Does passing a 3G test qualify a welder for all plate positions?

No. A 3G (vertical groove) qualifies for flat, horizontal, and vertical. Overhead is not covered—that requires a separate 4G test or a combined 3G+4G qualification.

Is 6G the highest pipe qualification?

Yes. The 6G test (45° inclined pipe, fixed) incorporates every position orientation in one joint. A welder who passes 6G is qualified for all positions in groove and fillet welds.

Can a welder qualified under AWS D1.1 use that qualification for ASME Section IX work?

No. AWS D1.1 and ASME IX have separate qualification systems with different essential variables and documentation requirements. Separate testing is required for each code.

Does a plate groove qualification cover pipe welds?

No. Plate and pipe qualification ranges are independent under AWS D1.1. A 3G plate test does not qualify a welder for fixed-position pipe work.

May 24, 20265 min read

Welder Qualification Positions: 1G Through 6G Explained

What welding positions actually authorize—groove and fillet ranges for plate, pipe, and structural welder qualification tests under AWS D1.1.

WPQ welder qualification positions AWS D1.1 Clause 4

The two-character position code on a WPQ (welder performance qualification) record is easy to overlook — until an auditor asks whether a welder was actually qualified for the joint being run. Get the ranges wrong and you may have to stop production and requalify.

Here is a straightforward explanation of the AWS D1.1 position designation system and the qualification ranges that follow from each test.

The Designation System

AWS uses a number-letter code to describe both the test position and the joint type:

Number indicates orientation relative to gravity: 1 = flat, 2 = horizontal, 3 = vertical, 4 = overhead, 5 = horizontal pipe fixed, 6 = inclined pipe (45°)
Letter indicates joint type: G = groove weld, F = fillet weld

A "3G" test is a vertical groove weld on plate. A "2F" is a horizontal fillet weld. These designations appear on both the welder's test record and the WPQ form. Production welders should only be assigned joints whose position falls within the range established by their WPQ test.

Plate Groove Qualifications

Plate groove tests are the baseline for most structural work under AWS D1.1. The four positions and their qualification ranges follow Clause 4 and the position qualification tables in your edition.

1G — Flat Groove The plate is horizontal, the groove faces up. This is the least demanding test and qualifies for flat-position groove and fillet welds only. No other positions are covered.

2G — Horizontal Groove The plate is vertical, the groove axis is horizontal. Passing 2G qualifies for flat and horizontal groove welds, plus flat and horizontal fillet welds.

3G — Vertical Groove The plate is vertical, the groove runs up-down. The test can be run vertical-up or vertical-down (with some process restrictions — D1.1 limits vertical-down application for certain processes). Passing 3G qualifies for flat, horizontal, and vertical positions for both groove and fillet welds.

4G — Overhead Groove The plate is overhead, deposit is upward. Passing 4G qualifies for flat, horizontal, and overhead positions. Combining a passing 3G and 4G qualifies the welder for all plate positions — flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead.

A welder who passes both 3G and 4G does not need a separate 2G test; the 3G range already covers horizontal.

Pipe Groove Qualifications

Pipe positions are distinct because the welder must adapt technique continuously around the circumference of a fixed joint — 5G and 6G tests cannot be completed on a rotating positioner.

1G — Flat Pipe (Rotated) The pipe axis is horizontal and the pipe rotates during welding, keeping the puddle at the 12 o'clock position. Qualifies for flat position only. Rarely used as a production qualification basis because it does not represent actual field conditions.

2G — Horizontal Fixed Pipe The pipe axis is vertical, the joint is horizontal. Qualifies for flat and horizontal. Useful for horizontal branch connections but does not cover the full range required for most pipe run welds.

5G — Horizontal Fixed Pipe (Vertical Plane) The pipe axis is horizontal, the pipe does not rotate. The welder travels around the full circumference, encountering flat, vertical, and overhead sections in a single pass. Passing 5G qualifies for flat, vertical, and overhead groove welds.

6G — 45° Inclined Fixed Pipe The pipe axis is at 45°. This test incorporates every position orientation in one joint and is the most demanding single qualification test in AWS D1.1. A welder who passes 6G is qualified for all positions in groove and fillet welds. It is the standard qualification for field pipe welders and for any crew that runs all-position work on a regular basis.

Fillet Weld Qualifications

Fillet weld tests (1F, 2F, 3F, 4F) follow the same number scheme. In AWS D1.1, a welder who passes a groove test in a given position is generally also qualified to run fillet welds in the positions covered by that groove test. The reverse is not true — a fillet test alone does not qualify for groove welds.

If your production work is fillet-only, a stand-alone fillet test may be acceptable, but confirm the specific requirements in Clause 4 of your governing edition before scheduling the test.

Tracking Qualification Range on the WPQ

The WPQ form records the test position and the resulting qualification range. When you maintain a qualification matrix — a spreadsheet or a dedicated software module that maps each welder to their current qualified processes and positions — the position columns are among the most audited fields.

Common errors that CWIs flag on WPQ reviews:

The test position is recorded but the qualification range columns are left blank or transcribed incorrectly
A 1G pipe test is used as the basis for welds that are actually 5G service in the field
A 3G plate test is assumed to cover pipe positions — it does not; plate and pipe qualification ranges are tracked separately
Welders are assigned positions they last tested years ago without confirming the continuity requirement hasn't lapsed

For more on maintaining WPQ records and preventing lapsed qualifications from disrupting production, see the guides on welder qualification traceability and WPQ records and AWS D1.1 Clause 6.4.1: the 6-month continuity requirement.

Crossing Between Codes

AWS D1.1 position qualifications do not transfer to ASME Section IX. The designation codes look the same (1G, 2G, 6G) but the qualification ranges and essential variable tables differ. A welder qualified at 6G under D1.1 is not considered qualified at 6G under ASME IX — separate testing and documentation are required.

If your shop runs both structural fabrication and pressure equipment work, track each qualification type in separate records with the governing code clearly identified. The same test coupon cannot serve both auditors.

For an overview of how D1.1 and ASME IX differ across the full WPS and qualification system, see D1.1 vs. ASME Section IX: which code governs your weld?.

Why Position Gaps Surface at the Worst Time

Position qualification gaps tend to surface during third-party audits or customer surveillance visits — not during routine production. By the time the auditor asks, work may already be installed. The cost-effective fix is a matrix that flags gaps before production scheduling, not after.

Tracking welder positions alongside their process qualifications, continuity status, and PQR support in one place is how shops avoid these surprises. See wpswelding.com/pricing for how the platform integrates WPQ position tracking, continuity alerts, and the qualification matrix.

Rule library based on AWS D1.1:2025; verify against your governing edition.

FAQ

Frequently asked.

Does passing a 3G test qualify a welder for all plate positions?: No. A 3G (vertical groove) qualifies for flat, horizontal, and vertical. Overhead is not covered—that requires a separate 4G test or a combined 3G+4G qualification.
Is 6G the highest pipe qualification?: Yes. The 6G test (45° inclined pipe, fixed) incorporates every position orientation in one joint. A welder who passes 6G is qualified for all positions in groove and fillet welds.
Can a welder qualified under AWS D1.1 use that qualification for ASME Section IX work?: No. AWS D1.1 and ASME IX have separate qualification systems with different essential variables and documentation requirements. Separate testing is required for each code.
Does a plate groove qualification cover pipe welds?: No. Plate and pipe qualification ranges are independent under AWS D1.1. A 3G plate test does not qualify a welder for fixed-position pipe work.