ABS/APAVE Welder Qualification Certificate Test in Mumbai
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ABS / APAVE Welder Qualification Certificate Test – Complete Guide
In short: ABS welding certification is a practical weld test, witnessed by an authorised ABS or APAVE surveyor, that proves a welder can produce code-compliant welds for marine, offshore and oil and gas work. At Apeiwtes AWS Technology Center in Vasai (E), Mumbai, we prepare the welder, provide the test booth, machines, consumables and coupons, and coordinate the surveyor visit. ABS or APAVE issues the certificate, normally valid for two years with continuity records.
Quick facts
- Where: Mahalaxmi Industrial Estate, Vasai (E), Vasai-Virar, Thane-Palghar 401208. Welders come to us from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Vasai-Virar, Nalasopara, Palghar, Bhiwandi and Boisar.
- Positions: 1G to 6G, on plate and pipe. 6G is the all-position pipe test most shipyards ask for.
- Processes: SMAW (stick), GTAW (TIG), GMAW and FCAW (MIG/MAG and flux-cored), and SAW.
- Materials: carbon steel, stainless steel, duplex and super duplex, Inconel and nickel alloys, marine-grade aluminium.
- Who issues the certificate: ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) or APAVE, after their authorised surveyor witnesses and accepts the test. We are the test facility and training provider, not the certifying body.
- Validity: normally 2 years, subject to continuity records signed by your employer.
- Fees: quoted per welder on request, because cost depends on process, position, material, thickness and the NDT required. Call +91 8169178256 or message us on WhatsApp.
How to get ABS welding certification, step by step
- Confirm the scope. Tell us the process, position, material and thickness range your employer or project needs. We confirm the applicable WPS and exactly what the certificate will cover.
- Preparation. If you want practice first, you weld on the same machines, material and joint setup the test will use, supervised by Mr. Prakash Jadhav, our founder and an AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) with over 26 years in welding inspection.
- Test coupon. On test day you weld the coupon in the booked position, to the WPS, in front of the ABS or APAVE surveyor.
- Visual examination. The weld profile and bead are checked for undercut, porosity and surface defects.
- NDT and destructive testing. Depending on scope: radiographic (RT) or ultrasonic (UT) testing, liquid penetrant (LPT) or magnetic particle (MPT), plus bend, tensile, macro or fracture tests.
- Certificate. Once the surveyor accepts the results, the certificate is issued listing your name, WPS number, process, base and filler materials, and the thickness and diameter range you are qualified for.
Who should apply, and what to bring
This test suits welders who already have hands-on experience and now need a certificate a shipyard, offshore operator or EPC contractor will accept. An ITI welding trade certificate helps but is not compulsory. What decides the result is whether you can produce a sound weld in the position being tested.
Bring a government photo ID, passport-size photographs, any previous welder certificates you hold, and your own safety shoes. Machines, electrodes, coupons and PPE are available at our centre.
For companies certifying a batch of welders
Fabrication units and shipyards across Maharashtra send welders to us in groups against a specific project requirement. Where sending everyone to Vasai is impractical, the test can be arranged at your own premises with the surveyor attending your site.
🌐 Overview of ABS & APAVE
⚓ ABS – American Bureau of Shipping
ABS is a leading international classification society, headquartered in the United States. It sets safety and quality standards for:
- Marine vessels
- Offshore structures
- Shipbuilding & Naval projects
- Oil & gas fabrications
🛡️ APAVE – France-Based Certification Body
APAVE is a renowned European third-party inspection and certification organization that specializes in:
- Industrial safety
- Welding certification
- Regulatory compliance
- Inspection and technical training services
Both ABS and APAVE offer internationally recognized welder certification programs that validate a welder’s ability to meet global quality and safety standards.
🧰 What is the ABS/APAVE Welder Qualification Certificate Test?
This test certifies welders based on international welding standards and codes (such as ASME, AWS, ISO), ensuring they can produce high-quality, code-compliant welds in real-world marine and industrial applications.
Welders are tested using approved Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) and must demonstrate skill, consistency, and safety awareness.
🔍 Scope of the Test
✅ Welding Processes Covered:
- SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding)
- GTAW (TIG Welding)
- GMAW (MIG/MAG Welding)
- FCAW (Flux-Cored Arc Welding)
- SAW (Submerged Arc Welding)
✅ Materials:
- Carbon Steel
- Stainless Steel
- Duplex / Super Duplex
- Inconel, Nickel Alloys
- Marine-grade Aluminum Alloys
✅ Test Coupons:
- Plate or Pipe, depending on industry application
- Position-based tests: 1G to 6G (All Positions)
- Thickness and diameter as per code or client/project requirement
📋 Testing and Evaluation Process
🔎 Inspection & Testing Includes:
- Visual Examination of weld profile and bead
- NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) like:
- Radiographic Testing (RT)
- Ultrasonic Testing (UT)
- Liquid Penetrant Testing (LPT)
- Magnetic Particle Testing (MPT)
- Destructive Testing (if applicable):
- Bend Test
- Tensile Test
- Macro & Fracture Tests
📄 Certificate Details
After successful testing, the welder receives an ABS or APAVE Welder Qualification Certificate, which includes:
- Welder’s name and ID
- Welding process used
- Test position, thickness, and diameter range
- Base and filler materials
- WPS number
- Inspection method(s)
- Certificate validity and continuity requirements
🕒 Validity & Renewal
- Certificate Validity: Typically 2 years
- Continuity Records: Must be maintained through regular welding activity
- Requalification: Required if welding is discontinued for a certain period or performance drops
🏆 Benefits of ABS / APAVE Welder Certification
- Globally recognized and respected across industries
- Essential for jobs in:
- Shipyards
- Offshore rigs
- Oil & gas projects
- High-pressure vessel fabrication
- Demonstrates high-level welding skill and compliance
- Improves employability in international and domestic projects
- Enhances project quality assurance and reduces rejection rates
- Required for third-party audited or export-oriented projects
👷♂️ Who Should Apply?
- Welders working in:
- Marine and Shipbuilding
- Oil & Gas Fabrication
- Power Plant Construction
- Heavy Engineering
- Companies looking to certify their welders for ABS/APAVE class projects
- Individuals seeking global job opportunities in welding and fabrication industries
📍 Where to Get Certified?
Welders in the Mumbai region usually take one of three routes:
- At our Vasai (E) centre. You book a slot, we arrange the surveyor visit, and you test on our machines. This is the normal route for individual welders.
- At your own facility. Arranged for companies qualifying several welders at once, with the surveyor attending your premises.
- Through your employer. Shipyards and fabricators send welders to us in batches against a project requirement.
Frequently asked questions
How long does ABS welding certification take?
The welding is normally finished in a day. NDT, destructive testing and the surveyor sign-off mean the certificate usually reaches you within one to two weeks. Tell us at the enquiry stage if you need it sooner.
How much does ABS welding certification cost in India?
There is no single price. Cost depends on the process, position, material, thickness and whether radiography is required. We quote per welder once the scope is known. Call +91 8169178256 for a figure for your case.
What is ABS 6G welding certification?
6G is a pipe test welded at a fixed 45-degree inclined angle, so the welder works through flat, vertical and overhead positions in one coupon. It qualifies the widest range of work, which is why offshore and shipyard employers ask for it. Take it only if your pipe welding is consistent.
How long is an ABS welder certificate valid?
Normally two years. It stays valid only while continuity is maintained, meaning your employer confirms every six months that you have been welding with that process. After a break, or if welding quality is questioned, a re-test is needed.
Is APAVE the same as ABS?
No. ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) is a classification society based in the United States. APAVE is a French third-party inspection and certification body. Both issue internationally recognised welder qualification certificates, and we arrange tests for either. Your employer or project specification decides which one you need.
Do I need an ITI certificate to appear?
No. An ITI welding trade certificate is useful but not compulsory. Practical skill in the position being tested is what decides the result.
Should I take ABS, DNV, Lloyds or IRCLASS?
Whichever classification society classes the vessel or structure you will work on. The test method is broadly similar; the issuing body and acceptance criteria differ. Send us your employer requirement and we will tell you which one applies.
