Massachusetts · welder licensing · verified July 2026
Massachusetts welder license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, Massachusetts does not license welders as an occupation: the Division of Occupational Licensure's boards cover trades like electricians, plumbers, pipefitters and sheet metal workers, but there is no welding board or welder license. Two state-level credentials do apply to specific welding work: MassDOT certifies field welders (the 'green card') for on-site welding on MassDOT bridge/highway projects, and the State Fire Code requires anyone performing hot work (including welding) to complete State Fire Marshal-approved hot work safety training and, with limited exceptions, obtain a per-job hot work permit from the local fire department.
Do you need a license to work as a welder in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts does not license welders. There is no state credential to obtain, and the recognized qualification is industry certification.
No welder occupation appears among the Division of Occupational Licensure's boards of registration (verified against the official boards list). MassDOT green-card certification is maintained by continuity (weld each certified process at least once every 6 months) rather than a fixed renewal term. Hot work permits are issued by local fire departments (municipal), but the training requirement and fire code behind them are statewide. No fees are published on the MassDOT welder certification pages.
What licenses does Massachusetts issue?
Massachusetts issues the credentials below for this trade.
Hours are what each class asks for on its own terms. Where a senior class shows fewer than a journeyman, the board is counting time served after the earlier license rather than from the start; the prerequisite column says which.
| License | On-the-job hours | Classroom hours | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| MassDOT Certified Field Welder (Green Card) | not published | not published | Yes |
| Hot Work Safety Training certificate (Massachusetts State Fire Code, 527 CMR 1.00) | not published | not published | No |
Source: the governing statute (mass.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does Massachusetts require?
MassDOT Welder Qualification Test (per welding process and position, CWI-witnessed). Administered by MassDOT Highway Division Metals Control (CWI must be a MassDOT representative or designee).
How does the apprenticeship route work?
No apprenticeship or license is required to work as a welder in Massachusetts. Registered apprenticeships (overseen by the Massachusetts Division of Apprentice Standards) are available in related building trades and manufacturing occupations. The standard industry credential path is AWS Certified Welder testing and, for code work, ASME Section IX performance qualification, 522 CMR 11.00 makes ASME Section IX (2021) the required welding qualification standard for boiler/pressure-vessel work in the state.
How does Massachusetts compare to neighboring states?
Requirements stop at the state line, which matters if you live near one or expect to move. Here is what the neighboring states ask of the same trade.
| State | Journeyman hours | Licensing model |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | not published | Not licensed |
| New York | not published | City or county |
Source: state licensing boards. Verified July 2026.
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page traces to one of these
- Division of Occupational Licensure Boards of Registration (Mass.gov)
- Become a certified MassDOT field welder (Mass.gov)
- Maintain your MassDOT field welder certification (Mass.gov)
- Welding, Cutting & Other Hot Work - Department of Fire Services (Mass.gov)
- 522 CMR 11.00: Welding specifications - Board of Boiler Rules (Mass.gov)
Last verified July 2026. Found an error? Report it and it will be corrected and logged on the corrections page.
Other states with published requirements for this trade: Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
Price the whole path with the license cost estimator, or weigh earning against paying for school with the apprenticeship comparison. Back to welders overview.
Licensing requirements change between our verification sweeps. This page is informational only, so confirm current requirements with your employer or certifying body before making decisions. Not legal advice.