100+ Free NCCER Welding Practice Questions

The NCCER Welding Level 1 test (5th Edition) contains 95 multiple-choice questions administered in a 3-hour closed-book session with a minimum passing score of 70%. A basic non-printing calculator is permitted (built into the NCCER Testing System). The 12 modules covered include welding safety, oxyfuel cutting, plasma arc cutting, air carbon arc cutting, base metal preparation, weld quality, and SMAW (electrodes, beads, fillets, groove welds with backing, open root groove welds). Most modules also require performance qualifications on hands-on weld coupons.

No. NCCER Welding is a craft training curriculum that documents your knowledge and skills through level tests and performance profiles. AWS Certified Welder is a separate performance qualification administered by the American Welding Society — you weld test coupons under a specific code (such as AWS D1.1 for structural) and the welds are destructively tested. Many welders complete NCCER training first to build skills, then earn AWS performance qualifications for the specific code, process, position, and material thickness their employer requires.

Level 1 focuses on safety, cutting (oxyfuel, plasma, air carbon arc), base metal preparation, and SMAW (stick welding) on plate including beads, fillets, and groove welds. Level 2 introduces welding symbols, technical drawings, metal properties, GMAW (MIG), and FCAW (flux core) on plate. Level 3 covers pipe welding across all four major processes — SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, and GTAW (TIG) — plus stainless steel techniques. Level 4 covers specialty applications including aluminum GMAW/GTAW, soldering, and brazing.

AWS recognizes six primary positions: 1G (flat groove), 2G (horizontal groove or pipe with vertical axis), 3G (vertical groove), 4G (overhead groove), 5G (pipe with fixed horizontal axis), and 6G (pipe at 45° fixed angle). Fillet welds use F instead of G (1F, 2F, 3F, 4F). 6G is the most challenging because the weld passes through flat, vertical, and overhead orientations as you progress around the pipe — successful 6G qualification typically qualifies you for all other positions for that process.

DCEP (Direct Current Electrode Positive, also called DC Reverse Polarity) connects the electrode to the positive terminal, placing approximately 70% of the heat on the electrode side. DCEP produces DEEPER penetration into the base metal and is the standard polarity for SMAW with E6010 and E7018 electrodes. DCEN (Direct Current Electrode Negative, or DC Straight Polarity) reverses this — heat concentrates on the electrode, producing faster melt-off and less penetration. DCEN is standard for GTAW (TIG) on carbon and stainless steel. Aluminum GTAW uses AC for cathodic cleaning.

NCCER credentials themselves do not expire — they remain permanently on the NCCER Registry. However, AWS welder performance qualifications (separate from NCCER) typically expire after 6 months of not using the qualified process under AWS D1.1, and ASME Section IX qualifications similarly require continuous use. Many code-required welding jobs require both NCCER craft credentials AND current AWS or ASME performance qualifications. NCCER provides the foundational training; the performance qualifications verify ongoing skill.