Suggested certifications to look for in hiring.

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I have been asked to develop a job description for my company to hire a welder.  We do some small equipment frames, but the main core of what the welder would be doing is socket weld black pipe.  1 to 4 inch.  Nothing crazy or exotic.  No plans for open root pipe welding.  What certifications should I require?  I could ask for full on 6g pipe, but is that excessive for socket weld?  I guess I would be covered, but certs=pay and as always, the company only wants to pay for what they need.Any thoughts or recommendations are greatly appreciated.Multimatic 200Ellis 1800Haberle S225 9" cold sawMM 300;  Spoolmate 30A w/ WC-24TB 302GDynasty 280 DX Tigrunner
Reply:mentally sane. But I wouldn't get your hopes up, you're hiring a weldor.
Reply:Certs are like a driver's license.Anybody can pass a test. Not everybody knows what they are doing.Hit a union local or local colleges for applicants. You will find what you want there.
Reply:Is the work under a specific code?  You could perform testing there on similar production welds if not required to comply to a specific code.  I would think some kind of tig or stick open butt test cert in whatever position would be in the ball park if you can pay the money that welder will look for.    Otherwise just test a few on site.
Reply:I would have to look into API but I am not sure any specific codes apply to our application.  It is small manifolds for fuel pump sets in a mostly OEM environment.  Some outside service but limited.  As far as the union local goes, that is a no-go.  I have spent ridiculous amounts of money fixing the problems from the last few union contractors I have subbed for this work.  I am not impressed with them overall.  Sure there are a few greats there, but they carry all the other terribles.Multimatic 200Ellis 1800Haberle S225 9" cold sawMM 300;  Spoolmate 30A w/ WC-24TB 302GDynasty 280 DX Tigrunner
Reply:No droopy, you go there to hire them yourself. Just like a local community college. Post a want ad note on the bulletin board.If you don't know how to hire a union contractor, you are in the wrong business.
Reply:It's a fillet weld so test them in multiple position fillet welds...  If I was looking at getting hired as a pipe welder and that fab work was just socket welds. It's a little like being a race car driver getting a job driving taxis. Yea your driving but all the fun and skill was taken out of it.  If everything's drawn up and fab right you can roll out or flat well 95% of the work. At that points it's just crank up the heat, turn and burn.