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Trades license portability
Welder license reciprocity by state
Welder reciprocity varies state-by-state — 22 of the 50 states and DC offer paperwork-based pathways, while 1 require either a re-exam or a fresh application from scratch. Each row below links to the state's official licensing board and lists the specific reciprocal states where we have them.
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21 states recognize
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1 via endorsement
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1 require exam
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15 no license required
Reciprocity tier legend
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Recognized
Existing license or national cert accepted directly.
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Endorsement
Apply for a new license — paperwork, fees, no re-exam.
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Exam required
Must retake the state exam or complete state-specific training.
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Not recognized
No reciprocity pathway. Satisfy state requirements from scratch.
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No license required
State does not license this profession.
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Unclear
State policy ambiguous or silent. Contact licensing board.
All 50 states + DC
Each row links to the full welder profile for that state — exam costs, application fees, licensing board contact, and the source language behind the tier classification.
| State | Reciprocity tier | Summary | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | help_outline Unclear |
Reciprocity is mentioned for specific certifications (Plumbers/Gas Fitters) effective in 2026, not general welding.
Reciprocal states: Mississippi (effective January 1, 2026, for Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board certifications)
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| Alaska | check_circle Recognized |
Alaska recognizes AWS certification nationwide; ASME Section IX is required for specific welding.
Reciprocal states: AWS certification grants nationwide reciprocity. ASME Section IX is required nationwide for welding on boilers and pressure vessels.
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| Arizona | help_outline Unclear |
Reciprocity is for welding contractors, potentially waiving trade exams, but a rules exam is still required.
Reciprocal states: California, Nevada, Utah (for welding contractors, trade exam may be waived if licensed for 5+ years and passed an equivalent exam; Statutes and Rules Exam still required)
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| Arkansas | remove_circle_outline No license |
Arkansas does not have a general state license for welders.
Reciprocal states: Not applicable, as there is no general state license.
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| California | check_circle Recognized |
California does not have direct reciprocity for welders, but AWS certifications are transferable nationwide.
Reciprocal states: California does not have direct reciprocity for individual welder certifications with other states. However, AWS certifications are transferable across the U.S. For welding *contractor* licenses (C-60), California has reciprocity agreements with Arizona, Louisiana, Nevada, and Utah, but specific requirements must be met.
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| Colorado | check_circle Recognized |
Colorado accepts American Welding Society Certification, a national standard.
Reciprocal states: Colorado accepts American Welding Society Certification, which is a national standard.
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| Connecticut | help_outline Unclear |
Reciprocity information for welders is not specified.
Reciprocal states: Not specified
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| Delaware | check_circle Recognized |
Delaware recognizes AWS certification, which grants nationwide reciprocity.
Reciprocal states: AWS certification grants nationwide reciprocity.
Official state board
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| District of Columbia | help_outline Unclear |
Reciprocity is specified only for bridge welding certification with certain states.
Reciprocal states: Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania (for bridge welding certification)
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| Florida | check_circle Recognized |
Florida accepts American Welding Society (AWS) Certification.
Reciprocal states: Florida accepts American Welding Society (AWS) Certification.
Official state board
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| Georgia | remove_circle_outline No license |
No state license for welders; AWS/ASME certifications are voluntary and project-specific.
Reciprocal states: No interstate compact for welders; AWS/ASME certifications are project-specific and voluntary, not general state licenses.
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| Hawaii | help_outline Unclear |
Reciprocity for individual welders is not specified; contractor licenses may differ.
Reciprocal states: Not specified for individual welders; contractor licenses may have different reciprocity agreements.
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| Idaho | remove_circle_outline No license |
No general state license for welders; AWS/ASME certifications are widely recognized and project-specific.
Reciprocal states: AWS/ASME certifications are widely recognized across states and are project-specific, not general state licenses. There is no interstate compact for welders.
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| Illinois | check_circle Recognized |
AWS certification provides nationwide reciprocity for welders.
Reciprocal states: AWS certification grants nationwide reciprocity.
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| Indiana | remove_circle_outline No license |
No state license is required for welders in Indiana.
Reciprocal states: Not applicable as there is no state license.
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| Iowa | check_circle Recognized |
Iowa accepts AWS certification, which most states defer to.
Reciprocal states: Iowa accepts American Welding Society Certification; most states defer to AWS, ASME, or API certifications.
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| Kansas | remove_circle_outline No license |
Kansas does not require a state license for welders.
Reciprocal states: Not applicable, as there is no state license.
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| Kentucky | remove_circle_outline No license |
Kentucky does not have a general state license for welders.
Reciprocal states: Not applicable, as there is no general state license.
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| Louisiana | remove_circle_outline No license |
No statewide welding license exists; AWS/ASME certifications are widely accepted.
Reciprocal states: No general reciprocity for a statewide welding license, as one does not exist. AWS/ASME certifications are widely accepted.
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| Maine | remove_circle_outline No license |
No state license for welders; AWS/ASME certifications are voluntary and project-specific.
Reciprocal states: No interstate compact for welders; AWS/ASME certifications are project-specific and voluntary, not general state licenses.
Official state board
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| Maryland | check_circle Recognized |
AWS certification grants nationwide reciprocity in Maryland.
Reciprocal states: AWS certification grants nationwide reciprocity.
Official state board
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| Massachusetts | help_outline Unclear | No reciprocity language published; contact the state licensing board directly. Official state board arrow_outward | Full page arrow_outward |
| Michigan | check_circle Recognized |
Michigan recognizes AWS certification nationwide.
Reciprocal states: AWS certification is recognized nationwide.
Official state board
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| Minnesota | help_outline Unclear |
Reciprocity information for welders in Minnesota is not specified.
Reciprocal states: None
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| Mississippi | edit_note Exam required |
Mississippi offers limited trade exam reciprocity, but all applicants must pass a state-specific law exam.
Reciprocal states: Mississippi has limited reciprocity agreements for the trade exam with Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Applicants must have held a license in these states for at least 3 consecutive years and be free of disciplinary action. All applicants, even those with reciprocity, must pass the Mississippi Law and Business Management examination. A $50 fee is charged for each waived exam.
Official state board
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| Missouri | check_circle Recognized |
Missouri accepts AWS certifications, which are nationally recognized in all 50 states.
Reciprocal states: AWS certifications are nationally recognized and accepted in all 50 states.
Official state board
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| Montana | check_circle Recognized |
Montana accepts AWS certification for welders; boiler operator licenses require equivalent qualifications.
Reciprocal states: Montana accepts AWS certification. For boiler operator licenses, official license verification from other states is required, and qualifications must be substantially equivalent to Montana's standards.
Official state board
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| Nebraska | remove_circle_outline No license |
No general state license for welders; AWS/ASME certifications are voluntary and project-specific.
Reciprocal states: AWS/ASME certifications are project-specific and voluntary, not general state licenses. There is no interstate compact for welders.
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| Nevada | check_circle Recognized |
Individual AWS certifications have nationwide reciprocity; welding contractors may qualify for endorsement.
Reciprocal states: Nevada State Contractors Board offers licensure by endorsement for welding contractors from states with substantially equivalent requirements and active licenses for 4 years with no disciplinary actions. Individual AWS certifications have nationwide reciprocity.
Official state board
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| New Hampshire | check_circle Recognized |
New Hampshire recognizes AWS certification as a portable credential accepted across states.
Reciprocal states: AWS certification is a portable credential and widely accepted across states.
Official state board
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| New Jersey | remove_circle_outline No license |
No state license is applicable; AWS certification is nationally recognized.
Reciprocal states: Not applicable (AWS certification is nationally recognized)
Official state board
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| New Mexico | assignment_turned_in Endorsement |
New Mexico accepts prior licensure for contractors in lieu of the trade exam.
Reciprocal states: New Mexico accepts a letter showing a contractor has been licensed and in good standing with another state for at least one year, in lieu of the trade exam for the GB98 License.
Official state board
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| New York | help_outline Unclear |
Reciprocity is not specified, though AWS certifications are widely recognized.
Reciprocal states: Not specified, but AWS certifications are widely recognized.
Official state board
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| North Carolina | check_circle Recognized |
AWS certification offers nationwide reciprocity; other North Carolina certifications are state-specific.
Reciprocal states: AWS certification offers nationwide reciprocity. NCDOT Field Welder Certification is specific to North Carolina bridge projects. NCDOL Historic Boiler Welder Qualification is specific to North Carolina.
Official state board
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| North Dakota | help_outline Unclear |
Reciprocity for general welding is not specified; hobby boiler operators may be exempt.
Reciprocal states: Not specified for general welding or boiler/pressure vessel welding. However, individuals holding a boiler operator license or credential in another state or Canadian province are exempt from licensure as a hobby boiler operator in North Dakota.
Official state board
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| Ohio | help_outline Unclear |
Ohio accepts AWS certification, but AWS/ASME are voluntary and not general state licenses.
Reciprocal states: Ohio accepts AWS certification. There is no interstate compact for welders; AWS/ASME certifications are project-specific and voluntary, not general state licenses.
Official state board
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| Oklahoma | help_outline Unclear |
Oklahoma has military provisions, but general reciprocity for basic welder certification is not specified.
Reciprocal states: Oklahoma has provisions for military members and spouses relocating to the state to obtain a welding license within 30 days, but general reciprocity with other states is not specified for the basic welder certification.
Official state board
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| Oregon | check_circle Recognized |
Oregon accepts AWS certification, which is nationally recognized; state license reciprocity is not explicitly stated.
Reciprocal states: Oregon accepts AWS certification, which is nationally and internationally recognized. Reciprocity for specific state licenses is not explicitly stated for welders, but general reciprocity rules exist for other trades.
Official state board
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| Pennsylvania | check_circle Recognized |
Pennsylvania recognizes AWS certifications nationally, allowing transfer without re-certification.
Reciprocal states: AWS certifications are nationally recognized and can be transferred to any employer without re-certification if obtained through an Accredited Test Facility (ATF).
Official state board
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| Rhode Island | help_outline Unclear |
Reciprocity information for welders in Rhode Island is not specified.
Reciprocal states: Not specified
Official state board
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| South Carolina | check_circle Recognized |
SCDOT may accept welder qualifications from other state DOTs for structural field welding projects.
Reciprocal states: South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) may accept welder qualifications from other state DOTs for structural field welding projects.
Official state board
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| South Dakota | check_circle Recognized |
South Dakota accepts nationally recognized American Welding Society Certification.
Reciprocal states: South Dakota accepts American Welding Society Certification, which is nationally recognized.
Official state board
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| Tennessee | check_circle Recognized |
Tennessee accepts nationally recognized AWS certification; boiler/pressure vessel reciprocity is not explicitly stated.
Reciprocal states: Tennessee accepts AWS certification, which is nationally recognized and transferable. For boiler and pressure vessel welding, reciprocity is not explicitly stated for individual welders, but state and insurance inspectors are nationally commissioned.
Official state board
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| Texas | check_circle Recognized |
AWS certification is generally recognized nationwide; specific state requirements may vary.
Reciprocal states: Reciprocity for AWS certification is generally recognized nationwide and internationally. However, specific state or local requirements may vary, and it's always best to verify with the destination state's licensing board. Some states like Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, and Delaware accept TX Welder licenses via reciprocity agreements, while others like Alaska and Colorado do not. Florida offers partial reciprocity.
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| Utah | remove_circle_outline No license |
No individual welder certification is applicable; contractor licenses may have reciprocity.
Reciprocal states: Not applicable for individual welder certification, but contractor licenses may have reciprocity.
Official state board
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| Vermont | remove_circle_outline No license |
No general state license for welders; AWS/ASME certifications are voluntary and project-specific.
Reciprocal states: AWS/ASME certifications are project-specific and voluntary, not general state licenses, and there is no interstate compact for welders.
Official state board
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| Virginia | remove_circle_outline No license |
Virginia does not issue a state license; AWS certifications are nationally recognized.
Reciprocal states: Not applicable, as Virginia does not issue a state license. AWS certifications are nationally recognized.
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| Washington | help_outline Unclear |
Reciprocity is not specified for Washington, but WABO certifications may be recognized elsewhere.
Reciprocal states: Not specified, but WABO certifications may be recognized in nearby states like Idaho, Oregon, and parts of Montana.
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| West Virginia | check_circle Recognized |
West Virginia accepts AWS certifications, which grant nationwide reciprocity.
Reciprocal states: West Virginia accepts American Welding Society (AWS) certifications, which grant nationwide reciprocity. Welders certified by the WVDOH for bridge welding may have their certification accepted by Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania.
Official state board
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| Wisconsin | remove_circle_outline No license |
No general state license for welders; AWS/ASME certifications are voluntary and project-specific.
Reciprocal states: No interstate compact for welders; AWS/ASME certifications are project-specific and voluntary, not general state licenses.
Official state board
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| Wyoming | remove_circle_outline No license |
No state welding license is required; Wyoming accepts widely recognized AWS certifications.
Reciprocal states: Wyoming accepts AWS certifications, which are widely recognized. No state-specific reciprocity for a general welding license as one is not required.
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How this was compiled · Last updated 2026-07-21
Reciprocity tiers and summaries are compiled from each state's licensing board and department of professional regulation — linked per row above — and reviewed against public board guidance. Licensing rules change frequently and often depend on your license class (for example journeyman vs. master) and the specific states involved. Always confirm current requirements directly with the destination state's board before making a career or relocation decision. This page is informational and is not legal or licensing advice.
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