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American welding engineer certification at UiA

Next year, for the first time, it will be possible to take the American welding engineer exam in Northern Europe. This is happening at Campus Grimstad.

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Illustration: welding

This winter it will be possible to take both the European and the American welding engineer exam at the University of Agder. (Ill. Colourbox)

The exam, which will be carried out as a trial project, will be held in cooperation between the Department of Engineering Sciences, the American Welding Society and the NODE cluster in Southern Norway.

”It will be incredibly exciting. It means that now we can offer experienced welding coordinators and other experts with many years of experience from the industry an opportunity to gain a prestigious welding engineer certification that is acknowledged all over the world,” says senior lecturer Tor John Rødsås at the Department of Engineering Science excitedly.

”This is something that is in demand, especially in the USA and in Asia, but also in Europe, and it will take UiA to the top when it comes to welding engineering education and certification in Norway,” he says.

Both European and American certification at UiA

Today, the senior lecturer in Grimstad has the main responsibility for the European International Welding Engineering Education (IWE) that is offered in Norway at UiA. The study programme, which was given to UiA in 2014, is adapted to the business sector with distance learning, in addition to course sessions four weekends over a period of ten months. The Norwegian Association awards the diploma of certified IWE welding engineer for Welding Engineering on behalf of the international welding association, the International Institute of Welding (IIW).

”These are both high-quality alternatives, but there are some differences. The IWE certificate is based on a bachelor’s degree and works as additional education to this, while the American certificate, Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng), is a certificate that does not require a formal background, but can be achieved by taking and passing an extensive test. The American mentality is that as many as possible should get the opportunity, and if they pass the exam it is well deserved.”

Candidates from all over Northern Europe

The certification test the American Welding Society (AWS) now will arrange in Grimstad is expected to attract candidates from a large range of industries from Norway, Sweden and Denmark, and maybe other countries in Northern Europe as well. The test itself consist of four exams and the Americans themselves will arrange it the first time, but on UiA’s premises and with the help of equipment at UiA.

Førstelektor Tor John Rødsås ved Institutt for ingeniørvitenskap.

Senior lecturer Tor John Rødsås at the Department of Engineering Sciences.

Travelled to the USA

Tor John Rødsås says that the Americans became interested in arranging the exam in Europe after representatives from UiA visited the USA earlier this year. Still, the cooperation with AWS was initiated by NODE.

”If you look at it that way, this is a result of good international work where the region’s business sector and the university pull in the same direction to achieve profit for all parts involved,” says Tor John Rødsås.

Internationally necessary

In the long run, it is possible that UiA can develop their own course programs directed towards the four exams for CWEng certification. It is also likely that when the coming Mechatronics Innovation Lab (MIL) is finished, the American welding exam will be one of the activities that will be a part of this.

”Both the IWE title and the CWEng title is necessary to work under several standards internationally,” says Rødsås.

IWE is especially directed to the Norwegian shelf and building industry. It should be mentioned that to build the new Mechatronics Innovation Lab, which is a building where CE marking is required, the welding coordinator will have IWE competence.

”Often the competence is required to deliver products and services to the oil and gas industry, among others, both in Norway and in other countries. Therefore, it is especially joyous that we can offer both of these certifications at UiA,” says Tor John Rødsås.  

Text: Jan Arve Olsen