Butte College

Course Outline

2026-2027 Catalog

WLD 36 - Welder Qualification

Catalog Description

Transfer Status
CSU
Prerequisite
WLD 50 and NCCER Level II Welding Qualification
Unit(s)
3.00
  • Lecture: 17.00 Contact hours/34.00 Out of class hours/51.00 Total hours/1.00 Unit(s)
  • Lab: 102.00 Contact hours/0.00 Out of class hours/102.00 Total hours/2.00 Unit(s)
  • Total: 119.00 Contact hours/34.00 Out of class hours/153.00 Total hours/3.00 Unit(s)

Course Description: This course prepares students for qualifications in several codes to meet the required standards for entry-level employment. Training in shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), and flux core arc welding (FCAW) to meet the American Welding Society (AWS), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and American Petroleum Institute (API), code standards. Skills and proficiency of all position qualification tests on plate and pipe are emphasized.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

  1. Apply qualification procedures in the previously developed training processes for groove and fillet welds.
  2. Apply qualification procedures in several codes to meet the required standard for entry-level employment.
  3. Successfully complete qualification test using various codes, filler materials, base materials, and welding processes.

Course Content

Topic Titles / Suggested Time Topic

Lecture

Lecture topics and suggested hours
TopicsLec Hrs

Introduction and safety

2.00

Base metal and its preparation

0.50

Fillet and groove plate tests welds

0.50

Test specimens: number, type and preparation

0.50

Methods of testing specimens

0.50

Qualification of welders and welding operations

2.00

Welder qualification for ASME section IX

1.50

Welder qualification for AWS D1.4, D1.5

1.00

Welder qualification for API 1104

1.50

Welder qualification for AWS D1.6, D1.8

1.00

Review for welder qualification

1.00

Procedure and performance qualification

0.50

Limitations and variables of AWS welding code

1.50

Types of test and purpose 

1.00

Welding of dissimilar materials

1.00

Qualification for other AWS welding codes (D10.4-66)

1.00
Total Hours:17.00

Lab

Lab topics and suggested hours
TopicsLab Hrs

Introduction and safety

2.00

Procedure and performance qualification

3.00

Base metal and its preparation

7.00

Limitations and variables of AWS welding code

3.00

Types of test and purpose

5.00

Qualification of welders and welding operations

10.00

Fillet and groove plate test welds

12.00

Test specimens – number, type, and preparation

6.00

Methods of testing specimens

3.00

Welding of dissimilar materials

6.00

Welder qualification for AWS D1.4, D1.5

7.00

Welder qualification for ASME section IX

13.00

Welder qualification for API 1104

5.00

Qualification for other AWS welding codes (D10.4-66)

6.00

Review for welder qualification

7.00

Welder qualification for AWS D1.6, D1.8

7.00
Total Hours:102.00

Methods of Instruction

  1. Discussion
  2. Homework: Students are required to complete two hours of outside-of-class homework for each hour of lecture
  3. Instructor Demonstrations
  4. Laboratory Experiments
  5. Lecture

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Exams/Tests
  2. Homework
  3. Lab Projects
  4. Lab Final/Mid-term Project

Examples of Assignments

Reading Assignments

  1. Read module 6 and be prepared to discuss in class.
  2. Read assigned AWS journal article and be prepared to discuss in class.

Writing Assignments

  1. Write a 500-word essay explaining how the assigned AWS article can be implemented into the process and how it relates to the class.
  2. Describe an order of operations for the welding of two dissimilar materials.

Out-of-Class Assignments

  1. Compare and contrast the welder qualification standards for the two welding codes assigned.
  2. Answer review questions for module 2.

Recommended Materials of Instruction

AWS Committee on Methods of Inspection. (2015). Welding Inspection Handbook. American Welding Society, 4th. 9780871718556..

National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). (2025). Welding Level Two. Pearson, 6th. 9780138216160.

Other Learning Materials

All tools listed in the Full-Time Welding Program Semester 2 tool list on the Butte College Welding Technology website.

Minimum Qualifications

Welding