TSG Z6002-2026 Examination Rules for Welding Operators of Special Equipment English Translation
特种设备焊接操作人员考核细则
(English translation)
Issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation of the People's Republic of China
March, 2, 2026
1 General
1.1 Purpose
In order to regulate the examination for welding operators of special equipment, the Rules are formulated in accordance with the Special Equipment Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, the Regulations on the Safety Supervision of Special Equipment, and the Administrative Measures for the Supervision of Special Equipment Operators.
1.2 Scope of application
(1) The Rules apply to the examination for welding operators of special equipment (hereinafter referred to as welders) within the scope of the Classification and items for qualification recognition of special equipment operators formulated and issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation (hereinafter referred to as SAMR);
(2) Welders engaged in the following special equipment welding work shall pass the examination in accordance with the Rules and obtain the Special Equipment Safety Management and Operator Certificate (Welding Operator): welds of pressure-bearing components of boilers, pressure vessels (including gas cylinders), and pressure pipelines; welds welded to pressure-bearing components; surface hardfacing of base metal of pressure-bearing components; welds of main load-bearing structural components of cranes, passenger ropeways, large amusement facilities, and special purpose vehicles in factories (yards); welds welded to main load-bearing structural components; tack welds that become part of the aforesaid two welds;
(3) The types of welders covered by the Rules are classified according to the degree of mechanization of the welding method into manual welders, mechanized welders, and automatic welders. Mechanized welders and automatic welders are collectively referred to as welding machine operators.
1.3 Basic requirements
(1) The examination certificates of welders shall be issued by local market supervision and administration departments at or above the districted city level. Market supervision departments of municipalities may, based on local circumstances, determine whether the certificates of welders are to be issued by their own departments or by the district or county-level market supervision departments under their jurisdiction;
(2) The certification authority shall entrust an examination institution to organize the examinations and shall publicly disclose the name, address, contact information, and examination items of the entrusted examination institution;
(3) The State Administration for Market Regulation shall be responsible for the comprehensive management of issuing certificates for welders nationwide, while the certification authority shall be responsible for the supervision and management of issuing certificates for welders within its administrative region;
(4) The examination institution shall organize and conduct examinations within the scope of examination categories and items entrusted to it by the certification authority;
(5) The welder examination includes a theoretical knowledge examination and a practical operation skill examination (including hot work practical operation assessment, the same below). The theoretical knowledge examination shall be computer-based. While the practical operation skill examination shall mainly be conducted by using welding test pieces for inspection and evaluation;
(6) Theoretical knowledge examination is required under any of the following circumstances: first-time applicants; non-metallic material welders applying for metallic material welding for the first time; metallic material welders applying for non-metallic material welding for the first time; welders whose Special Equipment Safety Management and Operator Certificate (Welding Operator) has been revoked or canceled reapplying for the examination;
(7) The scope, content, methods and result evaluation for the examination of metallic material and non-metallic material welders of special equipment shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Annex A and Annex B of the Rules.
2 Examination institution
2.1 Basic conditions
(1) Possessing legal entity status;
(2) Having a permanent organizational management department and fixed office premises, with no less than 3 full-time staff members whose technical capabilities are commensurate with the categories of welder examinations and welding methods;
(3) The equipment and facilities for welder examinations shall be commensurate with the categories and items of welder examinations;
(4) Having the capability for welding procedure qualification and welding operation instructions that meet the requirements for welder examinations;
(5) Establishing a quality assurance system for welder examinations and having a sound examination management system, including theoretical knowledge examination management, practical operation skill examination management, result reporting, file management, emergency plans, confidentiality, and other systems, which can be effectively implemented;
(6) Having examination management personnel and examiners meeting the examination requirements;
(7) The examination site shall be equipped with an information-based identity verification system, and examination video materials shall be retained. An automatic video capture system shall be installed at the workstations for the theoretical knowledge examination;
(8) The examination institution shall meet the corresponding requirements regarding personnel, equipment, premises, etc.;
(9) A user entity with a relatively large number of welders that meets the conditions may apply to the certification authority to serve as a self-examination institution and, upon approval, may conduct examinations for its own welders.
For the specific conditions and requirements for examination institutions (including self-examination institutions), see Table 1.
Note 2-1: The personnel, equipment, premises, etc. in Table 1 are the minimum requirements (the same below).
Note 2-2: The technical responsible person shall be familiar with and master the content of the Rules and professional welding knowledge. The primary responsible person or the responsible person in charge may concurrently serve as the technical responsible person.
Note 2-3: Examiners shall be familiar with the content of the Rules and professional welding knowledge. They shall possess a college degree or higher in materials or mechanical engineering with at least 5 years of work experience in the relevant field, or hold a professional qualification of welding technician or above, and shall hold the Special Equipment Safety Management and Operator Certificate (Welding Operator). Examiners are primarily responsible for practical operation skill examination preparation, examination process management, inspection and examination, result evaluation, etc.
Note 2-4: Equipment and facilities may not be leased or borrowed.
Note 2-5: If, due to special processes or special equipment constraints, only a self-examination institution within the region meets the examination conditions, the certification authority may, based on the principle of "entrustment on a case-by-case basis," entrust the self-examination institution to conduct the examination upon written authorization.
2.2 Main responsibilities
(1) Announcing the examination location, examination schedule, examination types and items, examination procedures, etc.;
(2) Preparing test pieces (plates, pipes), welding materials, equipment, and facilities for the examination;
(3) Organizing and conducting the theoretical knowledge examination and practical operation skill examination for welders, being responsible for the inspection of test pieces and specimens, and evaluating the examination results;
(4) Reporting the examination results;
(5) Establishing and managing welder examination files;
(6) Submitting annual work summaries to the certification authority, etc.
2.3 Other requirements
(1) The examination institution shall conduct the theoretical knowledge examination and the practical operation skill examination at its own examination site. If, due to special reasons, it is necessary to use an examination site not belonging to the institution, prior notification shall be made to the certification authority, and the examination may only be conducted after obtaining written consent;
(2) In case of any change in the examination institution’s name, address, key personnel, examination venue, or examination site, the examination institution shall report such change(s) to the certification authority within 15 days before or after the change. The certification authority shall timely report such change(s) to the provincial-level market supervision and administration department. Among these, any change to the examination venue or examination site shall be reported to the certification authority in advance and may only be made after obtaining written consent;
(3) Examination institutions shall not carry out training activities for the examination items they are entrusted with (except for self-examination institutions, which may only provide training to their own welders).
3 Examination procedures and requirements
3.1 Procedures
Procedures for welder examination include application, acceptance, examination and certification.
3.2 Application
3.2.1 Conditions for applicants
(1) 18 years old or older and not exceeding 63 years old, having full civil capacity;
(2) Free from diseases and physical defects that impede the performance of welding operations, and meet the physical requirements for welding work.
3.2.2 Application documents
The applicant shall submit the following application materials to the certification authority in the location of their work, household registration (or residence permit), or school enrollment, and shall be responsible for the authenticity of the submitted materials.
(1) Application form for qualification of welding operators of special equipment (see Annex C, 1 copy);
(2) Two recent 2-inch color bareheaded photos with white background (2 copies);
(3) Identity certificate (1 copy);
(4) Health certificate issued by a medical and health institution, including items such as vision and color blindness;
(5) School certificate (1 copy, only those students in their graduating year from secondary schools, technical schools, vocational colleges, and similar institutions established with approval from the education department or human resources and social security department for the purpose of providing academic education);
(6) Social insurance certificate (only those applicants participating in examinations organized by the self-examination institution of their unit, stamped with the official seal of the unit);
(7) Special Operation Certificate (Welding and Hot Work) (only those applicants applying for exemption from hot work operation examination).
Applicants may also submit their applications through the online application system designated by the certification authority, along with scanned files (in PDF or JPG format) of the materials required in the preceding paragraph.
Contents
1 General ( 1)
2 Examination institution (2)
3 Examination procedures and requirements (4)
4 Supplementary provisions (7)
Annex A Scope, content, methods, and result evaluation for the examination of metallic material welders of special equipment (9)
Annex B Scope, content, methods, and result evaluation for the examination of non-metallic material welders of special equipment (46)
Annex C Application form for qualification of welding operators of special equipment (56)
Annex D Basic information form for examination of welding operators of special equipment (57)
Annex E Provisions on the identification and dealing of disciplinary violations and cheating in practical operation skill examinations (58)
Annex F Examination record form for hot work practical operation (59)
Annex G Inspection record form for practical operation skill examination of metallic material welding (60)
Annex H Inspection record form for practical operation skill examination of non-metallic material welding (62)
Annex J Re-examination application form for welding operators of special equipment (67)
Annex K Welding performance record form for welding operators of special equipment (68)
History of revisions (amendments) of relevant regulations and specifications (69)
