Testing and Certification of welders

In the steel welding there are constantly developed and improved welding technologies. There is increasing demand for quality of manufactured welded joints and for activities associated with it. Only welders with the high qualification, who are constantly educating can manufacture the welded joints with such demands. In the present time in SR, the testing and certification of welders for the steel welding is realized according to the standard STN EN 287-1. This standard does not define demands on verification of obtained qualification in the sufficient level and do not motivate the welders to participate in lifelong learning. The main project aim is to develop a new methodology of welders testing and certification, which will be assured by transferring of innovation – the standard prEN ISO 9606-1 and its implementation into the process of testing and certification.

The main target group of the project are welders with higher qualification and higher level of knowledges, who are willing to participate in lifelong learning process. The welders with such qualification will be able to manufacturing welded joints with quality, which is fulfilling the highest demands and they will be succesful on labour market not even in SR, but as well in other EU countries and in rest of the world. By transferring of innovation - the standard STN EN 287-1 and its implementation into the process of testing and certification the project is related with the priority 3: Transparency and recognition of competences and qualifications and its sub priority: Combination and next development of European instruments and frames or its application in concrete sectors.

For the process of testing and certification of welders, who will be obtaining qualification according to the standard prEN ISO 9606-1, will be developed following pedagogic materials: 

- Certification scheme containing structure, demands, exam themes and certifications of welders

- Training test questions by which the welders will be able to verify their knowledge before exam

- Test questions by which will the examiners verify theoretical knowledge of welders

- Welders testing methodology for the particular welding technologies by which practical skills and welders knowledge will be tested.

In the present time such pedagogical materials are not developed. After its development and verification within the project the documents will be implemented into the quality guide of certification bodies of persons in welding.

The main target group of the project are steel welders; the other target groups are certification bodies of persons in welding and welding schools. 

The short-term impact of project for the particular target groups is following:

- Welders will achieve higher qualification according to the standard prEN ISO 9606-1, proved by certification about performed exam and training test questions for the self verification of their knowledge before exam

- Certification bodies of persons in weldingwill obtain the certification scheme, test questions and welders testing methodology for the particular welding technologies according to the standard prEN ISO 9606-1

- Welding schools will obtain records for the developing of schemes for the professional preparation on welders’ exams according to the standard prEN ISO 9606-1.

The long-term impact of the project represent:

- For the welders – using of their qualification not even in SR, but as well as in EU countries and other world

- For the certification bodies of persons in welding – the possibility of testing and certification of welders according to the standard prEN ISO 9606-1 not even from SR, but from other countries as well