A welder qualified for SMAW in the field is expected to be qualified for the same process in a shop environment for the same class and mode?

• A. Yes, Automatically
• B. No, Separate Qualification May Be Required
• C. Only for Horizontal Positions
• D. Only If the Manufacturer Approves

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that welder qualification is tied to the specific environment and conditions in which the welding will be performed. A field qualification for SMAW demonstrates that the welder can produce sound welds under the field conditions tested, but those conditions often differ from shop conditions in terms of joint design, position range, thickness, preheat and interpass temperatures, equipment setup, and quality controls. Because the shop environment is typically more controlled and may require demonstrating capability on different joint configurations or parameters, the standard does not automatically transfer a field qualification to shop work. Therefore, a separate qualification test for the shop environment may be required to ensure the welder can meet all shop-specific requirements. Only if the field test explicitly covered the same shop conditions or the employer’s qualification program accepts transfer would there be no need for retesting. The other options imply automatic transfer or conditions not dictated by the qualification rules, which isn’t how W47.1 treats environment-specific qualification.