What the Course Entails and Exam Details

This preparation does not form a traditional educational course but is a targeted study path focused on the written code interpretation portion of the LA City certification. The primary subject matter is the current edition of the AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code – Steel. The exam assesses a candidate’s skill in efficiently navigating the codebook and understanding its complex requirements. Core topics tested include General Requirements, Design of Welded Connections, Prequalification of WPSs (Welding Procedure Specifications), Qualification of WPSs and Personnel, Fabrication, Inspection, Stud Welding, and the Strengthening and Repair of Existing Structures. Critically, the exam also covers the specific City of Los Angeles amendments to the AWS D1.1 code, which can introduce local modifications to design, testing, or inspection standards. Candidates must understand the relationship between the base AWS code and the local municipal supplement, making efficient use of both in an open-book, timed environment.

What to Expect in the Final Exam

It is essential to understand that the final LA City Structural Welding Certification involves two mandatory, separate components. This practice test focuses on preparing you for the first component: the Code-Based Written Examination.

The Code-Based Written Exam is a proctored, multiple-choice test designed to measure your ability to use the AWS D1.1 codebook. It is an open-book exam, allowing you to use an approved copy of the AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code – Steel along with any required LADBS amendments or reference documents. The exam is strictly timed, typically spanning two to three hours, which challenges your speed in locating accurate answers under pressure. A minimum percentage score, often around 70-75%, is required to pass the written portion. Only upon passing this written exam will you receive authorization to schedule the second component.

The Performance Qualification Test is the separate, hands-on component of the full certification process. You will be required to perform specific structural steel welds (such as 3G and 4G positions for unlimited thickness, typically using SMAW or FCAW) on-site at an LADBS-authorized testing agency. This performance test evaluates your dexterity, technique, and ability to produce sound, defect-free welds in conformance with the code requirements you mastered for the written test. Full LA City certification requires a passing score on both the written code exam and the hands-on performance test.

How to Study and Exam Centers

Effective preparation for the LA City D1.1 Written Exam centers on mastering codebook navigation rather than memorization. Since the test is open-book, the challenge is finding the right information within the timed limit.

Study Strategies:

Understand the Layout: Learn the structural flow of AWS D1.1, including its clauses, tables, and figures. Practice using the table of contents and the index to locate key concepts quickly.

Tab and Index Your Codebook: Use official AWS tabs or create your own legible tabs to mark critical chapters, tables (e.g., preheat requirements, essential variables for qualification, visual acceptance criteria), and the index. A well-tabbed book is an invaluable tool for speed.

Practice with a Timer: Use practice tests to identify knowledge gaps and, more importantly, to learn to find answers within the typical two-to-three-minute average time limit per question.

Review LA City Amendments: Obtain and thoroughly study the special amendments the City of Los Angeles applies to D1.1. Understand which base requirements are modified or augmented by local law.

Analyze Sample Questions: Break down sample multiple-choice questions to determine precisely what information is being asked (e.g., a minimum preheat, a WPS essential variable, or an inspection criteria for a specific weld type) to know which part of the codebook to reference first.

Exam Centers:

• Written Exam Location: The Code-Based Written Exam is administered directly by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Candidates must first submit a completed Trade License Application to the LADBS licensing division (at 201 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90012) along with the required application fee and photograph. Upon processing, the LADBS will notify the applicant by mail of their scheduled written examination date, time, and location. There is no online portal for scheduling this specific municipal licensing exam.
• Performance Test Location: After passing the written exam, candidates can schedule their hands-on performance test directly with any LADBS-authorized testing agency. These agencies may include various specialized welding schools, test facilities (like urban workshops or dedicated institutes), and certain local community colleges throughout the greater Los Angeles area. A current list of approved test sites is usually provided by LADBS upon successful completion of the written component.

Job Opportunities from the Course

Earning your Los Angeles City Structural Welding Code – Steel (D1.1) License is a significant milestone that unlocks a wide range of lucrative and stable career opportunities specifically within the LA municipal market.

Passing this test and completing your performance qualification unlocks positions such as:

• Certified Structural Welder (City of Los Angeles Licensed)
• Field Structural Welder
• Shop Structural Welder
• Structural Steel Fabricator
• Journeyman Structural Welder
• Bridge Welder
• Structural Ironworker
• Structural Pipe Welder (for applicable codes)
• QC/QA Inspection Trainee (with related experience)
• Maintenance Welder for Municipal Infrastructure
• Welding Supervisor or Foreman