ISO 9606 International Welder Qualification Certificate

Introduction to International Welder Certificate

Welders play an essential role in metal manufacturing and industrial production. Welding competence directly determines product quality and end-user operational safety. The EU requires only qualified and certified welders to guarantee professional workmanship and high-quality welded joints.

Functions of Obtaining an International Welder Certificate

01
Master multi-industry welding skills to improve weld quality and production efficiency
02
Grasp professional welding theories to analyze and eliminate welding defects and become skilled technical personnel
03
Establish occupational safety and fire prevention awareness to reduce on-site operational risks and accidents

Major Standards for International Welder Qualification

EN 287-1:2011 Approval testing of welders — Fusion welding — Part 1: Steels
EN ISO 9606-1 Approval testing of welders — Fusion welding — Part 1: Steels
EN ISO 9606-2 Approval testing of welders — Fusion welding — Part 2: Aluminium and aluminium alloys
EN ISO 9606-3 Approval testing of welders — Fusion welding — Part 3: Copper and copper alloys
EN ISO 9606-4 Approval testing of welders — Fusion welding — Part 4: Nickel and nickel alloys
EN ISO 9606-5 Approval testing of welders — Fusion welding — Part 5: Titanium and titanium alloys, zirconium and zirconium alloys
EN ISO 17660-1 Welding — Welding of reinforcing steel — Load-bearing welded joints
EN ISO 17660-2 Welding — Welding of reinforcing steel — Non-load-bearing welded joints
BS EN 1418:1998 Welding operators — Approval testing for fully mechanised and automatic fusion and resistance welding of metallic materials
EN ISO 14732:2013 Welding personnel — Qualification testing of welding operators and weld setters for mechanised and automatic welding of metallic materials
EN ISO 13585:2012 Brazing — Qualification examination of brazers and brazing operators

Differences Between EN 287-1 and ISO 9606

The European welder qualification standard EN 287-1:2011 was officially replaced by the international standard ISO 9606-1:2012 in 2013. European member states have adopted it as a national standard, such as DIN EN ISO 9606-1 in Germany and BS EN ISO 9606-1 in the UK. EN 287-1 was fully withdrawn in October 2015.

The core difference is that ISO 9606-1 classifies materials by filler metal groups (FM1~FM5), replacing the former base metal classification (1~11). The certificate validity period was adjusted to 2 or 3 years.

Similarly, the automated welding operator standard EN 1418:1998 has been superseded by EN ISO 14732:2013, with the old standard withdrawn in February 2014. The new standard mainly extends the certificate validity to 3 years with no fundamental technical changes.