Getting Started: Alberta Welding Examiner

A Welding Examiner Certificate of Competency authorizes the holder to conduct Performance Qualification (PQ) tests on behalf of a testing organization while employed by that testing organization. All Alberta Boiler Safety Association (ABSA) authorized testing organizations are required to employ a Welding Examiner to conduct performance qualification tests.

Education and Experience Requirements

To take a Welding Examiner Certificate of Competency examination, a candidate must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Professional Engineer with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Metallurgy, Welding, or Mechanical Engineering, or
• First Class Power Engineers Certificate of Competency, or
• Certified Engineering Technologist (CET) with a Diploma in Materials or Mechanical Engineering Technology, or
• Diploma in Welding Engineering Technology, or
• Grade A or B Pressure Welder, or
• Canadian Standards Association (CSA) W178.2 Welding Inspector Level III, or
• Safety Codes Officer Boiler Discipline, or
• Other Equivalent Qualification, as determined by the ABSA

Welding Examiner Examinations

• The examination consists of four (4) papers with 3.5 hours to complete (see summary below).
• Each exam paper is closed-book, except for the Code reference material which is open-book.
• The exam candidate must bring all reference Codes to the related exam; non-Code reference material is not allowed in the exams.
• Each of the four exam papers include 50 total questions, of which about 44 to 46 are multiple choice questions with 5 possible answers and about 4 to 6 short essay-style questions.
• See the Quick Link box below to download the exam syllabus.

Paper #1 - Welding Processes and Filler Metals - 3.5 Hours

• Welding Processes (Weighting 50%); closed-book
• Cutting Processes (Weighting 15%); closed-book
• ASME Section II-Part C, Filler Metal Specifications (Weighting 35%); Code open-book (2001 or 2004 or 2007 or 2010 Editions)

Paper #2 - Metallurgy and Materials - 3.5 Hours

• Properties and Structure of Metals (Weighting 20%); closed-book
• Steel Manufacturing (Weighting 35%); closed-book
• Welding Metallurgy (Weighting 35%); closed-book
• ASME Section II-Part A, Ferrous Material Specifications (Weighting 10%); Code open-book
  • SA Specifications: 106, 312, 333 387 and 516 (2001 or 2004 or 2007 or 2010 Editions)

Paper #3 - Quality Control and Weld Evaluation - 3.5 Hours

• Quality Control (Weighting 30%); closed-book
• Non-Destructive Examination (Weighting 35%); Code open-book
• ASME Section V, Nondestructive Examination
• Visual Examination of Welded Samples (Weighting 35%); Codes open-book
  • ASME Section IX, Welding and Brazing Qualifications (only Part QW, Welding)
  • ASME B31.3, Process Piping (only Chapter VI, Inspection, Examination, and Testing) (2001 or 2004 or 2007 or 2010 Editions)

Paper #4 - Regulations and Codes - 3.5 Hours

• Alberta Pressure Equipment Safety Regulation (Weighting 3%); open-book
• CSA B51 Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Pressure Piping Code (Weighting 2%); open-book
• Alberta Pressure Welders Regulation (Weighting 10%); open-book
• ASME Section IX, only Part QW Welding (Weighting 65%); open-book
• Other Codes (Weighting 20%); open-book
  • ASME Section I, Power Boilers (only Part PW)
  • ASME Section VIII Division I , Pressure Vessel Construction, (only Parts UG, UW, UCS, UHA, UHT)
  • ASME B31.1, Power Piping, (only Chapter V, Fabrication, Assembly, and Erection)
  • ASME B31.3, Process Piping (only Chapter V, Fabrication, Assembly, and Erection)
  • National Board Inspection Code, NB-23, (only Part RD from 2001 or 2004 editions or Part 3, Section 2 from 2007 edition

Renewals

• Every 3 years, reapply

Exam Codes

All exam candidates must bring the referenced Codes to each related exam since all Code questions are open-book. These code documents can be purchased from CASTI. Click here to purchase.

For more information about CASTI's Alberta Welding Examiner Exam Preparation courses, please visit:

• Welding Fundamentals Course - Covers Alberta Welding Examiner Papers #1 and #3
• ASME Section IX - Carbon/Alloy Steels Course - Covers Alberta Welding Examiner Papers #2 and #4