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6G is the test that separates welders who get pipeline jobs from welders who do not. It is the most demanding pipe welding position in the industry, and it is the one every pipeline contractor uses to qualify welders before putting them on the line.
At Western Welding Academy, 6G is not something you practice once before graduation. It is something you weld every week, for months, until your root passes, fill sequences, and cap profiles meet the same standard that pipeline inspectors hold you to on the job.
Our graduates do not just know what 6G looks like. They can pass the test. 94% of them are working within weeks of finishing their program.
In pipe welding, positions are numbered based on how the pipe is oriented and whether it can be rotated during the weld. The 6G position is the most difficult of all: the pipe is fixed at a 45-degree angle and cannot be moved. The welder must work around the entire joint, welding overhead, vertical, and horizontal all within the same pass.
Passing a 6G weld test qualifies you for every lower position (1G through 5G). That is why pipeline companies, refineries, and industrial contractors use 6G as their standard qualification test. One test, and you are qualified for all positions.
A 6G stick certification on carbon pipe will get you in the door at most pipeline jobs in the country. It is the single most valuable test a pipe welder can pass.
Passing 6G qualifies you for all positions above it. One test covers everything.
Plenty of welding schools will let you attempt a 6G joint near the end of your program. We train you on 6G throughout your entire pipe welding curriculum so it becomes second nature, not a last-minute challenge.
You will spend the vast majority of your training time welding, not watching lectures or reading textbooks. That means 40 hours per week in the booth, running pipe joints in every position including 6G. By the time you test, you will have welded hundreds of 6G joints under instructor supervision.
Our instructors have passed 6G weld tests themselves, on real pipeline jobs. They have welded cross-country transmission lines, refinery shutdowns, and industrial facilities. When they coach you on bead placement, tie-ins, and weld sequencing in the 6G position, it comes from decades of doing it under field conditions.
Pipeline contractors test on different welding processes depending on the job. Our programs train you across the processes that matter for 6G qualification:
We do not hand you a practice coupon and call it training. You weld full pipe joints in the 6G position, with inspectors evaluating your work to API 1104 and ASME Section IX standards. Root passes are checked. Cap profiles are measured. Defects are identified and corrected. When you show up to a contractor weld test, the pressure will feel familiar because you have already been doing it.
Two of our pipe welding programs include intensive 6G training and certification prep. The right choice depends on how far you want to take your pipeline career.
Covers SMAW and TIG pipe welding with ASME Section IX certification and 6G position training. A strong foundation for welders targeting pipeline maintenance, fabrication shops, or entry-level pipeline construction. You will train in 6G and be ready to test on stick and TIG procedures.
Our most popular program and the best path for welders who want to maximize their 6G qualification range. Covers everything in the Professional program plus combo pipe welding, advanced TIG techniques, and additional weeks mastering the 6G position across multiple processes and material thicknesses.
Expert Pipe Welder graduates can qualify on SMAW, GTAW, and combination procedures in the 6G position. That range is what separates a welder who gets one type of pipeline job from a welder who can work on any pipeline in the country. Graduates earn $60,000 to $125,000 in their first year.
Both programs include housing, tools, unlimited welding materials, and lifetime retraining at no additional cost.
Pipeline contractors do not hire off a resume. They put you on a pipe and tell you to weld. Here is what they are evaluating during a 6G qualification test:
Every one of these skills is trained and tested inside our programs. When you walk into a pipeline contractor weld test after graduating from WWA, you will have done it hundreds of times before.
Welders who can pass a 6G qualification test earn significantly more than general welders. According to industry data, 6G pipe welders earn between $23 and $43 per hour, with experienced pipeline welders earning well over $100,000 per year with overtime and per diem.
Here are verified paychecks from real WWA graduates working pipeline and industrial welding jobs:
All earnings verified by graduate-submitted paychecks.
Pipeline jobs with per diem, overtime, and travel pay regularly push total annual compensation above six figures. A 6G certification is the key that unlocks those positions.
No hidden fees. No surprise material charges. No extra costs for housing or tools.
Five steps. No entrance exam. No prior welding experience required.
You must be 17.5 years or older to enroll. No previous welding experience is needed. Both the Professional and Expert programs accept complete beginners and train you from fundamentals to 6G-ready.
6G refers to the most difficult pipe welding test position. The pipe is fixed at a 45-degree angle and cannot be rotated. The welder must weld around the entire joint, working through overhead, vertical, and horizontal positions in a single pass. Passing a 6G test qualifies you for all other pipe welding positions (1G through 5G).
WWA trains you to pass 6G weld tests administered by pipeline companies and third-party testing agencies. Welder qualifications are typically issued by the hiring contractor during their on-site weld test. What we do is train you to the exact standard so you pass those tests on your first attempt. You will also earn ASME Section IX certification during your program.
Pipeline contractors use the 6G test as their standard welder qualification because it covers every welding position in a single test. If you can weld a clean 6G joint that passes X-ray, you can weld any joint on the pipeline. It is the fastest way to prove you are qualified for the work.
The Expert Pipe Welder program (24 weeks) gives you the most comprehensive 6G training, covering SMAW, GTAW, and combination welding across multiple pipe sizes and wall thicknesses. If you want the widest qualification range and the highest earning potential, that is the program to choose. The Professional Pipe Welder program (19 weeks) also includes 6G training and is a strong option for welders focused on stick and TIG pipeline procedures.
No. Both programs accept students with zero welding experience. You start with fundamentals and progress through flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead positions before training on 6G pipe. By graduation, you will have the skills and repetitions to pass a contractor 6G weld test.
Yes. Fully furnished student housing is included in your tuition. Utilities and WiFi are covered. The housing is located about 5 minutes from our campus in Gillette, Wyoming.
Most graduates have job offers before they finish their program. Our 94% hire rate reflects graduates who are working in the field shortly after completing training. Welders who can pass a 6G test are in consistent demand across the pipeline, refinery, and energy construction industries.
Yes. WWA offers private loan options through Climb Credit and Ascent Financing. You can also pay upfront using cash, 529 accounts, or education savings. Visit our Financial Aid page or call (307) 284-5313 for details.
Every pipeline contractor in the country needs welders who can pass a 6G weld test. The demand is not slowing down. Our next class has limited spots. Apply today, lock in your start date, and start building the one skill that gets you on the line.
Western Welding Academy is the only pipe welding school in the country that is solely owned and operated by real pipeline/pipe welders. At WWA we have the most elite, highest skilled welders in the world teaching students how to weld.
(307) 284-5313
