To check a company's CWB certification, search the Certified Companies directory on the CWB Group website (cwbgroup.org) by company name, then confirm three things: the listing matches the company and location doing your work, the CSA standard fits the work (CSA W47.1 for welded steel, W186 for welding reinforcing bar), and the division meets your specification. It takes a few minutes, and it is worth doing before you award a welded steel package, not after the steel arrives.
For what certification means and why it matters, see why hire a CWB-certified fabricator. This post is the practical lookup.
Step 1: Get the company's exact name and location
Certification is issued to a company, so you need the name it is certified under. That isn't always the trading name on the truck or the quote.
- Ask for the legal name and the address of the shop that will do the welding.
- Ask which standard and division they are certified to, and whether that covers field welding if they also install.
- If the work is split, for example a fabricator and a separate erector, or a subcontracted shop, get the details for each one.
A quick email asking for these is normal practice. A certified company will answer it easily.
Step 2: Search the CWB directory
The CWB Group's website has a directory of certified companies under its Directory section. The search lets you filter by:
- Company name
- Scope of work
- CSA standard: the drop-down includes A660, W186, W47.1, W47.2, W55.3 and W59
- Division
- Country, province or state, and city
If a name search returns nothing, try a shorter part of the name or search by city and standard, since punctuation and corporate suffixes can trip up the search.
The directory page also links to information on withdrawn, suspended and false claims of certification. If a company says it is certified but you can't find it, that is worth a look.
Two related directories are separate:
- Welding inspection companies certified to CSA W178.1
- Individual welding inspectors certified to CSA W178.2
Use those when you are checking the third-party inspection firm on a project, not the fabricator.
Step 3: Read what the listing tells you
The two things to read are the standard and the division.
| Standard | What it covers |
|---|---|
| CSA W47.1 | Companies doing fusion welding of steel: structural fabricators, erectors, misc metal shops |
| CSA W47.2 | Fusion welding of aluminum |
| CSA W186 | Welding of reinforcing bars in reinforced concrete construction |
| CSA W55.3 | Resistance welding of steel and aluminum |
| CSA A660 | Manufacturers of steel building systems |
For W47.1, the division shows how engineering responsibility for welding is set up:
- Division 1: a professional engineer responsible for welding is employed full-time.
- Division 2: the engineer is retained part-time.
- Division 3: no engineer required; a welding supervisor is still required.
Our post on CSA W59 explains the welding standard that the certified company's work has to meet.
Step 4: Match it to your project
Certification only helps if it fits the work:
- Structural steel. CSA S16, which the Ontario Building Code references for steel design, requires fabricators and erectors that weld structures under the standard to be certified to CSA W47.1 in Division 1 or 2, or to W55.3, as applicable. Part of the work can be sublet to a Division 3 company, but the Division 1 or 2 company keeps responsibility for it. Check your specification; many engineers write the requirement in directly.
- Welded rebar. Welding reinforcing bars, such as tack-welded cages or welded splices the engineer has authorized, is covered by CSA W186. A W47.1 listing alone does not cover it. See weldable rebar in Canada.
- Field welding. If the erector welds on site, the erector needs its own certification.
- Timing. Certification needs to be in place before welding starts, not in progress.
If you are not sure what your project needs, ask the engineer or the building department.
Checking a welder's ticket
A welder's qualification, often called a CWB ticket, is not the same as company certification. The CWB Group states that in Canada, where welding is done on certain products, buildings and structures, the welder must be qualified by the CWB and working for a CWB-certified company. So:
- Check the company first. An individual ticket doesn't make an uncertified shop compliant.
- Ask for the welder's current qualification record from the employer.
- Check the process and position. Qualifications are specific to the welding process and position tested, such as flux-cored in the vertical position.
- Check the date. Qualifications are time-limited and have to be kept current.
For welders moving between Canada and the US, see CWB vs AWS certification.
What a listing does not tell you
A directory listing confirms that a company holds certification to a standard. It is a strong starting point, but it doesn't answer every question about a fabricator:
- It doesn't grade quality. Certification shows the company has qualified procedures, supervision and welders, and is audited. It doesn't rank one certified shop above another.
- It doesn't cover non-welding work. Shop drawings, accuracy of fabrication, coatings, delivery and erection are separate questions.
- It doesn't replace inspection. Where the specification calls for third-party weld inspection, that is done by a company certified to CSA W178.1, independent of the fabricator.
- It doesn't confirm capacity. A small certified shop and a large one look the same in the directory.
Use the listing to rule companies in or out, then compare the certified ones on drawings, schedule, experience with similar work and the scope of their quote.
Red flags
- A CWB logo on the website or quote, but no listing under any name you can find.
- A listing under a different company or at a different location from the one doing your work.
- "Our welders are CWB certified" as the answer to a question about company certification.
- "Certification is in progress" on a job that needs certified welding now.
- The wrong standard, such as a W47.1 shop offering to weld rebar cages, or a Division 3 company quoting S16 structural work as the prime fabricator.
None of these is proof of a problem on its own, but each one deserves a direct question before you sign.
What to keep on file
For a commercial or public project, keep a simple record:
- A dated screenshot or printout of the directory listing.
- A copy of the company's certification documents.
- Welding procedure and welder qualification records, if the specification asks for them.
- Third-party inspection reports, where inspection is specified.
That record answers the question if an inspector, owner or bonding company asks later. For broader vetting, including shop drawings, capacity and comparing quotes, see how to choose a structural steel fabricator in Ontario.
CWB-certified welding at Procut
Our shop welding is certified by the Canadian Welding Bureau. If you need our certification details for a submittal, ask when you request a quote. We fabricate structural and miscellaneous steel to your shop drawings, cut and bend rebar, and deliver across the GTA and Ontario.
Request a quote or see our services.
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a company's CWB certification?
Search the Certified Companies directory on the CWB Group website (cwbgroup.org). You can search by company name and filter by CSA standard, division, country, province and city. Confirm the listing matches the company and location doing your work, and that the standard and division suit the job.
Is there a list of CWB certified companies?
Yes. The CWB Group publishes a searchable Certified Companies directory covering companies certified to standards such as CSA W47.1, W47.2, W186 and W55.3. Welding inspection companies and individual inspectors are listed in separate directories.
How do I check a welder's CWB ticket?
Ask the employer for the welder's current qualification record, and check that it covers the process and position of the work and is still in date. A welder's qualification is tied to working for a CWB-certified company, so check the company first.
What does it mean if a company isn't in the CWB directory?
It may not be certified, its certification may have been withdrawn or suspended, or it may be listed under a different legal name. Ask the company to explain and to show its certification documents, and confirm with the CWB Group if anything doesn't match.
