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Apprenticeship training course

Plate welder (level 3)

Manually weld plates and structural components to high standards of quality.

Qualification level
3
Equivalent to A level.
Typical duration
36 months
Apprenticeship category
Engineering and manufacturing
Maximum funding
£27,000
Maximum amount government will fund
for apprenticeship training.
Also known as
  • Class B welder
  • Coded multi-positional plate welder
  • Plate welder
  • Structural welder
Skills
Skills an apprentice will learn
  • Work safely at all times, comply with health, safety and environmental legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
  • Can obtain, check and use appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation).
  • Plan and prepare welding activities before commencing the work.
  • Obtain, position and assemble welding equipment and associated safety protection needed for activity.
  • Prepare, check and protect materials and work areas ready for welding.
  • Inspect assembly to be welded and undertake remedial work to comply with specification, or implement quality steps if rejected.
  • Receive, inspect, condition and maintain consumables.
  • Set, test and monitor key welding parameters as detailed within the Welding Procedure Specification.
  • Deal promptly and effectively with problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques and report those which cannot be resolved to the appropriate personnel.
  • Use manual processes and equipment to remove material (powered and non‐powered).
  • Achieves a quality of work to meet international standards e.g. ISO5817, ISO9606, ASME IX, AWS D1.1 for dimensional, surface inspection (e.g. Visual, Magnetic Particle, Dye Penetrant) and volumetric inspection (e.g. Radiography, Ultrasonic inspection).
  • Complete progressive and final checks on the weld prior to release for formal inspection and report into the production control system at the appropriate stages of the work activity.
  • Restore the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location.
  • Produce welds in plate and/or structural components using two welding processes from TIG, PAW, MMA, MIG/MAG, FCAW.
  • Produce welds in plate and/or structural components using two materials from Carbon Steel, Low Alloy Steel, High Alloy Ferritic/Martensitic Steel, Austenitic Stainless Steel, Nickel & Nickel Alloys, Aluminium & Aluminium alloys, Titanium & Titanium Alloys, Copper & Copper Alloys.
  • Produce welds in plate and/or structural components covering three plate welding positions which must include Vertical (either upward or downward progression) and overhead.
  • Produce plate welds in 3 main joint configurations (Single or Double Sided Butt, Single or Double Sided T‐Butt & Fillet)

Full information on Plate welder (level 3) is available from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

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