SCHOOLS EXCELLING THROUGH NATIONAL SKILL STANDARDS EDUCATION (SENSE) SPECIFICATIONS AND GUIDELINES
documentation required from the training organization and trainee to verify completion; and procedures for trainee certification and inclusion in the SENSE registry. The training guide for each level provides the guidelines necessary to develop a SENSE-based curriculum and to develop or acquire SENSE-compatible training materials. It also provides guidelines for facility planning as well as recommendations for shop equipment, tools, and supplies. In order to become a SENSE training organization, a school must submit an application and fee payment. The fee includes a one-year Educational Institution Membership (EIM) and eight publications chosen from the SENSE library. The training organization is responsible for maintaining their EIM status. It is possible for a school to use SENSE guidelines to develop and conduct training without becoming a SENSE training organization. However, the school cannot offer SENSE certification to their trainees nor can their trainees benefit from inclusion in the SENSE registry.
A critical shortage of qualified welders led to the development of Schools Excelling through National Skill Standards Education (SENSE) specifications and guidelines. SENSE was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, and introduced by the American Welding Society (AWS) in 1995. The primary objective of SENSE is to ensure a pool of qualified welders by providing the following: • Guidelines to promote consistency in welding education • Certification for welders that have successfully completed SENSE knowledge and performance qualification tests • Accreditation for SENSE training organizations SENSE is divided into two levels. The levels are SENSE Level I—Entry Welder and SENSE Level II—Advanced Welder. Each level has a corresponding specification for the qualification and certification of welders and a training guide for welding personnel. The AWS publications for each level are: SENSE Level I—Entry Welder • AWS QC10: Specification for Qualification and Certification of Level I—Entry Welder • AWS EG2.0: Guide for the Training of Welding Personnel: Level I—Entry Welder SENSE Level II—Advanced Welder • AWS QC11: Specification for Qualification and Certification of Level II—Advanced Welder • AWS EG3.0: Guide for the Training of Welding Personnel: Level II—Advanced Welder The specification for each level defines the requirements for participation in SENSE; performance requirements for written tests; inspection, testing, and acceptance criteria for performance qualification tests; 2015 by American Technical Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved
SENSE Level I—Entry Welder SENSE Level I—Entry Welder is divided into nine modules: • Module 1: Occupational Orientation • Module 2: Safety and Health of Welders • Module 3: Drawing and Welding Symbol Interpretation • Module 4: Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) • Module 5: Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) • Module 6: Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) • Module 7: Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) • Module 8: Thermal Cutting Processes • Module 9: Welding Inspection and Testing Principles 23