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Skilled Trades license portability
Welder license reciprocity by state
Welder is unregulated in 23 of the 50 states and DC, meaning no state license is required at all — your professional certification still matters to employers but there's no reciprocity pathway to navigate. 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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23 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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Check with board
The state publishes no clear transfer rule. Contact the licensing board.
All 50 states + DC
Each row shows the destination state's reciprocity tier, the board's own language behind it, and a link to the official state licensing board.
| State | Reciprocity tier | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | remove_circle_outline No license | Mississippi (effective January 1, 2026, for Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board certifications) Official state board arrow_outward |
| Alaska | check_circle Recognized | AWS certification grants nationwide reciprocity. ASME Section IX is required nationwide for welding on boilers and pressure vessels. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Arizona | help_outline Check with board | 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) Official state board arrow_outward |
| Arkansas | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as there is no general state license. Official state board arrow_outward |
| California | check_circle Recognized | 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. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Colorado | check_circle Recognized | Colorado accepts American Welding Society Certification, which is a national standard. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Connecticut | help_outline Check with board | Not specified Official state board arrow_outward |
| Delaware | check_circle Recognized | AWS certification grants nationwide reciprocity. Official state board arrow_outward |
| District of Columbia | help_outline Check with board | Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania (for bridge welding certification) Official state board arrow_outward |
| Florida | check_circle Recognized | Florida accepts American Welding Society (AWS) Certification. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Georgia | remove_circle_outline No license | No interstate compact for welders; AWS/ASME certifications are project-specific and voluntary, not general state licenses. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Hawaii | remove_circle_outline No license | Not specified for individual welders; contractor licenses may have different reciprocity agreements. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Idaho | remove_circle_outline No license | AWS/ASME certifications are widely recognized across states and are project-specific, not general state licenses. There is no interstate compact for welders. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Illinois | check_circle Recognized | AWS certification grants nationwide reciprocity. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Indiana | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable as there is no state license. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Iowa | check_circle Recognized | Iowa accepts American Welding Society Certification; most states defer to AWS, ASME, or API certifications. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Kansas | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as there is no state license. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Kentucky | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as there is no general state license. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Louisiana | remove_circle_outline No license | No general reciprocity for a statewide welding license, as one does not exist. AWS/ASME certifications are widely accepted. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Maine | remove_circle_outline No license | No interstate compact for welders; AWS/ASME certifications are project-specific and voluntary, not general state licenses. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Maryland | check_circle Recognized | AWS certification grants nationwide reciprocity. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Massachusetts | remove_circle_outline No license | This state does not license the profession, so there is nothing to transfer. Employers may still expect a national certification. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Michigan | check_circle Recognized | AWS certification is recognized nationwide. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Minnesota | help_outline Check with board | None Official state board arrow_outward |
| Mississippi | edit_note Exam required | 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 arrow_outward |
| Missouri | check_circle Recognized | AWS certifications are nationally recognized and accepted in all 50 states. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Montana | check_circle Recognized | 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 arrow_outward |
| Nebraska | remove_circle_outline No license | AWS/ASME certifications are project-specific and voluntary, not general state licenses. There is no interstate compact for welders. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Nevada | check_circle Recognized | 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 arrow_outward |
| New Hampshire | check_circle Recognized | AWS certification is a portable credential and widely accepted across states. Official state board arrow_outward |
| New Jersey | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable (AWS certification is nationally recognized) Official state board arrow_outward |
| New Mexico | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | 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 arrow_outward |
| New York | remove_circle_outline No license | Not specified, but AWS certifications are widely recognized. Official state board arrow_outward |
| North Carolina | check_circle Recognized | 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 arrow_outward |
| North Dakota | remove_circle_outline No license | 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 arrow_outward |
| Ohio | remove_circle_outline No license | 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 arrow_outward |
| Oklahoma | remove_circle_outline No license | 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 arrow_outward |
| Oregon | check_circle Recognized | 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 arrow_outward |
| Pennsylvania | check_circle Recognized | 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 arrow_outward |
| Rhode Island | help_outline Check with board | Not specified Official state board arrow_outward |
| South Carolina | check_circle Recognized | South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) may accept welder qualifications from other state DOTs for structural field welding projects. Official state board arrow_outward |
| South Dakota | check_circle Recognized | South Dakota accepts American Welding Society Certification, which is nationally recognized. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Tennessee | check_circle Recognized | 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 arrow_outward |
| Texas | check_circle Recognized | 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. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Utah | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable for individual welder certification, but contractor licenses may have reciprocity. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Vermont | remove_circle_outline No license | AWS/ASME certifications are project-specific and voluntary, not general state licenses, and there is no interstate compact for welders. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Virginia | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as Virginia does not issue a state license. AWS certifications are nationally recognized. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Washington | remove_circle_outline No license | Not specified, but WABO certifications may be recognized in nearby states like Idaho, Oregon, and parts of Montana. Official state board arrow_outward |
| West Virginia | check_circle Recognized | 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 arrow_outward |
| Wisconsin | remove_circle_outline No license | No interstate compact for welders; AWS/ASME certifications are project-specific and voluntary, not general state licenses. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Wyoming | remove_circle_outline No license | Wyoming accepts AWS certifications, which are widely recognized. No state-specific reciprocity for a general welding license as one is not required. Official state board arrow_outward |
Welder reciprocity: common questions
Does a welder certification transfer to another state?
Welder is unregulated in 23 of the 50 states and DC, meaning no state license is required at all — your professional certification still matters to employers but there's no reciprocity pathway to navigate. It depends on the destination state — see the state-by-state table above.
Which states accept an out-of-state welder certification directly?
21 states recognize an existing certification or national credential without a new state exam: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia. Confirm with the destination state's board before you move — rules change.
Which states license out-of-state welders by endorsement?
1 states issue a new certification by endorsement — an application, fees and verification of your current credential, typically without retaking the main exam: New Mexico. Confirm with the destination state's board before you move — rules change.
Which states make welders take an exam to transfer?
1 states require a state exam or state-specific training before licensing an out-of-state welder: Mississippi. Confirm with the destination state's board before you move — rules change.
Which states don't require a state license for welders?
23 states do not license welders at the state level, so there is nothing to transfer — employers may still expect a national certification: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
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How this was compiled · Last updated 2026-10-15
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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