AWS SENSE QC10:2008

Specification for Qualification and Certification of Level I—Entry Welder

Key Words —Entry Welder, Training

Organization, performance tests, acceptance criteria

AWS SENSE QC10:2008

Specification for Qualification and Certification of Level I—Entry Welder

Supersedes AWS QC-10:2004 Revision Nov. 2008

Prepared by the American Welding Society (AWS) Committee on SENSE

AWS Committee on Education

Approved by the AWS Board of Directors

Abstract

This standard defines the requirements for the American Welding Society to register a Level I—Entry Welder to the AWS SENSE program. The AWS Schools Excelling through National Skill Standards Education (SENSE) program began in 1993 with the award of a grant by the US Department of Education to develop a series of standards and a program for the recognition of welders based on welding performance testing and practical knowledge tests. The SENSE welder program is comprised of three levels: Level I—Entry Welder, Level II—Advanced Welder, and Level III—Expert Welder. The certification of a Level I—Entry Welder requires performance qualification (skill) and practical knowledge (written) tests. These tests require reading, computational, and manual skills to complete.

550 N.W. LeJeune Road, Miami, FL 33126

AWS SENSE QC10:2008

International Standard Book Number: 978-0-87171-744-3

American Welding Society 550 N.W. LeJeune Road, Miami, FL 33126

© 2008 by American Welding Society All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

Photocopy Rights. No portion of this standard may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, including mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Authorization to photocopy items for internal, personal, or educational classroom use only or the internal, personal, or educational classroom use only of specific clients is granted by the American Welding Society provided that the appropriate fee is paid to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, tel: (978) 750-8400; Internet:

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AWS SENSE QC10:2008

Statement on Use of AWS Standards

All standards (codes, specifications, recommended practices, methods, classifications, and guides) of the American Welding Society (AWS) are voluntary consensus standards that have been developed in accordance with the rules of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). When AWS standards are either incorporated in, or made part of, documents that are included in federal or state laws and regulations, or the regulations of other governmental bodies, their provisions carry the full legal authority of the statute. In such cases, any changes in those AWS standards must be approved by the governmental body having statutory jurisdiction before they can become a part of those laws and regulations. In all cases, these standards carry the full legal authority of the contract or other document that invokes the AWS standards. Where this contractual relationship exists, changes in or deviations from requirements of an AWS standard must be by agreement between the contracting parties.

This AWS standard was developed through a consensus standards development process that brings together volunteers representing varied viewpoints and interests to achieve consensus. While AWS administers the process and establishes rules to promote fairness in the development of consensus, it does not independently test, evaluate, or verify the accuracy of any information or the soundness of any judgments contained in its standards.

AWS disclaims liability for any injury to persons or to property, or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether special, indirect, consequential or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the publication, use of, or reliance on this standard. AWS also makes no guarantee or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein.

In issuing and making this standard available, AWS is not undertaking to render professional or other services for or on behalf of any person or entity. Nor is AWS undertaking to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to someone else. Anyone using these documents should rely on his or her own independent judgment or, as appropriate, seek the advice of a competent professional in determining the exercise of reasonable care in any given circumstances.

This standard may be superseded by the issuance of new editions. Users should ensure that they have the latest edition.

Publication of this standard does not authorize infringement of any patent or trade name. Users of this standard accept any and all liabilities for infringement of any patent or trade name items. AWS disclaims liability for the infringement of any patent or product trade name resulting from the use of this standard.

On occasion, text, tables, or figures are printed incorrectly, constituting errata. Such errata, when discovered, are posted on the AWS web site (www.aws.org).

Official interpretations of any of the technical requirements of this standard may only be obtained by sending a request, in writing, to the Director of Education, Technical Services Division, American Welding Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune Road, Miami, FL 33126. With regard to technical inquiries made concerning AWS standards, oral opinions on AWS standards may be rendered. However, such opinions represent only the personal opinions of the particular individuals giving them. These individuals do not speak on behalf of AWS, nor do these oral opinions constitute official or unoffi- cial opinions or interpretations of AWS. In addition, oral opinions are informal and should not be used as a substitute for an official interpretation.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the AWS Committee on Education. Comments (recommendations, ad- ditions, or deletions) and any pertinent data that may be of use in improving this standard are required and should be ad- dressed to AWS Headquarters. Such comments will receive careful consideration by the AWS Committee on Education and the author of the comments will be informed of the Committee’s response to the comments. Guests are invited to at- tend all meetings of the AWS Committee on Education to express their comments verbally. Procedures for appeal of an adverse decision concerning all such comments are provided in the Rules of Operation of the Education Committee. A copy of these Rules can be obtained from the American Welding Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune Road, Miami, FL 33126.

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AWS SENSE QC10:2008

Personnel

AWS Committee on Education

E. Norman, Chair

T. Lienert, Vice Chair

1. Ventura, Secretary

   1. Godley

*D. Klingman

S. V. Houston

E. Abbot

L. Caughron

D. Cotner

D. P. Hamilton

D. Haas

M. Harris

C. Seeger

1. Muehlbrant

   G. Smith

   D. Twitty

   1. Vanscoy

      Southwest Area Career Center Los Alamos National Laboratory American Welding Society Southern Company Generation The Lincoln Electric Company American Technical Publishers Ironworkers International Grand River Technical School PA College of Technology Sequoiah High School

      Northrop Grumman International Training Institute United Association

      The Lincoln Electric Company Ohio Department of Education Doña Ana Community College

      International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

      
      

      AWS Subcommittee on SENSE

      
      

   2. V. Houston, Chair

M. Anderson

L. Bower

R. Depue

E. Norman

R. Richwine

D. Twitty

G. Smith

American Technical Publishers New Castle Area Career Programs Blackhawk Technical College Welding Consultant

Southwest Area Career Center Ivy Tech Community College Doña Ana Community College Ohio Department of Education

*Advisor

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AWS SENSE QC10:2008

Foreword

This foreword is not a part of QC10:2008, Specification for Qualification and Certification of Level I—Entry Welder, but is included for informational purposes only.

The AWS Schools Excelling through National Skill Standards Education (SENSE) program began in 1993 with the award of a grant by the U.S. Department of Education to develop a series of standards and a program for the recognition of welders based on welding performance testing and practical knowledge tests. The development of this National Skill Standard has involved the participation of the welding industry through a survey designed to determine a consensus of welder skills and competencies required for individuals seeking the development of their welding skills. The result of this industry survey was an occupational task analysis that formed the basis for guidelines for the training of welders at three levels: Level I—Entry Welder, Level II—Advanced Welder, and Level III—Expert Welder.

Three specifications were developed in the period July 1993 to July 1996:

AWS QC10-95, Specification for Qualification and Certification of Entry Level Welders

AWS QC11-96, Specification for Qualification and Certification for Level II—Advanced Welder

AWS QC12-96, Specification for Qualification and Certification for Level III—Expert Welders

In addition, guideline documents were developed for each level:

AWS EG2.0-95, Guide for the Training and Qualification of Welding Personnel: Entry Level Welder

AWS EG3.0-96, Guide for the Training and Qualification of Welding Personnel: Level II—Advanced Welder

AWS EG4.0-96, Guide for the Training and Qualification of Welding Personnel: Level III—Expert Welder

The present standard is the first in a series of revisions to the SENSE program documents and updates QC10:2004. The administration of the program has been more clearly defined emphasizing the modular nature of the guidelines and allowing for the recognition of welders who complete defined portions of the program.

Your comments for improving the Specification for Qualification and Certification of Level I—Entry Welder are welcome. Submit comments to the Secretary, AWS Committee on Education, American Welding Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune Road, Miami, FL 33126; telephone (305) 443-9353; fax (305) 648-2396; e-mail education@aws.org; or via the AWS web site www.aws.org.

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AWS SENSE QC10:2008

Table of Contents

Page No.

Personnel v

Foreword vii

Table of Contents ix

List of Tables x

List of Drawings x

List of Figures x

1. Scope 1

2. Referenced Document 1

3. Definitions 1

4. Requirements for Entry Welder 1

5. Welding Guidelines 2

6. Entry Welder Practical Knowledge Qualification—Written Test. 2

7. Entry Welder Performance Qualification—Workmanship Samples and Test Plates 2

8. Inspection, Testing, and Acceptance Criteria. 3

9. Documentation 3

10. Records of Welder Certification. 3

11. Registration of Entry Welders 4

    Annex A: Performance Qualification Visual Inspection Results 7

    Annex B: Face- and Root-Bend Test Results 9

    Annex C: Breakdown of Modules and Key Indicators: Level I—Entry Welder 11

    List of AWS Documents 23

    
    

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    AWS SENSE QC10:2008

    
    

    List of Tables

    
    

    Table Page No.

    1. Level I—Entry Welder Program Structure 4

    2. Entry Welder Performance Qualification Tests 5

    3. Visual Inspection Criteria for Entry Welders 5

    4. Acceptance Criteria for Face- and Root-Bends 6

       
       

       List of Drawings

       
       

       Drawing No. Page No.

       AWS EDU-1 FCAW-G/GM, FCAW-S Carbon Steel Performance Qualification 15

       AWS EDU-2 GMAW Spray Transfer Carbon Steel Performance Qualification 16

       AWS EDU-3 GMAW-S (Short Circuiting Transfer), and GTAW Carbon Steel Performance Qualification 17

       AWS EDU-4 GTAW Stainless Steel Performance Qualification 18

       AWS EDU-5 GTAW Aluminum Performance Qualification. 19

       AWS EDU-6 SMAW Carbon Steel Performance Qualification (Test Plates) 20

       List of Figures

       Figure Page No.

       1. Face- and Root-Bend Test Specimen 21

       2. Guided-Bend Test Jig. 21

       3. Alternative Wrap-Around Guided-Bend Test Jig 22

       4. Alternative Roller-Equipped Guided-Bend Jig 22

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AWS SENSE QC10:2008

Specification for Qualification and Certification of Level I—Entry Welder

1. Scope

   1. This standard establishes the minimum requirements for qualification and certification as a SENSE Level I—Entry Welder with the American Welding Society.

   2. This standard specifies practical knowledge and performance tests that require a minimum level of reading, computational, and manual skills to successfully complete.

   3. All individuals meeting the specified performance criteria at a facility that is a training organization will be listed in the AWS database of SENSE Entry Welders.

   4. Organizations that are not training organizations may use this standard, but individuals they instruct will not be listed in the AWS database of SENSE Entry Welders.

   5. Although a written test including questions on safety is required by this standard, this standard is not intended to address safety and health. Safety and health require- ments are provided in ANSI Z49.1, Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes, other safety and health standards, and federal, state, and local government regu- lations. The responsibility for safety is primarily with the welder, the training organization during training and test- ing, and afterwards, with the employer.

      
      

2. Referenced Document

   1. EG2.0, Guide for Training of Welding Personnel: Level I—Entry Welder

   
   

3. Definitions

   Welding terms used in this standard are defined in AWS A3.0, Standard Welding Terms and Definitions. Other terms are defined as follows:

   competency. A set of skills, related knowledge, and attributes that allow an individual to perform a task, and that can be verified by performance and practical knowledge testing.

   
   

   Entry Welder (Level I). An individual employed in this position is considered to possess a prerequisite amount of knowledge, attitude, skills, and habits required to perform routine, predictable, repetitive, and procedural tasks involving motor skills, and limited theoretical knowledge while working under close supervision.

   
   

   module. The collection of training or learning activities defining a particular set of skills for a subject or group of related subjects. A module may contain one or more Units. There are 9 modules in the Level I— Entry Welder program.

   
   

   unit. The collection of training or learning activities defining a particular set of skills for a single subject. A part of a module that focuses on a particular theme or topic. For example, Module 8, “Thermal Cutting Principles and Practices,” contains 4 units.

   
   

4. Requirements for Entry Welder

   1. Trainee must be enrolled in and attending a training organization.

      
      

   2. Trainee must be taking coursework that will develop the skills necessary to master the learning modules shown in Table 1.

      
      

   3. Trainee may continue in the program during employ- ment with a signed agreement between the training orga- nization and the trainee’s employer stating how the trainee will continue in the program. (See Clause 11 for length of registration.)

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