Welder certification to EN ISO 9606
EN ISO 9606 is the standard for qualifying welders who make welds manually and semi-automatically (MMA 111, MAG 135, TIG 141, gas welding). The certificate is valid for up to 3 years, with mandatory confirmation by the welding supervisor every 6 months. The scope of qualification depends on the process, material, weld type, thickness and position. WELDERSTAL prepares welders for the exam and organises sessions with a certification body.
What is EN ISO 9606?
EN ISO 9606 (in Poland PN-EN ISO 9606-1) is an international standard that sets out the rules for testing and qualifying welders who make welds manually and semi-automatically. The standard is industry-independent - it applies wherever documented qualification of welding personnel is required.
The standard replaced the earlier PN-EN 287-1. An EN ISO 9606 certificate is valid for up to 3 years, provided that continuity of work is confirmed by the welding supervisor every 6 months.
Who it is for and who requires it
Qualification to EN ISO 9606 is needed by welders and by companies that have to document the competence of their personnel. It is required, among others, by:
- plants implementing EN ISO 3834 (quality requirements for welding),
- manufacturers of steel and aluminium structures to EN 1090,
- manufacturers of rolling stock to EN 15085,
- manufacturers of pressure equipment and safety-critical structures.
The five parts of the standard
EN ISO 9606 is divided by material group:
- EN ISO 9606-1 - steels (the most widely used)
- EN ISO 9606-2 - aluminium and its alloys
- EN ISO 9606-3 - copper and its alloys
- EN ISO 9606-4 - nickel and its alloys
- EN ISO 9606-5 - titanium, zirconium and their alloys
Scope of qualification - essential variables
The certificate is not “universal” - it covers a specific range described by essential variables. More difficult variants usually cover easier ones (e.g. pipe qualifies plate, welding with filler metal qualifies welding without filler metal).
| Variable | What it defines | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Process | process to ISO 4063 | 111 (MMA), 135 (MAG), 141 (TIG) |
| Product | plate or pipe | P (plate), T (pipe) |
| Weld type | butt or fillet | BW (butt weld), FW (fillet weld) |
| Filler material | filler material group | FM1–FM6 |
| Thickness | material thickness range | based on the test piece |
| Diameter | for pipes | based on the test piece |
| Position | welding position | PA, PB, PC, PF… |
Welding processes to ISO 4063
| Number | Process |
|---|---|
| 111 | MMA - manual metal arc welding with a covered electrode |
| 135 | MAG - solid wire with active gas shielding |
| 138 | MAG - metal-cored wire |
| 141 | TIG - tungsten electrode with inert gas shielding |
| 311 | gas welding (oxy-acetylene) |
Each exam qualifies the selected process - qualifications do not automatically carry over between processes.
Welding positions
| Designation | Position |
|---|---|
| PA | flat (downhand) |
| PB | horizontal-vertical |
| PC | horizontal (on a vertical wall) |
| PD | horizontal-overhead (overhead corner) |
| PE | overhead |
| PF | vertical upwards |
| PG | vertical downwards |
How to read the certificate designation
An example scope entry: ISO 9606-1 135 P FW 1.1 S t10 PB. Each element describes part of the qualification:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 135 | MAG process |
| P | product: plate |
| FW | fillet weld |
| 1.1 | parent material group |
| S | solid wire (filler type) |
| t10 | test piece thickness approx. 10 mm |
| PB | horizontal-vertical position |
Being able to read the scope is essential - it lets you check whether a given welder is qualified for a specific joint in the documentation.
Exam process and testing
- Test piece - made according to an approved welding procedure specification (WPS)
- Theory part - knowledge of the process, materials and health and safety
- Non-destructive testing - always visual (VT), radiographic (RT) depending on the joint
- Destructive testing - bend/fracture tests, macroscopic examination
- Assessment and certificate - issued by an accredited certification body
Validity and confirmation every 6 months
The certificate is valid for up to 3 years, but only if the welding supervisor (to ISO 14731) confirms every 6 months that the welder is working within the scope of their qualification. Missing confirmations shorten the validity. Once the period ends, the qualification is extended by retaking the exam or through documented tests of production welds.
Laser welding and EN ISO 9606
- Handheld laser welding, where the operator guides the torch, is sometimes qualified like manual welding - to EN ISO 9606.
- Mechanised / automated laser welding falls under EN ISO 14732.
The scope depends on the degree of mechanisation of the process - we agree it individually. See also the laser welder training and our laser welders.
Cobot operators and EN ISO 9606
When the operator controls the process manually, EN ISO 9606 applies. When the process is mechanised or automated (programming, a welding cobot), EN ISO 14732 is the right standard. In practice, some operators hold both certificates.
EN ISO 9606 and other standards
Welder qualification is part of a larger quality system:
- EN ISO 3834 - quality requirements for welding at the plant
- EN 1090 - steel and aluminium structures + CE marking
- EN 15085 - welding of railway vehicles
- EN ISO 14732 - operators for mechanised welding
Benefits of certification
- A document recognised throughout Europe that confirms skills
- Meeting the requirements of industry standards (3834, 1090, 15085)
- Safety and weld quality in safety-critical structures
- Career development for the welder and company credibility in tenders
How we prepare you for the exam
WELDERSTAL provides practical and theoretical preparation for the exam and organises the qualification session with a certification body. We also help companies choose the scope of qualification for their specific production. See training and qualifications and welding supervision and consulting.
Frequently asked questions
What is EN ISO 9606?
How does EN ISO 9606-1 differ from the old EN 287-1?
How long is an EN ISO 9606 certificate valid?
What does confirmation every 6 months involve?
How do I renew the qualification after it expires?
What does a welder's scope of qualification mean?
Which processes does EN ISO 9606 cover?
Does handheld laser welding require EN ISO 9606?
What tests does the exam include?
Does WELDERSTAL issue the EN ISO 9606 certificate?
Need EN ISO 9606 certification?
Get in touch with us to discuss implementing the standard in your company.