstrate it on the specific process that lapsed.
Start a continuity log the day you receive the WPQ. It doesn't need to be complicated — date, welder name, process, project or job number, supervisor signature. Keep it in the welder's file. Review it every 5 months. Set a calendar reminder. A $0 spreadsheet prevents a $250+ retest.
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