Stick Welding Certification

The Stick Welding Certification is a free intermediate-level, 20-minute skill test from Science of Apps. It tests shielded metal arc welding (SMAW, stick) knowledge — electrodes and equipment, technique and settings, weld defects and inspection, and safety and welder qualification — written to American Welding Society guidance, AWS A5.1 electrode classification, AWS D1.1 structural welding practice and ANSI Z49.1 safety for 2026. Follow your welding procedure specification (WPS) and the electrode maker's data on the job. Score 70% or more on its 20 questions to earn a verifiable Stick Welding Proficiency certificate (SOA-SW). Every question is based on published standards and research — including American Welding Society (AWS), Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) and AWS QC1 (American Welding Society), AWS certification programs (Certified Welder, CWI) and AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code – Steel (American Welding Society) — and each answer is explained with its source.

Science of Apps offers a free Stick Welding Certification, updated for 2026 and 2027. It measures electrodes and equipment, technique and settings, weld defects and inspection and safety and qualification and gives instant results with a shareable certificate.

Read the four skill areas on this page, then take the 20-minute test online — no fee, course or sign-up. You see every answer explained when you finish. Score 70% or more and you get a Stick Welding Proficiency certificate straight away, on screen, as a PDF and by email, with a credential ID anyone can verify.

Yes. The questions are original scenarios written by Science of Apps, and each one is based on a public source you can read: American Welding Society (AWS); Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) and AWS QC1 (American Welding Society); AWS certification programs (Certified Welder, CWI) and AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code – Steel (American Welding Society); AWS safety and health fact sheets (with ANSI Z49.1 Safety in Welding, Cutting and Allied Processes) (American Welding Society); Welding, cutting and brazing (OSHA). The source is shown under each question and linked in the answer review. Science of Apps doesn't copy questions from other tests.

Four skill areas with five questions each, drawn from a bank of 10 per area so a retake brings new questions: Electrodes and Equipment (Classification, Coatings and Power sources); Technique and Settings (Arc length, Angles and Amperage); Weld Defects and Inspection (Discontinuities, Causes and Testing); Safety and Qualification (PPE, Hazards and Positions). Every question is an original scenario written to the 2026–2027 standard, with the published source named under it.

Stick welder, Structural or pipe welder, Welding apprentice, Fabrication or maintenance technician and Welding instructor. It suits anyone who wants a quick, verifiable way to show Stick Welding knowledge in 2026 and 2027, from students and career switchers to experienced professionals.

Stick welding, or shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), uses a consumable electrode coated in flux. The arc melts the electrode and base metal while the flux forms a gas shield and a slag layer that protect the weld. It is portable and works well outdoors and on dirty or thick steel.

In an AWS A5.1 classification such as E7018, the E means electrode, 70 means 70,000 psi minimum tensile strength, the third digit gives the welding positions (1 = all positions) and the last digit indicates the coating type and current.

Yes. The test is online, in English and free everywhere — people take it from India, the US, the UK, Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Your certificate is dated with your own local date and can be verified from anywhere at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/.

20 questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — with a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

We rate it Intermediate: assumes hands-on experience in the role. It has 20 scenario questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — and a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

Nothing. There is no fee to take a test, to receive the certificate, to have it emailed or to verify it, and no sign-up.

On our server, not in your browser. The answers never reach the page until you submit, so a certificate can only be earned by passing. Each certificate gets a unique credential ID stored by Science of Apps.

You see your score for each area and every question with the correct answer and why, with the published source behind it. You can retake after 30 minutes, and the retake draws questions you haven't seen yet.

No. Every certificate is dated, so it always shows when you passed. Retake a test any time for a newer date or a higher score.

Yes. After you pass, Add to LinkedIn opens the Licenses & certifications form with the certificate name, Science of Apps as the issuer, the issue date, your credential ID and the verification link filled in. You can also download it as a PDF or PNG, and it's emailed to you as a PDF.

Every certificate has a credential ID and a QR code. Scanning it, or entering the ID at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/, shows the holder's name, the certification, the score and the issue date from our records.

No. They are Science of Apps' own assessments of applied skill. They aren't issued by a university or standards body, and they work best alongside a portfolio that shows the skills in real work.