Coded Welding Course (NQF 4) in South Africa
Coded Welding is a QCTO skills programme at NQF Level 4, worth 96 credits and run over 6 months. It prepares you to operate as a Coded Welder: producing welded test coupons that meet pre-defined criteria, in accordance with a qualified welding procedure specification (WPS).
The programme covers SMAW/MMA, GMAW/MIG/MAG and GTAW/TIG welding of fillet, plate and pipe joints, with generic and process-specific health and safety principles built in. It is delivered from Wheelset Academy's Pretoria and Kempton Park branches.
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What the NQF 4 Coded Welding course covers
The 96-credit programme combines a knowledge component with an application component. Together they prepare you to produce welds of high quality within a short space of time.
Knowledge component
- Introduction to the Welding Trade
- General health, safety and environmental protection concepts
- Welding codes, standards and parameters
- SMAW/MMA Process
- GMAW/MIG/MAG Process
- Safety use, care and storage of engineering hand tools
- Safety use, care and storage of engineering power tools
- Safety use, care and storage of engineering measuring equipment
Application component
- Select, use, care and store engineering hand tools
- Select, use, care and store engineering power tools
- Select, use, care and store engineering measuring equipment
- Produce fillet welds on carbon steel using the Shielded Metal Arc Welding process
- Produce fillet welds on carbon steel using the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding process
- Produce plate butt welds on carbon steel using the Shielded Metal Arc Welding process
- Produce plate butt welds on carbon steel using the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding process
- Produce plate butt welds on carbon steel using Gas Tungsten Arc Welding and Shielded Metal Arc Welding combined
- Produce pipe welds on Schedule 40 carbon steel using Gas Tungsten Arc Welding in the 2G, 5G and 6G positions
- Produce 6 inch Schedule 40 pipe welds using Gas Tungsten Arc Welding and Shielded Metal Arc Welding
Exit level outcomes
- Apply generic health and safety principles to produce weld specimens or components using hand and power tools
- Produce fillet welds using SMAW/MMA and other processes
- Produce plate welds using SMAW/MMA and GTAW/TIG welding processes
- Produce pipe welds using the GTAW/TIG and SMAW/MMA welding processes
Building a national pool of coded welders
The programme is designed to develop coded welders so that South Africa has a pool of these skills rather than importing them from overseas. It is also intended to open opportunities for unemployed youth, such as shutdown maintenance of plants, or to support coded welding entrepreneurs and wider economic development.
The petrochemical environment in particular requires coded welders for, among other things, its seasonal shutdown activities.
Three welding processes, each with defined materials
Each process is taught on the materials and consumables set out in the programme's purpose statement. Pipe work is carried out on Schedule 40 pipe in the sizes listed below.
| Welding process | Material and consumables |
|---|---|
| Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW/MMA) | Carbon steel material and carbon steel consumables |
| Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW/MIG/MAG) | Carbon steel material, using solid wire consumables only (ER70-S-6) |
| Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW/TIG) | Carbon steel material, using carbon steel and stainless-steel consumables |
Pipe welds are produced on Schedule 40, ½ inch, 2 inch and 6 inch diameter carbon steel pipe.
Positional welding, not just theory
- Apply generic and process-specific health and safety principles while you work
- Select, use, care for and store engineering hand tools, power tools and measuring equipment
- Produce positional fillet, plate butt and pipe welds on carbon steel
- Produce pipe welds in the 2G, 5G and 6G positions using GTAW/TIG
- Work with carbon steel and stainless-steel consumables, as set out for each process
- Produce welded test coupons in accordance with a qualified welding procedure specification (WPS)
- Produce welds that meet the visual, non-destructive and, where applicable, destructive acceptance criteria of the relevant welding code
Continuous assessment and supervised practical tasks
Continuous assessment: written and practical test
- Workshop safe work procedures, precautions and personal protective equipment for SMAW, GTAW and GMAW
- Understanding of acceptable standards when selecting, using and caring for hand and power tools
- Description of the SMAW, GTAW and GMAW processes
- Potential causes of weld defects when welding with SMAW, GTAW and GMAW
- Identification and correlation of welding symbols to a type of joint
- Classification and application of welding consumables for SMAW, GTAW and GMAW
Supervised assessment: practical tasks
You produce positional fillet, butt and pipe weld specimens using a variety of arc welding processes: Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW/MMA), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW/MIG-MAG) and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW/TIG).
Coded welder work opportunities
On completion of the Coded Welder qualification, you can access Non-destructive X-Ray Testing (X Radiographic Testing), which enables you to be employed as one of the following tradesmen:
- Welder Double Coded / "A" Class Welder
- Welder Single Coded / "A" Class Welder
- Welder Structural / "B" Class Welder
A skills programme supports career preparation but does not guarantee a specific job title, salary or appointment.
Getting credit for what you already know
- You can gain access to the programme through RPL for Access, as provided for in the QCTO RPL Policy. RPL for access is conducted by an accredited institution, skills development provider or workplace accredited to offer this skills programme.
- If you have already acquired the competencies of modules of this skills programme, you are exempted from those modules through RPL and awarded credits towards the programme.
- Learners who complete this programme accumulate credits towards the relevant full or part qualification, and the Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT) Policy applies.
Verify this programme yourself
Page information reviewed: 4 October 2026.
Skills Programme ID SP-210402
The QCTO Skills Programme document for Coded Welding shows a status of Approved, with a start date of 16 April 2021 and an end date of 16 April 2026. The last date for enrolment is 16 April 2027 and the last date for achievement is 16 April 2030. Because the end date has passed, confirm the current registration status, and Wheelset Academy's provider accreditation scope, directly with the QCTO before enrolling, including on this page.
Check QCTO accreditation · Wheelset Academy accreditations page
Coded Welding course FAQs
What is the Coded Welding course?
It is a QCTO skills programme at NQF Level 4, worth 96 credits and run over 6 months. It prepares you to operate as a Coded Welder by producing welded test coupons that meet pre-defined criteria, in accordance with a qualified welding procedure specification (WPS).
What are the entry requirements?
The minimum entry requirement is one year of experience in welding.
Which welding processes are covered?
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW/MMA), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW/MIG/MAG) and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW/TIG).
Which materials are used?
Carbon steel for all three processes. GMAW uses solid wire consumables only (ER70-S-6). GTAW also uses stainless-steel consumables.
Which pipe positions and sizes are covered?
Pipe welds are produced on Schedule 40 carbon steel in ½ inch, 2 inch and 6 inch diameters, in the 2G, 5G and 6G positions, and 6 inch Schedule 40 pipe is welded using both GTAW/TIG and SMAW/MMA.
What jobs can I apply for after this course?
On completion you can access Non-destructive X-Ray Testing (X Radiographic Testing), which enables employment as a Welder Double Coded / "A" Class Welder, Welder Single Coded / "A" Class Welder or Welder Structural / "B" Class Welder. A skills programme does not guarantee a specific job title.
Can I get credit for prior learning?
Yes. You can gain access through RPL for Access under the QCTO RPL Policy, and anyone who has already acquired competencies of modules is exempted from them and awarded credits. The Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT) Policy applies to learners who complete the programme.
Is this programme registration current?
The QCTO document lists the end date as 16 April 2026, with a last enrolment date of 16 April 2027 and a last achievement date of 16 April 2030. Confirm the current status with the QCTO and with Wheelset Academy admissions before applying.
How is this different from the Occupational Certificate: Welder?
Coded Welding is a skills programme of 96 credits. The Occupational Certificate: Welder is a separate qualification of 373 credits at NQF Level 4. You can find it on our Welder Course page.
How do I apply?
Review the current fees and intake information, then submit your application through Wheelset Academy's online application page. Admissions can assess your supporting documents before registration is finalised.
Ready to become a coded welder?
Apply for the Coded Welding course, or compare it against Wheelset Academy's other welding courses first.
Programme information reviewed: 4 October 2026. The skills programme ID, NQF level, credits, duration, entry requirement and registration dates above reflect the QCTO Skills Programme document for Coded Welding. Fees, intakes, delivery mode and workplace arrangements can change and should be confirmed with Wheelset Academy before enrolment.