According to ISO 9606-1, welder qualification is valid for two years, provided the welder works continuously within the approved range and no adverse quality issues arise. After the initial two-year period, renewal requires either a new test or confirmation of continued satisfactory work.
A common oversight in fabrication shops is the gap between qualification expiry and renewal testing. Many quality systems rely on manual tracking, which leads to lapses. When an unqualified welder produces production welds, those welds become nonconforming, triggering costly repair and re-qualification.
ISO 9606-1 also specifies that renewal can be granted without re-testing if the welder has been working within scope and the examiner confirms the welder's identity and continuous activity. However, this confirmation must be documented and signed. Auditors routinely check for this paperwork.
For welding coordinators, a simple Excel-based tracker with automated expiry alerts can prevent these gaps. Linking welder records to daily production logs ensures traceability and audit readiness.
How does your organization manage welder qualification renewals across multiple projects?
Source: ISO 9606-1, 2024