IRCLASS Welder Qualification Certificate Test in Mumbai

In short: The IRCLASS welder qualification test is a practical weld test, witnessed by an Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) surveyor, that proves a welder can produce sound welds to IRCLASS rules. 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. IRCLASS 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.
• Also known as: IRS welder qualification, Indian Register of Shipping welder certificate, IRCLASS welding certificate.
• Positions: 1G to 6G, on plate and pipe.
• Processes: SMAW (stick), GTAW (TIG), GMAW and FCAW (MIG/MAG and flux-cored), and SAW.
• Materials: carbon steel, stainless steel, duplex, Inconel and aluminium.
• Codes applied: IRCLASS Rules for Materials and Welding, ASME Section IX, AWS D1.1, ISO 9606 and ISO 15614, IACS Unified Requirements.
• Who issues the certificate: IRCLASS, after its surveyor witnesses and accepts the test. We are the test facility and training provider, not the certifying body.
• 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.

Why welders in India choose IRCLASS

IRCLASS is India’s own classification society and a full member of IACS, so its welder certificates carry weight both on Indian-flagged work and on international projects. For welders working mainly with Indian shipyards, defence yards, EPC contractors and refineries, IRCLASS is often the certificate the employer actually asks for, and it is usually quicker and cheaper to arrange than a foreign society test.

How the test works, step by step

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Test coupon. On test day you weld the coupon in the booked position, to the WPS, in front of the IRCLASS surveyor.
4. Visual inspection. Weld appearance, surface finish, undercut and overlap are checked first.
5. NDT and destructive testing. Depending on scope: radiographic (RT) or ultrasonic (UT) testing, liquid penetrant (LPT) or magnetic particle (MPT), plus face and root bend tests, macro examination and fracture tests.
6. Certificate. Once the surveyor accepts the results, IRCLASS issues the welder qualification certificate listing your details, the WPS reference, the process, the coupon details and the qualified positions.

Who should get certified, and what to bring

This certificate suits welders in shipbuilding and dry docking, offshore and subsea projects, heavy fabrication and infrastructure, and power plants and refineries, as well as companies needing certified manpower for IRCLASS-classified work. An ITI welding trade certificate helps but is not compulsory.

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.

🛳️ What is IRCLASS?

IRCLASS (Indian Register of Shipping) is a recognized classification society, part of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). It provides independent certification, inspection, and verification services across industries including:

• Shipbuilding & Marine
• Oil & Gas
• Power & Infrastructure
• Heavy Engineering
• Industrial Manufacturing

IRCLASS follows internationally recognized standards, and its welder qualification certification is valid for both Indian and global projects.

🎯 Purpose of the IRCLASS Welder Qualification Test

The IRCLASS Welder Qualification Certificate Test ensures that welders are qualified, skilled, and compliant with applicable codes and class rules. It certifies that a welder can produce sound, defect-free welds using approved procedures in critical applications like:

• Marine structures
• Offshore installations
• Pressure vessels and pipelines
• Structural steel fabrication

📘 Applicable Welding Standards

The welder qualification tests are conducted in accordance with:

• IRCLASS Rules for Materials and Welding
• ASME Section IX
• AWS D1.1
• ISO 9606 / 15614
• IACS Unified Requirements

The specific standard used depends on the project type and client requirement.

🛠️ Welding Processes Covered

Welders can be qualified under one or more of the following welding processes:

• SMAW – Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Stick)
• GTAW – Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG)
• GMAW / FCAW – MIG / Flux-Cored Arc Welding
• SAW – Submerged Arc Welding

📐 Test Specifications

• Test Piece: Plate or Pipe (as per application)
• Material Types: Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel, Duplex, Inconel, Aluminum
• Welding Positions: 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, 6G (All Position tests)
• Thickness & Diameter Range: Defined by project or client code requirements

🔍 Testing & Evaluation

Each test is witnessed by an IRCLASS Surveyor or an authorized Third-Party Inspector. Evaluation criteria include:

✅ Visual Inspection (VT)

• Weld appearance, surface finish, undercuts, overlap, etc.

✅ Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)

• RT (Radiographic Testing)
• UT (Ultrasonic Testing)
• LPT (Liquid Penetrant Testing)
• MPT (Magnetic Particle Testing)

✅ Destructive Testing (if required)

• Face and root bend tests
• Macro examination
• Fracture tests (as per standard)

📄 Welder Qualification Certificate Details

The welder receives an official IRCLASS Welder Qualification Certificate containing:

• Welder’s full name and ID
• Welding process used
• Test coupon details (material, thickness, diameter)
• Qualified positions
• WPS reference number
• Testing methods and results
• Validity and renewal information

🕒 Certificate Validity & Renewal

• Validity: Typically 2 years
• Continuity Record: Welder must regularly weld using the qualified process and maintain a continuity log
• Renewal/Requalification: Required if there’s a break in welding activity or failed inspections

✅ Benefits of IRCLASS Welder Certification

• Recognized by shipyards, EPC contractors, and fabrication companies globally
• Required for marine and offshore projects
• Enhances welder’s professional credentials and job opportunities
• Confirms welder’s ability to follow standardized welding practices
• Helps companies meet client, legal, and international requirements

👨‍🏭 Who Should Get Certified?

• Welders working in:
  • Shipbuilding & dry docking
  • Offshore rigs & subsea projects
  • Heavy fabrication & infrastructure
  • Power plants & refineries
• Companies needing certified manpower for IRCLASS-classified projects
• Contractors or exporters working on marine, defense, or oil & gas contracts

📍 Where Can You 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, defence yards and fabricators send welders to us in batches against a project requirement.

Frequently asked questions

What is IRCLASS, and is it the same as IRS?

Yes. IRCLASS is the Indian Register of Shipping, often written IRS. It is India’s classification society and a full member of IACS, the International Association of Classification Societies, so its certificates are recognised internationally.

How long does the IRCLASS welder qualification test 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.

How much does IRCLASS welder certification cost?

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.

How long is the IRCLASS welder certificate valid?

Normally two years, and only while a continuity log shows you have been welding regularly with the qualified process. A break in welding, or a failed inspection, means requalification.

Is IRCLASS accepted outside India?

IRCLASS is an IACS member society, so its welder certificates are widely accepted internationally. That said, the certificate you need is decided by whoever classes the vessel or structure you will work on, so check your employer requirement before booking.

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.

Related certifications and services

• DNV welder qualification certificate test
• ABS and APAVE welder qualification certificate test
• Lloyds Register (LRIS) marine welder qualification test
• Ship and marine welding training course
• WPS, PQR and WPQ welder certification
• Third-party inspection services