Welding has been around for centuries, as it is one of the most important professions when it comes to constructing different types of metal-based materials and other similar objects and structures. As such, welding is highly skill-based and is reliant on the person’s experience and technical knowledge. That is why there is a welding certification and why some states require welders to have a license. But do you need to renew your license if you are a welder?
In places where a welder’s license is a necessity, it is important for you to have your license renewed. Meanwhile, for your certification from the American Welding Society must submit an application every six months stating that you are still performing the same welding you were tested on.
It is important to note that, in welding, there are still developments in the field, especially when you talk about the technology that welders use. As such, it is just as important for welders to make sure that they keep themselves updated on the latest developments in the field. That is why there are limits in terms of how long the licenses will last.
Do You Need To Renew Your Welder’s License?
Manual labor jobs that rely on the skills of the laborer are very demanding in terms of the qualifications of the one working on that job. That is why welding jobs tend to demand only the most skilled and most experienced welders available in the job market. And one of the things that can prove that a welder is qualified for the job is a certification or a license.
While certification from the American Welding Society (AWS) isn’t necessary for someone to get hired as a welder, it has become a de facto requirement when you want to work as a welder. The reason is that a certification is the best way to prove that you are as skilled and as experienced in the field of welding as you should be for a welding job.
Meanwhile, there are also states that actually states and cities that also require you to secure a license to work as a welder. For instance, New York demands that you also have a welder’s license on top of the certification you already have from the AWS. The purpose of the license is to make sure that the welding industry is regulated well enough in such a large job market like New York.
Only those who have a certification from the AWS or the New York State Department of Transportation can apply for a welder’s license in New York.
In Los Angeles, the city itself has a different requirement for licensing and certification when it comes to welders working on a government project. However, in all other projects that are private, there is no need for a license.
With that said, when you already have a certification and/or a license as a welder, is there a need for you to have them renewed?
Yes, there is a need for you to renew both your certification and your license as a welder. This is a requirement by the AWS and the state of New York, and that is why you need to make sure that you comply with them if you want to continue working as a welder.
For those certified by the AWS as Certified Welders, the validity of the certification will last for up to six months. Failure to renew the certification will warrant another testing on the part of the one who couldn’t submit a renewal in time. On the other hand, the license for a welder in New York will last for up to three years.
Why Do You Need To Renew Your Welder’s License?
If you are now wondering why there is a need for you to renew both your certification and your license, then you have to understand that welding is a job that requires you to constantly practice and learn the new developments in the industry.
For instance, the welding maintenance form (the form used for AWS certification renewal) serves as a way for you to prove that you are still a practicing welder and that you are using the skills you were tested on when you first got your welder’s certification.
In a way, renewing your certification and license is a way for you to make sure that you are keeping your skills in welding sharp. Welding is a craft that relies a lot on skills and proper training, and the only way for you to make sure that your welding skills and knowledge are not only sharp but are kept updated is to make sure that you are using your certification and license by practicing as a welder.
Welders who fail to renew their certification or license are basically saying that they have failed to use their welding skills in the timeframe allotted. That means that they are not keeping their skills sharp and that their knowledge in the field of welding might be outdated.
How To Renew Your Welder’s License?
For those who want to renew their AWS certification, here is a quick rundown of the procedure:
- Within six months after getting your AWS certification, submit a welding maintenance form to the AWS.
- Fill the document every six months.
- The document must be signed off by either an employer or test supervisor to verify that you are actually practicing as a welder.
- Pay the renewal fee of $10.
Meanwhile, for those who want to renew their welder’s license in the state of New York, here is a quick rundown of what you need to do:
- Pay the license renewal fee of $45. The license is valid for three years.
- Submit the required documents at https://www.nyc.gov/dobnow. You should create your own profile on that website and then log in using your credentials. From there, you will be able to see a list of the different requirements you need to submit to renew your license. The website may require you to submit a list of supporting documents, which you can find here.
- After submitting the requirements, you will receive your license card by mail.
