Engineering Apprenticeships
Level 2 General Welder Apprenticeship
The Engineering Apprenticeship Level 2 General Welding provides knowledge and experience in welding metals in two welding positions, using more than one welding process and passing surface inspection.
Welders join metals in a wide range of industries, such as aerospace, construction, defence, mining, marine and structural engineering.
Level
Level 2
Duration
Typically 18 months to gateway; EPA typically 3 months
Delivery
In Person – Stockport
Occupational Summary
Occupational Profile
Welders are responsible for the production of welds using manual and mechanised arc welding processes to sector standards. They will weld using a minimum of two welding process and material combinations, with at least one process being manual welding.
Manual processes can include: manual tungsten inert gas (TIG), plasma arc welding (PAW), manual metal arc (MMA), metal inert or metal active gas (MIG or MAG), flux cored arc welding (FCAW). Mechanised processes can include: submerged arc welding (SAW), tractor-mounted metal inert or metal active gas (MIG or MAG), tractor-mounted flux cored arc welding (FCAW), tractor-mounted or orbital tungsten inert gas (TIG), tractor-mounted or orbital plasma arc welding (PAW).
Material groups include: carbon steel, low alloy steel (3-7% alloy content), high alloy ferritic or martensitic steel (>7% alloy content), austenitic stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, nickel and nickel alloys, aluminium and aluminium alloys, titanium and titanium alloys, copper and copper alloys. Given their close similarity when welding, for the purpose of this standard, MIG and MAG welding will be deemed to be the same process.
The role requires production of welds in components covering two welding positions, in at least two joint layouts. These can be from butt (including seams), T-butt, fillet (including outside corners), buttering or cladding. Each welding process requires different welding equipment, assemblies, controls, skills and techniques, and represents a separate production process.
They may be required to work at height, and beside or over water.
They must comply with health and safety regulations and procedures, including wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). They also need to meet environmental and sustainability regulations and procedures – reducing waste and recycling materials. They may work on their own or as part of a team. They work with minimal supervision and are responsible for the quality of their own work. They will typically report to a workplace supervisor. Welding operatives may need to work shifts and flexible work patterns.
Welders work with people from other teams and functions, such as plate fabricators, steel erectors, steel workers, riggers, stores operatives, supervisors, inspectors, testing and quality control technicians. Their work may be checked to ensure continued quality of welding: this includes visual inspection and dimensional checks. It may also include non-destructive and destructive testing. They must ensure that the process and products meet quality standards and are produced to schedule.
Typical job roles include:
General welder
Weld setter
Welding fabricator
Skills England Standard
Welder ST0349 v1.4
Apprenticeship Standard
ST0349
Current Version
Version 1.4
Maximum Funding
£13,000
For the current occupational standard and end-point assessment information, visit Skills England.
Occupational Duties
Duties
Duty 1 Conduct safety checks of welding equipment and surrounding work areas
Duty 2 Receive and read welding data and documentation, engineering drawings and technical data
Duty 3 Identify, check and inspect materials to be welded and ensure they conform to quality standards. Report issues, such as incorrect grade, dimensions and thicknesses
Duty 4 Plan and prepare for welding activities. Ensure that consumables, work area and materials for use are correct. This applies to basic or complex welding tasks
Duty 5 Set up, operate and adjust welding controls for the welding equipment being used
Duty 6 Weld components to create an interim assembly or finished product
Duty 7 Inspect welds produced for dimensional and surface weld quality to ensure compliance prior to release
Duty 8 Identify, communicate and report issues affecting weld quality
Duty 9 Complete welding documentation at all stages of the work activity. For example, Production Control Cards
Duty 10 Restore the work area and equipment to a safe and reliable condition on completion of welding, including remediation and recycling
Duty 11 Ensure tools, consumables, unused materials and equipment are returned to a safe, clean and approved condition on completion of welding work
Gateway
Gateway & Mandatory Qualifications
The EPA gateway is when the independent assessment organisation checks and confirms that the apprentice has met the requirements to begin end-point assessment. The employer must confirm the apprentice is occupationally competent and ready to enter gateway. The qualification and evidence requirements below relate to ST0349 Version 1.4.
The employer confirms the apprentice is ready for independent end-point assessment after completing the planned on-programme training.
Submit a portfolio of evidence to underpin the EPA interview. It must show welding experience in different positions, including the positions to be assessed during EPA.
Hold the required welding qualification or certification from the recognised options shown, issued by a recognised third-party organisation and covering the welding processes used during EPA. Certificate positions do not have to match the EPA positions.
Meet the applicable English and maths requirements under the funding rules for the apprentice’s age and start date. For new starts, apprentices aged 16–18 must meet the applicable exit requirements; for those aged 19 or over, standalone English and maths qualifications are optional unless the standard requires otherwise.
The employer and provider confirm the required gateway documents have been completed and provided to the independent assessment organisation.
Mandatory Qualification Options
The welding qualification requirement is met through one of these recognised options:
- AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code – Steel: certification issued by a recognised third-party organisation
- AWS D1.2 Structural Welding Code – Aluminium: certification issued by a recognised third-party organisation
- ASME Section IX
- ISO 9606 Qualification testing of welders
- ISO 14732 Welding personnel – approval of welding operators
- BS 4872 Specification for approval testing of welders when welding procedure approval is not required
End-Point Assessment
ST0349, Welder Level 2
Welder ST0349 Version 1.4 has a typical training period of 18 months and a typical EPA period of three months. Once the gateway requirements are met, the independent assessment organisation assesses the apprentice through three methods.
This is a summary of the key things that you – the apprentice and your employer need to know about your end-point assessment (EPA). You and your employer should read the EPA plan for the full details. It has information on assessment method requirements, roles and responsibilities, and re-sits and re-takes.
What is an end-point assessment and why it happens
An EPA is an assessment at the end of your apprenticeship. It will assess you against the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard. Your training will cover the KSBs. The EPA is your opportunity to show an independent assessor how well you can carry out the occupation you have been trained for.
Your employer will choose an end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) to deliver the EPA. Your employer and training provider should tell you what to expect and how to prepare for your EPA.
- The multiple-choice knowledge test assesses relevant welding knowledge.
- The practical test with questions assesses the apprentice completing welds to the assessment requirements.
- The interview underpinned by a portfolio of evidence explores the apprentice’s welding work, decisions, communication and professional behaviours. The overall available grades are fail, pass and distinction.
End-Point Assessment
The Version 1.4 end-point assessment uses three methods:
- Multiple-choice knowledge test: 30 questions, with 60 minutes allowed.
- Practical test with questions: the apprentice completes two welding tests across different process, position and material combinations, with a total practical assessment time of six hours.
- Interview underpinned by a portfolio of evidence: the independent assessor discusses the work documented in the portfolio, including welding defects, teamwork, communication, sustainability and escalation of issues.
Who to contact for help or more information
You should speak to your employer if you have a query that relates to your job.
You should speak to your training provider if you have any questions about your training or EPA before it starts.
You should receive detailed information and support from the EPAO before the EPA starts. You should speak to them if you have any questions about your EPA once it has started.
Reasonable adjustments
If you have a disability, a physical or mental health condition or other special considerations, you may be able to have a reasonable adjustment that takes this into account. You should speak to your employer, training provider and EPAO and ask them what support you can get. The EPAO will decide if an adjustment is appropriate.
The EPA organisation grades the three assessment components and combines the results to award an overall fail, pass or distinction. Successful apprentices receive their apprenticeship completion certificate.
Portfolio of Evidence Requirement
Portfolio of evidence
For the interview underpinned by a portfolio of evidence, you must submit a portfolio of evidence. The portfolio is used by the independent assessor to support questions about welding work undertaken during the apprenticeship.
Under Skills England’s clarification for ST0349, the portfolio must show experience of welding materials in different positions, including the welding positions to be assessed at EPA. Elevated’s e-portfolio is also used for instruction, support and progress management during training; this provider service should not be confused with the independent EPA assessment method.
Evidence may include
- Welder qualification certificates covering the processes used at EPA.
- Workplace records demonstrating welding processes and positions.
- Supervisor statements confirming relevant welding experience.
- Job logs recording welding activities and quality checks.
- Photographs and other suitable evidence of work, including welding in the positions to be assessed.
What’s Included
What’s Included
Expert instructions from industry served instructors
E-Portfolio for instruction, support and progress management
Easy to follow video resources
Welder Level 2 Apprenticeship
