So am I wrong??

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The company I work for is sending me to another company to do some welding. They want a couple certified people. Ive passed cert tests before through other companys but never got the cards. so i called the company that certified us and they have no record of them, againSo now I'm pretty steamed now, cause i have nothing to show for the last 3 years all position fcaw cert and a all position hardwire cert.  Now this company i'm going too, said they will in house certify. Now is it a dickish move of me to refuse to take the test if their not gonna give me a card? for the test so i have something to put on my resume.
Reply:Shop test is a shopt test.  It's good for that shop.  You want a card thats credible...go get certified with AWS.  Otherwise be ready to test when you go to a new shop.Matthew MortonTexas A&M '06Logsdon Seminary '13"Who Dares Wins""AFTF""WH2PH"SA 200 (Code: 5337)TB 302CP 302 w/22A Wire FeederMillerMatic 200Miller Syncrowave 200MillerMatic 252BurnTables 4x4 CNC MachineHypertherm 65
Reply:...Now is it a dickish move of me to refuse to take the test if their not gonna give me a card? for the test so i have something to put on my resume. ...In a single word that conveys my opinion. YesI offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:When you test for a shop or a refinery or a pipeline or anywhere they pay for the test, coupon and for you to do it- they own the paper work. Even if they give you a piece of paper it doesnt mean squat to the next job. anyone can make fake paper work. If you want a "card" or some paperwork, find a aws testing center and set up a test to a code of your choice and pay for it. Then you can keep the paper work for yourself. You are being a dick.
Reply:Biting the hand before you even got fed?Bad.You need a slap on the nose for this one....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterBiting the hand before you even got fed?Bad.You need a slap on the nose for this one....zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by jesusno2The company I work for is sending me to another company to do some welding. They want a couple certified people. Ive passed cert tests before through other companys but never got the cards. so i called the company that certified us and they have no record of them, againSo now I'm pretty steamed now, cause i have nothing to show for the last 3 years all position fcaw cert and a all position hardwire cert.  Now this company i'm going too, said they will in house certify. Now is it a dickish move of me to refuse to take the test if their not gonna give me a card? for the test so i have something to put on my resume.
Reply:Originally Posted by Fat Bastard Edited
Reply:Originally Posted by dumb as a stumpYou know... With a tag line like that, "they" just might go to Alaska to find you. Might be best to not inflame the "natives" (now that we see how they are gonna react).
Reply:I my experience, even with an AWS certification most places are going to weld test you. I have always assumed that if I am showing up for a job interview I will have to pass a weld test.Heavy Metal Fabricationhttp://heavymetalfabrication.comhttps://www.facebook.com/heavymetalfabrication
Reply:OK maybe i am wrong still seems like crap to take these tests and have nothing to show for it through these company's. i don't think theirs to many guys lining up for 12.00 an hour welding gigs here in the Willamette valley.
Reply:You're thinking about this all wrong.  You have great resume material based upon your work ethic.  Work so that when you go for a new job, the previous employer can do nothing but praise your work ethic and weld quaity when called by the hiring company.  The managers will remember how you act and how you perform and they won't do you any favors.  You want resume material, stay out of the shop drama, work hard, and always keep improving.  Welders dont have fancy resumes to prove their worth...they have their previous boss' word...good or bad!Matthew MortonTexas A&M '06Logsdon Seminary '13"Who Dares Wins""AFTF""WH2PH"SA 200 (Code: 5337)TB 302CP 302 w/22A Wire FeederMillerMatic 200Miller Syncrowave 200MillerMatic 252BurnTables 4x4 CNC MachineHypertherm 65
Reply:15 years im going on and I believe i have the skills to pay the bills ( maybe not all at one time lol) but only own one fcaw SS cert. I've taken 4 full pen weld tests to certify for structural and just Been told i was certified. So I went into this shop this morning and basically got kicked out cause i was not certified to be their.
Reply:Hello Jesusno2, I am going to attempt to spell-out a number of different scenarios that somewhat might try to make sense of the whole "certification" thing. Much of this has already been covered in varying degrees by other respondents to your thread. When many companies hire employees they will administer a test. In some cases this is simply to "test" the skills and abilities of the incoming employee. In other cases the work performed by that company might require "certification" to meet code requirements that their work falls under. If they are giving the test, having it done at their facility by a third party weld examiner/inspector, or having the employee test at an outside facility, it is likely that it is on the companies dime. Hence, they "own" the certification and it is likely only valid while the employee is working for them. They are not required by any particular rules or regulations to provide the employee a copy of that particular certification. There are a exceptions to this scenario. I am aware of a couple of these, there may be more. Washington state has a nifty little spin-off to AWS certification, it's called WABO. In this case the welder will go to an approved testing agency and essentially take an AWS based test and upon successful passing they will receive a card for whatever particular test regimen that they have passed. Whether the test is paid for by the individual or the company the card will come to the welder. The actual card is the property of WABO, but the card carrier(the particular welder) will maintain possession of the card. When that individual goes to work for a particular shop or company they will still likely take a "certification test", yet it is more of a verification of skills than it is anything else. Upon being hired, the company will then use the welder number from the individuals card to verify and document welding performed by that individual on any code related work. If the person changes employment they will likely repeat this sort of hire-on process, yet they will retain proof of their certification by the possession of their WABO card. If you are interested in the specific details of this process, go to: www.wabo.org and you can research this further and gain much more detail of the process. The union boilermakers have a somewhat similar sort of certification process for some of their certifications that is referred to as "common arc testing". In this case, the welder will go to their particular hall when they are offering the common arc testing(I believe this is a prearranged set-up and not given at just any time) and as they test representatives from a number of contracting companies will witness their testing regimen. Upon successful completion of this testing the companies whose representatives have been there to witness the testing will then agree to accept this welder on any of the jobs that they might have going. That's a real quick rundown and likely similar to the WABO testing they have other details and such that apply to this process.I believe most of the unions maintain records for certifications that their members possess and keep track of them for the members. This is just a little bit more food for thought for your consideration. Good luck and best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Originally Posted by jesusno2The company I work for is sending me to another company to do some welding. They want a couple certified people. Ive passed cert tests before through other companys but never got the cards. so i called the company that certified us and they have no record of them, againSo now I'm pretty steamed now, cause i have nothing to show for the last 3 years all position fcaw cert and a all position hardwire cert.  Now this company i'm going too, said they will in house certify. Now is it a dickish move of me to refuse to take the test if their not gonna give me a card? for the test so i have something to put on my resume.
Reply:Could be your company(you work for legally) just had you qualify an in-house procedure(WPS). That procedure testing can also qualify an operator to weld to that WPS. It does not necessarily mean you get a card.Some qualifications are a one time deal. Or they can be good for 6 months or a year. If your company wants to keep up the continuity, it is  their prerogative.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:From AWS D1.1 2008Please note that the word certification is never mentioned in conjunction welder qualification in D1.1. 4.1.2.2 Qualification Responsibility. Each manufactureror Contractor shall be responsible for the qualificationof welders, welding operators and tack welders,whether the qualification is conducted by the manufacturer,Contractor, or an independent testing agency.4.1.3 Period of Effectiveness4.1.3.1 Welders and Welding Operators. Thewelder's or welding operator's qualification as specifiedin this code shall be considered as remaining in effectindefinitely unless (1) the welder is not engaged in agiven process of welding for which the welder or weldingoperator is qualified for a period exceeding six months orunless (2) there is some specific reason to question awelder's or welding operator's ability (see 4.32.1).4.1.3.2 Tack Welders. A tack welder who passes thetest described in Part C or those tests required for welderqualification shall be considered eligible to perform tackwelding indefinitely in the positions and with the processfor which the tack welder is qualified unless there issome specific reason to question the tack welder's ability(see 4.32.2).
Reply:Refuse the test?  Next Man!    It's all about racking hours, producing and getting paid, Go in and do the test, might see a lot of work from it if others haven't qualified to the standard you have.   I have had so many people over the years say I know your a good welder , but this has to be done by a certified welder, Even the housing industry now , the local building inspector will tell the carpenter if he uses steel colums or girder splice plates , whatever, " They have to be welded by a certified welder" And as you all will no doubltly agree when you ask  "Certified to what code?" they just say certified Welder? Meaning they really don't know what they are talking about and have no actual standard to quote. It is a catch phrase that has gotten misuses by many over the years. They understand it to mean a piece of paper that means you can weld anything, with anything, in any position, with any material.  But I have been unable to convince or educate most of the ones I have come in contact with that it is usually and in house qualification that relates to very specific parameters. I have held DOT structural certs for all thickness all postition stick and FCAW but they have long since expired and seing I don't do DOT work anymore no DOT inspector will sign them. They were a pretty stringent test but does me no good now. I believe the AWS certs are expensive and have to be mainained every 6 months.   What would and all around general structural steel AWS cert cover and how hard is it to maintain.  I'm thinking 1" all postion.     Most of the in experienced would look at this and think you were a Wizard or something. LOL"Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400