WELDER EXAMINATION CERTIFICATE IN THE ACCREDITED DVS PERSZERT SYSTEM

WELDER EXAMINATION CERTIFICATE IN THE ACCREDITED DVS PERSZERT SYSTEM

 

2020 was the year when the GSI (International Association of Welding Technology) reorganized their established system for conducting welder examinations in all of their SLVs (welding training centers). Welder examinations are now accredited with the DVS PersZert. The DVS PersZert is accredited by the DAkkS (German Accreditation Body) as a certification body for personnel and has carried out the certification of personnel according to DIN EN ISO/EC 17024 for many years.

Reasons for reorganizing the system

Due to increasing globalization, international comparability, the highest level of expertise, and neutral, independent and impartial test institutions have become increasingly important for examination certificates. In order to achieve and ensure the greatest international recognition for welder examinations, the GSI has opted for accreditation by the highest national authority, DAkkS (German Accreditation Body). Examinations accredited by this body are much more readily accepted by foreign companies and supervisory bodies than non-accredited examinations.

For work in construction supervision as well, compliance with the requirements of DIN EN ISO/IEC 17024 should be ensured when selecting examination bodies (see DIN EN 1090-2:2018, Section 7.4.3).
Many other providers cannot offer accreditation in welder examinations at this time, so recognition of the examination is ultimately the responsibility of the customer in many cases. Accreditation by DAkkS eliminates this uncertainty for the GSI welder examinations.

Services of the DAkkS

The German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) has been endowed as the highest national accreditation body by the federal government, which supervises it. As an independent institution, DAkkS evaluates and monitors the qualification of examination bodies and ensures that legal requirements are complied with. The accreditation services of the DAkkS are internationally recognized, partly via the EA Multilateral Agreement of the European Cooperation for Accreditation (EA). This agreement guarantees the equivalence and reliability and the mutual recognition of accreditations of all full members of this agreement. DAkkS is also one of the signatories of the Multilateral Agreement of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), a global network of accreditation bodies. IAF and the global International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) recognize the EA agreement, ensuring that all examination bodies and examinations accredited by DAkkS are internationally recognized.

Changes to welder examination certificate including DVS PersZert

Like many other DVS training courses already offered by our welding training centers (SLVs), e.g. for International Welding Engineer (SFI), Welding Technologist (ST), or Welding Specialist (SFM), the welder examination is now offered as a DVS course including a DVS PersZert certificate in addition to the international certificates of the International Institute of Welding (IIW). These welder examinations accredited by DAkkS can be identified by the DAkkS accreditation number or the DAkkS symbol. Slight changes have thus been made to the appearance of the certificates and the welder examination, offering you the advantage of international recognition.

Exception: Pressure equipment

An exception to this are the welder examination certificates according to the pressure equipment directive 2014/68/EU. These certificates will continue to be issued by the GSI itself. Since the GSI has been designated a notified body in this area by the Central Office of Federal States for Safety Technology (ZLS), not only welder examinations and procedure tests are certified by GSI in this field, but also products and QM systems, ensuring that the highest requirements are complied with in the area of pressure equipment as well.