Qualification of welding procedures and personnel is an important step to assure the quality and performance of any welded component or structure. This article summarizes common welding procedures, personnel qualification variables, and test methods. Welding procedure qualification tests can be categorized as either standard or special. The article discusses the purpose of qualifying a welding procedure to demonstrate that the resulting welds will meet prescribed quality standards and the qualification of the personnel.

Welding codes and standards usually require the qualification of welding procedures prior to being used in production. This is to ensure that welds will meet the minimum quality and mechanical property requirements for the application. This article provides an overview of the welding procedure qualification guidelines and test methods. It also reviews the codes, standards, and specifications that govern the design and fabrication of welded structures for the procedure qualification details that are appropriate for a given application.