LATEST NATIONAL CERTIFIED PIPE WELDING
BUREAU (NCPWB) CERTIFICATION EXAM | Q&A
WITH RATIONALES
1. What is the primary purpose of ASME Section IX?
A) To design pressure vessels and boilers
B) To establish rules for welding and brazing
qualifications
C) To specify material chemistry for pipes
D) To govern piping system layouts
Correct answer: B
Rationale: ASME Section IX is the "Welding and
Brazing Qualifications" section. It provides the rules
for qualifying welding procedures and welders, not
for designing components or systems.
2. A Welding Procedure Specification (WPS)
provides instructions for:
A) Testing the welder's skill
B) The specific variables to be used to produce a
sound weld
C) The design of the welded joint
,D) The post‑weld heat treatment only
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The WPS is a written document that lists
all the essential, non-essential, and supplementary
essential variables required to make a
code‑compliant weld.
3. A Procedure Qualification Record (PQR)
documents:
A) The welder's performance
B) The actual welding conditions and test results
used to qualify a WPS
C) The daily production welding parameters
D) The non‑destructive examination plan
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The PQR is a record of the actual welding
parameters used and the results of the mechanical
tests performed on the test coupon. It serves as
proof that the WPS can produce sound welds.
4. According to QW-200.2, a new WPS must be
qualified whenever a change is made to a(n):
,A) Non‑essential variable
B) Essential variable
C) Supplementary essential variable only
D) Supplementary essential variable when required
by a referencing standard
Correct answer: B
Rationale: A change to any essential variable
requires requalification of the procedure because it
can significantly affect the mechanical properties of
the weld. Changes to non-essential variables do not
require requalification.
5. Which of the following is an essential variable for a
WPS?
A) The type of shielding gas used (GMAW)
B) The welding position (for a groove weld)
C) The diameter of the electrode
D) All of the above
Correct answer: D
Rationale: All listed factors are essential variables. A
change to any of them would potentially affect the
, weld's mechanical properties and thus would
require requalification of the WPS.
6. A welder is qualified on a 2‑inch thick plate. What
is the maximum thickness the welder is qualified to
weld in production for a groove weld?
A) 2 inches
B) 4 inches
C) 6 inches
D) Unlimited
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Per QW-452.1(b), a welder qualified on
material 1 inch or thicker is qualified for any
thickness. However, the qualified range is from 3/16
inch up to 2 times the thickness of the test coupon,
or unlimited if the test coupon thickness is 1 inch or
more. For a 2-inch coupon, the upper limit is
unlimited.
7. A welding procedure is qualified on 1‑inch thick
plate. What is the maximum thickness it qualifies for
in production?
A) 1 inch
BUREAU (NCPWB) CERTIFICATION EXAM | Q&A
WITH RATIONALES
1. What is the primary purpose of ASME Section IX?
A) To design pressure vessels and boilers
B) To establish rules for welding and brazing
qualifications
C) To specify material chemistry for pipes
D) To govern piping system layouts
Correct answer: B
Rationale: ASME Section IX is the "Welding and
Brazing Qualifications" section. It provides the rules
for qualifying welding procedures and welders, not
for designing components or systems.
2. A Welding Procedure Specification (WPS)
provides instructions for:
A) Testing the welder's skill
B) The specific variables to be used to produce a
sound weld
C) The design of the welded joint
,D) The post‑weld heat treatment only
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The WPS is a written document that lists
all the essential, non-essential, and supplementary
essential variables required to make a
code‑compliant weld.
3. A Procedure Qualification Record (PQR)
documents:
A) The welder's performance
B) The actual welding conditions and test results
used to qualify a WPS
C) The daily production welding parameters
D) The non‑destructive examination plan
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The PQR is a record of the actual welding
parameters used and the results of the mechanical
tests performed on the test coupon. It serves as
proof that the WPS can produce sound welds.
4. According to QW-200.2, a new WPS must be
qualified whenever a change is made to a(n):
,A) Non‑essential variable
B) Essential variable
C) Supplementary essential variable only
D) Supplementary essential variable when required
by a referencing standard
Correct answer: B
Rationale: A change to any essential variable
requires requalification of the procedure because it
can significantly affect the mechanical properties of
the weld. Changes to non-essential variables do not
require requalification.
5. Which of the following is an essential variable for a
WPS?
A) The type of shielding gas used (GMAW)
B) The welding position (for a groove weld)
C) The diameter of the electrode
D) All of the above
Correct answer: D
Rationale: All listed factors are essential variables. A
change to any of them would potentially affect the
, weld's mechanical properties and thus would
require requalification of the WPS.
6. A welder is qualified on a 2‑inch thick plate. What
is the maximum thickness the welder is qualified to
weld in production for a groove weld?
A) 2 inches
B) 4 inches
C) 6 inches
D) Unlimited
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Per QW-452.1(b), a welder qualified on
material 1 inch or thicker is qualified for any
thickness. However, the qualified range is from 3/16
inch up to 2 times the thickness of the test coupon,
or unlimited if the test coupon thickness is 1 inch or
more. For a 2-inch coupon, the upper limit is
unlimited.
7. A welding procedure is qualified on 1‑inch thick
plate. What is the maximum thickness it qualifies for
in production?
A) 1 inch
