Comprehensive weld inspection training covering welding processes, defects, acceptance criteria, materials behaviour and compliance with BS EN ISO standards. Designed for engineers, inspectors and quality professionals who need practical, industry‑focused competence in weld inspection — with certification that has no expiry date.

A professional certificate that proves real industry competence and which is affordable, accessible, flexible & timely.

COURSE OVERVIEW

The course provides candidates with comprehensive knowledge & skills in welding inspection and quality management. The course covers the fundamentals of welding technology, the principles of arc, laser & electron beam welding processes, parent metal product standards, welding codes & standards, how to write qualified Welding Procedure Specifications, the types of welding imperfections, how to carry out a visual inspection of weld quality, the inspection of welds by Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) techniques, the weld quality requirements for a range of welded products, the requirements of UKCA Marking & EN 1090, ISO 3834, welding coordination and non-conformance reporting. 

It goes far beyond the narrower focus of traditional inspection routes, giving you the knowledge and confidence to work across multiple industries and project types.

Our courses set the standard for technical training in the metals, welding & materials engineering industries. Since 2013 we have trained more than 700 candidates on Metallurgy, Welding, Materials Engineering & Quality Management courses.

No Prior Knowledge Required 

The course is ideal for candidates at all levels including those new to welding inspection & quality management as no specific qualification entry requirements are required. 

Flexible Self Study Learning

The course is completed by self study, so candidates can start and progress through the training at anytime, anywhere & at their own pace. No need to wait for course dates for classroom-based or online training courses and no need to pay travelling expenses & to spend time away paying for hotels & other living expenses. 

All course materials would be posted & e-mailed to the candidate. 

Total estimated self study time required to complete the course is 25 hours. 

The start date for the training would follow receipt of payment of the course fees.  

Career Advancement

The course is designed to enhance candidates' career prospects by increasing their technical knowledge, skills, and understanding. 

Full-Colour Training Handbook

Candidates also receive a comprehensive, full-colour Training Handbook that serves as both a course guide and a valuable reference tool after completion of the course.

Tutor Support

Candidates also have the support of a Course Tutor as they progress through the course.

Accreditation

Our courses also have accreditation from professionally qualified Chartered Engineers (CEng), Materials Engineers, Metallurgists (MIMMM), Welding Inspectors & Welding Technologists (MWeldI), with decades of industry experience. The value of our certifications to industry has also been recognised by top organisations & professional bodies. 

Recognition from Leading Organisations & Professional Bodies

We have trained more than 700 candidates on our courses including professionals from leading organisations & professional bodies including: Arcelor Mittal; Bourne Steel; J & D Pierce Contracts Ltd; UKRI - Science & Technologies Facilities Council; TAQA Bratani; Moog Aircraft Group; Millar Callaghan Engineering Services Ltd; Murphy Group; Professional Lifting Services Ltd; McLaren Automotive; Mueller Europe; WQiC; Harold Newsome Ltd; HyTen Chatham; William Haley Engineering Ltd; RWE Generation UK PLC; TEi Ltd; The Institute of Cast Metal Engineers (ICME); Sulzer; Thames Reinforcements and The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC.)

INDUSTRY SECTORS

The knowledge & skills gained on the course are valuable across a wide range of welding industry sectors, including:

🔺 STEEL & ALUMINIUM STRUCTURES

🔺 CONCRETE REINFORCING STEELS 'REBAR'

🔺 PRESSURE VESSELS 

🔺 PIPELINES

🔺 RAILWAY VEHICLES

🔺 AEROSPACE

🔺 AUTOMOTIVE

🔺 OIL & GAS

🔺CHEMICAL

🔺POWER GENERATION, INCLUDING NUCLEAR 

🔺RAILS

🔺GENERAL ENGINEERING

🔺DEFENCE

Excellent Feedback

Our Welding Inspection courses have received excellent feedback from candidates who have completed it, highlighting its effectiveness in developing knowledge, skills and understanding:

• 'Fantastic, much better than TWI notes & learned much more during the course.'

• 'Really good course-good pace & very good notes. Thank you.'

• 'Good course, well-paced, good content & structure.'

ASSESSMENT & CERTIFICATION

Candidates are assessed on the course by continuous assessments which are e-mailed to the candidate. Completed Assessments are then e-mailed to the Course Tutor for marking. Candidates who achieve the required standard on the Assessments will be awarded a 'PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE IN WELDING INSPECTION & QUALITY MANAGEMENT (CertWIQM)' & CPD 25 HOURS.  There is no expiry date on the course certificate and there is no compulsory 5 or 10-year recertification required.

INDUSTRY SECTORS

The knowledge & skills gained on the course are valuable across a wide range of welding industry sectors, including:

🔺 STEEL & ALUMINIUM STRUCTURES

🔺 CONCRETE REINFORCING STEELS 'REBAR'

🔺 PRESSURE VESSELS 

🔺 PIPELINES

🔺 RAILWAY VEHICLES

🔺 AEROSPACE

🔺 AUTOMOTIVE

🔺 OIL & GAS

🔺CHEMICAL

🔺POWER GENERATION, INCLUDING NUCLEAR 

🔺RAILS

🔺GENERAL ENGINEERING

🔺DEFENCE

COURSE FEES & BOOKING FORM

Course Fees: £950 per person, inclusive of a comprehensive, full colour Training Handbook & all Assessment & Certification fees.

Please click on the LINK to download and complete the SELF STUDY booking form if you would like to make a booking, or Contact Us if you require any further information. 

Course Content

Session 1

• Scope of Course

• Definition of Welding: Fusion Welding & Solid State Welding

• Definition of a Metal & Alloy

• Useful Properties of Metals & Alloys

• Welding Terms & Definitions

• Welding Codes & Standards

Parent Metal Product Standards & Grades; Welded Products; Welding Processes

• Importance of Parent Metal Product Standards

• BS EN ISO Standards Designation

• ASTM / ASME / UNS Product Standards Designation

• Levels of Certification to BS EN 10204

• Hot Rolled Products of Structural Steels

• Concrete Reinforcing Carbon Steels (BS 4449)

• Pipeline Steels

• Low Alloy & Alloy Steels

• Pressure Vessel Steels

• Stainless Steels

• Aluminium Alloys

• Nickel Alloys

• Examples of Typical Surface Imperfections / Defects on Parent Metal Products

• Types of Welded Joints & Welds

• Arc Welding Processes

• Electron Beam Welding Process

• Laser Beam Welding Process

Session 2

• Arc Welding Parameters

• Preheat & Interpass Temperature Measurement & Control

• Steel Preheat Temperature Determination to BS EN 1011‑2: Case Study

• Arc Welding Consumables

Session 3

• Heat Treatment After Welding (Post Weld Heat Treatment)

• Welding Positions

• Welding Symbols

• Welding Procedure Specifications Development Process

• Welder & Welding Operator Qualification

• Welding Stresses, Distortion & Residual Stress

• Types of Welding Imperfections & How to Avoid Them

Session 4

• Types of Welding Imperfections & How to Avoid Them (continued)

• Inspection of Welds – Visual Welding Inspection Requirements

• Writing a Welding Procedure Specification: Case Study

Session 5

Non‑Destructive Testing (NDT) Inspection Techniques

• Radiographic Testing (RT)

• Ultrasonic Testing (UT)

• Magnetic Particle Inspection (MT)

• Dye Penetrant Testing (PT)

• Eddy Current Testing (ET)

• Weld Repairs

Weld Quality Requirements

• Steel & Aluminium Structures (UKCA / CE) – BS EN 1090‑2 & BS EN 1090‑3

• Pressure Vessel Steel – BS EN 13445‑5

• Railway Vehicles & Components – BS EN 15085‑3

• Metallic Piping – BS EN 13480‑5

• Welded Carbon Steel Reinforcement Bars – ISO 17660 Parts 1 & 2

• Electron Beam & Laser Beam Welded Products – BS EN ISO 13919

• Practice on Determining Welding Imperfection Limits for Visual Inspection

Welding Quality Management

• ISO 3834 Welding Quality Management Systems – Fusion Welding

• Non‑Conformance Reporting, Corrective Actions & Continuous Improvement

• BS EN ISO 14731 Welding Coordination: Tasks & Responsibilities

• BS EN 1090‑1: Requirements for UKCA / CE Marking of Steel & Aluminium Structures

Course Tutor: Philip Bralsford CEng MIMMM MWeldI DipMet MMet MBA

Philip is a Chartered Engineer with professional accreditation in Metallurgy, Materials Engineering and Welding, Lead Auditor qualifications & decades of industry experience.

With a distinguished academic background, including a Diploma in Metallurgy (DipMet) with Distinction and Master of Metallurgy (MMet) in Advanced Metallurgy from the University of Sheffield, his career has been marked by significant contributions to leading engineering firms such as British Steel, Sheffield Forgemasters and Corus, where he has played a pivotal role in research, product development, quality control and the implementation of innovative solutions.

Philip's commitment to excellence is further evidenced by his accreditations from professional bodies including Chartered Engineer (CEng), professional Member of The Institute of Materials (MIMMM) and professional Member of the The Welding Institute (MWeldI.)

Philip has also designed and implemented comprehensive training programmes focusing on metallurgical techniques, materials materials science & engineering, welding technology, corrosion engineering and quality management.  He has also authored a range of industry-leading publications 'Materials Engineering Handbooks.'

Philip provides training for a number of high-profile clients & professional bodies, including: Arcelor Mittal; The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC); UKRI - Science & Technology Facilities Council; The Institute of Cast Metals Engineers (ICME); TAQA Bratani; Building Research Establishment (BRE); McLaren Automotive; Moog Aircraft Group; J & D Pierce Contracts Ltd; Bourne Group Ltd; Mueller Europe; TEi Ltd; Ultra Maritime; William Cook Cast Products; WQiC; Voestalpine Bohler Welding & RWE Generation UK PLC.

Philip has received excellent feedback from the clients & candidates who have undertaken his training. For some of their comments see below:

'I`d like to say a big thank you for putting together a course that not only has excellent reference books to work from, but also enabled me to study when I had time. I`m sure the books will be put to good use in the future.'

'Our Engineers have found the course and its subject material very informative and helpful as two engineers relatively new to welding. They have also found the material very well presented and easy to follow.'

'It's been done in a way that's understandable for people who already have some knowledge and for those who don't, It's learnable and understandable.'

'I think there is very little or almost nothing to improve, as the course is very well designed, built and the Tutor is very experienced.'

'Thank you Philip for your time. I've enjoyed the course a lot and after meeting with you, I've learnt even more about the role of an RWC. Thank you again for your feedback on where we need to be and I will continue to make a great effort to learn more.'

‘I felt the course material was invaluable. I came away with a complete understanding simply because it was written by somebody who clearly understood their subject area. I look forward to studying again with Philip.’