Attestation NAKS: training, levels, certification

The role of the human factor in such a matter asensuring the quality of the work performed, one of the key. The level of competence of specialists in the field of welding production is particularly important, since the safety of the facility, life and health of people depends on their professionalism. Therefore, attestation of NAKS is the main criterion for assessing the qualification of a welder.

Activities of NAKS

National Welding Control Agency:

• a full package of normative and methodological documentation required for attesting the welding production is being developed;
• there is consulting and methodological assistance to attestation centers and monitoring their activities;
• formed the composition of experts in the certification of personnel, welding equipment, materials and technology;
• the NACS registry is created, which includes data on all successfully passed attestation checks;
• the technical policy of the appraisal system is developed, its activities are coordinated and improved.

Why does a welder pass a validation test

Welder NAKS - in demanda highly qualified specialist who has the right to work at Rostekhnadzor-controlled hazardous production facilities. In the course of certification, you confirm the level of your professional practical skills and available theoretical knowledge sufficient to obtain admission to conducting complex welding operations.

How and where is NACS certified

• The procedure of certification examination includes three compulsory exams: general, practical, special.
• The first stage of the examination chain -practical examination. It can also become the last, if an attested welder or specialist in welding can not cope with the task and receive an unsatisfactory assessment. The next time he will be admitted to certification only after a month, subject to additional practical training and payment for a second examination.
• To obtain a satisfactory estimate and admissionto the general and special examination, it is necessary to demonstrate the ability to perform welded joints, observing the requirements set forth in the technological documentation, as well as knowledge of occupational safety and health standards.
• Simultaneous certification of a specialist for several types of welding works is allowed.
• Welders or welding specialists canto be certified in any region of the Russian Federation. The place of certification exams is the production base of certification centers or attestation points (regional offices) of the NAKS.

Who is included in the certification committee

The composition of the commission, which takes the exams and makes a decision on their results on the assignment of the qualification level to the attested:

• representative of Rostekhnadzor (without fail);
• employees of certification bodies, which arespecialists of welding production (not lower than level II) and having passed a special certification, which gives them the right to conduct training and take exams for compliance with the level of training.

Levels of attestation

Level of training	Welding production personnel category	Attested on a mandatory basis
I	welder
II	master welder	superintendents, masters or other specialists, oral or written instructions of which are mandatory in the performance of welding operations
III	welder-technologist	engineering and technical personnel responsible fordevelopment, approval and control of welding technological processes - heads of structural divisions of the enterprise (laboratories, technical offices, departments, etc.)
IV	welding engineer	Chief Engineers, Chief Welders, Welding Service Managers and other specialists, whose job duties include approval of all documentation for welding work at the enterprise

Important: the commission of the NAKS levels does not cancel or replace the qualification rank assigned to the welder.

Preparation for certification

Applicants for obtaining the level of NAKS, in addition tothe existence of a special additional training in the training centers, which allows to consolidate and expand the existing skills, must be in place in accordance with the requirements of the system for attestation of working experience, the qualification of general and vocational education.

Programs, according to which training is conducted by NAKS, are developed taking into account the production specialization and the level of professional training of the certified specialist. Required sections include:

• the rules of occupational safety and health in the production of welding operations;
• technology for welding surfacing and welds;
• welding materials and equipment;
• welding quality control methods;
• ways to eliminate identified defects.

If a specialist has mastered the special training training program on his own, he can be admitted to the certification by the decision of the certification committee.

What documents are issued at the end of the audit?

A welder or welding specialist who has been certified by the National Welding Control Agency must be given:

• Certification certificate NAKS, valid throughout the territory of the Russian Federation;
• a copy of the protocol drawn up in accordance with the approved model of the initial, periodic, extraordinary or additional certification;
• a certificate confirming the fact of passing a special pre-certification training.

How can I check the authenticity of the NACS documents? The register, which contains data about all past welders and welders, can be found on the official website of the organization.

Important: Qualified specialists and welders can be admitted to perform only those types of work that fall within the scope of their certification and are specified in the issued certificate.

The validity period of the certificate

The certificates obtained after the successful passing of examinations (with the initial certification) are valid for:

• two years - for welders, certified at the I level of professional training;
• three years - for specialists of welding production, certified for II or III level of professional training;
• five years - for specialists in welding production, certified for the IV level of professional training.

When there is an additional and extraordinary audit

Additional NACS certification is conducted inif it is necessary for the welder to obtain an admission to the types of welding work not specified in the certification certificate obtained after the initial certification, or if the break in the specialist's work for the specified types of work is more than six months. Only a practical and special examination is given.

The basis for an extraordinary appraisal is a temporarysuspension of welding operations for the repeatedly identified unsatisfactory quality of welded welds made by a welder or a violation of the welding process. All three kinds of examinations are given (general, practical, special).

Increase your level of competence, train, expand knowledge, successfully pass the certification. The Russian economy needs professionals!