How to verify a Welder CV — official standards
A Welder CV (ISCO 7212) rarely fails because a candidate can't weld. It fails because the document doesn't say what was actually tested. "10 years TIG/MAG, all positions" is a claim; EN ISO 9606-1 certificate scope — process, material group per ISO/TR 15608, thickness, position per EN ISO 6947 — is evidence. Each certificate covers exactly what was tested, nothing more, and must be revalidated regularly.
A rigorous check reads the CV against the standards that govern the work: EN ISO 9606-1/-2 or ISO 14732 for operators, ASME IX and AWS D1.1 for US-code projects, EN ISO 5817 quality levels, EN 1090-2 execution classes, WPS/WPQR per EN ISO 15609 and 15614-1, and NDT records. WorkerProof verifies documents and claims — three times per CV — not legal recognition of a qualification.
What a strong CV must contain
Look for EN ISO 9606-1 (steel) or EN ISO 9606-2 (aluminium) — or EN ISO 9606-3/4/5 for other materials — with the tested process (e.g. TIG 141, MAG 135), material group, thickness range and position stated. A certificate number without scope tells you nothing about what the welder may weld.
Positions should be coded to EN ISO 6947: PA–PG for plate, 1G–6G for pipe. 6G, H-L045, PF and PE are the demanding ones and cover easier positions, so "all positions" without a code is unverifiable.
"Stainless and duplex experience" should map to ISO/TR 15608 groups — 1–2 carbon and fine-grain steels, 8 austenitic stainless, 10 duplex, 21–26 aluminium, 41–48 nickel. Welder certificates are valid per material group, so the group must match your production.
Mechanised and automated work (robots, SAW tractors, orbital TIG) is qualified under ISO 14732, not EN ISO 9606. If the CV mentions robot or orbital welding, ask which of the two certificates exists.
Strong CVs name the acceptance criteria the welder worked to: EN ISO 5817 level B, C or D (EN ISO 10042 for aluminium, ISO 13919 for EB/laser), plus the fabrication framework — EN 1090-2 EXC1–4, EN 1090-3, EN ISO 3834-2/3/4, or PED 2014/68/EU with EN 13445 / ASME VIII.
Look for evidence of welding to qualified procedures (WPS per EN ISO 15609, WPQR per EN ISO 15614-1), reading weld symbols to EN ISO 2553 and 2D plans independently, and results from NDT: VT (EN ISO 17637), PT (ISO 3452), MT (ISO 17638), RT (ISO 17636-1/2) or UT (ISO 17640).
⚠️ Red flags to watch for
Questions to ask the candidate
- 01Which EN ISO 9606-1 or 9606-2 certificates do you hold, and what exact scope do they cover — process, ISO/TR 15608 material group, thickness range and EN ISO 6947 position?
- 02Have you welded to EN ISO 5817 level B, and on which type of work — pressure equipment, offshore or bridges? Who inspected and against which acceptance criteria?
- 03Did you weld to a WPS (EN ISO 15609) backed by a WPQR (EN ISO 15614-1), and can you explain how you handled parameters outside the WPS range?
- 04Which NDT methods were applied to your welds — VT (EN ISO 17637), PT, MT, RT (ISO 17636-1/2) or UT (ISO 17640) — and what was your repair rate?
- 05Bring a drawing: can you read the weld symbols to EN ISO 2553 and explain the joint preparation per EN ISO 9692 and the cut-edge quality per EN ISO 9013?
The official standards behind the score
WorkerProof checks every CV against this verified matrix.
- EN ISO 9606-1 (steel)
- EN ISO 9606-2 (aluminium)
- EN ISO 9606-3/4/5
- ISO 14732 (operators)
- ASME IX (QW-484 WPQ)
- AWS D1.1 / D1.2 / D1.6
- EN ISO 5817 (B/C/D)
- EN ISO 10042 (Al)
- ISO 13919 (EB/laser)
- ISO 6520-1 (imperfections)
- EN 1090-2 (EXC1–4)
- EN 1090-3 (Al)
- EN ISO 3834-2/3/4
- PED 2014/68/EU · EN 13445 · ASME VIII
- EN ISO 15614-1 (WPQR)
- EN ISO 15609 (WPS)
- EN ISO 17637 (VT)
- ISO 3452 (PT)
- ISO 17638 (MT)
- ISO 17636-1/2 (RT) · ISO 10675
- ISO 17640 (UT) · ISO 11666
- ISO 13588 / 10863 (PAUT/TOFD)
- EN ISO 6947 (6G, H-L045, PF, PE…)
- ISO/TR 15608 (material groups)
- EN ISO 2553 (weld symbols)
Frequently asked questions
Which certificate proves a welder is qualified?
For manual and partly mechanised welding it is EN ISO 9606-1 (steel), EN ISO 9606-2 (aluminium) or EN ISO 9606-3/4/5 for other materials. For mechanised and automatic equipment it is ISO 14732. On US-code projects you will instead see ASME IX (WPQ per QW-484) or AWS D1.1/D1.2/D1.6.
Does an EN ISO 9606 certificate cover every job in our workshop?
No. Each certificate covers exactly what was tested — process, material group per ISO/TR 15608, thickness and position per EN ISO 6947 — and nothing more. Qualifying in a hard position such as 6G or H-L045 does cover easier positions, but a new material group or process needs its own test.
How do I check whether a welder can meet our quality requirements?
Compare the acceptance level you work to with what the candidate has actually produced: EN ISO 5817 levels B, C or D for steel, EN ISO 10042 for aluminium, ISO 13919 for electron-beam and laser welds, with imperfections classified per ISO 6520-1. Level B is used for bridges, offshore and pressure equipment.
What does EN 1090 mean on a Welder CV?
EN 1090-2 (steel) and EN 1090-3 (aluminium) govern the execution of structural work, with execution classes EXC1 to EXC4, and relate to CE marking of steel components. A candidate naming an execution class shows they worked under documented workshop discipline, often alongside EN ISO 3834-2/3/4 certification of the shop itself.
Can WorkerProof confirm that a foreign qualification is recognised here?
No. WorkerProof verifies the documents and claims in a CV against the official standards matrix — certificate scope, standards cited, positions, material groups, procedures and NDT evidence — with three verification passes per CV. Recognition of a qualification, and any EQF placement of a diploma, NPK, Geselle or Meister title, remains a matter for the competent authorities.
Stop guessing. Verify.
Upload a CV and get a scored, 3×-verified report against these exact standards in minutes.
Analyze a CV free →