Products

Products

Browse our selection of professional welding materials

Browse by Category

All Products Complete Test Kits (4) Individual Weld Coupons (2) Practice Kits (3)

Showing 9 products

Understanding Your Weld Qualification Options

Before ordering a qualification kit, you will make four key selections.

1

Determine the Type of Qualification

Your qualification is based on:

  • Base metal thickness
  • Welding process
  • Welding position

Together, these define what you are legally qualified to weld under AWS D1.1.

2

Choose Your Test Thickness

Limited Thickness Test – 3/8″ Plate

A 3/8″ groove weld test is considered a limited thickness qualification.

If you pass a 3/8″ test, you are qualified to weld:

  • Minimum thickness: 3/16″
  • Maximum thickness: 3/4″ (2 × test thickness)

Best for: Most shop and field structural work under 3/4″ thick.

Unlimited Thickness Test – 1″ Plate

A 1″ groove weld test qualifies as an unlimited thickness qualification.

If you pass a 1″ test, you are qualified to weld:

  • All thicknesses 3/16″ and greater
  • No upper thickness limit

Best for: Heavy structural, critical welds, and maximum employability.

3

Choose Your Welding Process

We support the following AWS-recognized processes:

SMAW – Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Stick)

Commonly called stick welding.

  • • Uses a flux-coated electrode
  • • Extremely versatile and portable
  • • Widely used in structural steel and field work

Why choose it: Universally accepted, durable, and still heavily used.

GMAW – Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG)

Commonly called MIG welding.

  • • Uses solid wire with external shielding gas
  • • Clean, controlled arc with minimal slag
  • • Common in fabrication shops and production environments

Why choose it: Efficient, precise, and widely used in shop settings.

FCAW-G – Flux Cored Arc Welding (Gas-Shielded / Dual Shield)

Often called dual shield.

  • • Flux-cored wire with external shielding gas
  • • Very high strength and deposition
  • • Widely used in fabrication shops and heavy industry

Why choose it: High productivity and excellent mechanical properties.

4

Choose Your Welding Position

Plate qualifications are position-specific.

1G
Flat Position

Weld performed from the top side of a flat plate. Easiest position, lowest qualification coverage.

2G
Horizontal Position

Plate is vertical; weld is horizontal. More challenging than flat, common in structural work.

3G
Vertical Position

Weld performed vertically. Qualifies you for 1G and 2G automatically. Major step up in skill.

✓ Covers: 1G, 2G, 3G

4G
Overhead Position

Weld from underneath. Most difficult. Does NOT qualify for 2G or 3G.

✓ Covers: 1G, 4G only

Why Some Welders Take a Two-Position Test

Because 3G and 4G do not overlap, welders who need full plate coverage must pass both: 3G (flat, horizontal, vertical) + 4G (overhead). Together, these two tests qualify you for all plate positions.

Putting It All Together

Your final qualification depends on:

  • Thickness tested (limited or unlimited)
  • Process used
  • Position(s) tested

That is why selecting the right combination up front matters—and why this guide exists.

Browse Qualification Kits