(a) Each welder or welding operator must be qualified in accordance with section 6, section 12, Appendix A or Appendix B of API Std 1104 (incorporated by reference, see §195.3), or section IX of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME BPVC), (incorporated by reference, see §195.3) except that a welder or welding operator qualified under an earlier edition than listed in §195.3, may weld but may not requalify under that earlier edition.

(b) No welder or welding operator may weld with a welding process unless, within the preceding 6 calendar months, the welder or welding operator has—

(1) Engaged in welding with that process; and

(2) Had one weld tested and found acceptable under section 9 or Appendix A of API Std 1104 (incorporated by reference, see §195.3).

[Amdt. 195-81, 69 FR 54593, Sept. 9, 2004, as amended by Amdt. 195-86, 71 FR 33409, June 9, 2006; Amdt. 195-99, 80 FR 186, Jan. 5, 2015; Amdt. 195-100, 80 FR 12780, Mar. 11, 2015; Amdt. 195-101, 82 FR 7999, Jan. 23, 2017]