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Training in the field of welding has a significant speciality because of the worldwide harmonised system since the year 2000. In the years before, we had to deal with the European Welding Federation (EWF), the American Welding Society (AWS) the International Institute of Welding (IIW), the Japanese Welding Society (JWS) and some other national or regional societies if we are talking about training, education, certification and authorisation in the field of welding. These particular societies had their own rules and regulations for qualification and certification of personnel and training institutions. Officially there is a harmonised system for qualification and certification round the world since April 2000 but it will take time to implement it for all regions and branches like oil and gas industry. For holders of 'old' diploma, there is a transition period to update it by participating and successfully passing the final exam of a transition course. Certificates of personnel and institutions are valid for a maximum 5 years so the renewals have to be done in accordance with the rules and regulations given by the harmonised system and issued by the International Authorisation Board (IAB). The International Authorisation Board is the only one in the world for qualification and certification in the field of welding - result of the merger of EWF and AWS after 15 years of negotiations. Under this umbrella of 36 member countries, the Authorised National Bodies (ANB) are acting in the particular countries and the Approved Training Bodies (ATB) are acting as training establishments in several regions of a country under supervision of an ANB. This structure makes it possible to show up with a certificate or diploma anywhere round the world and the qualification level of a respective person will be clear. Because of that, the entrance requirements, the guidelines of theoretical education and practical training as well as certification of individuals, auditing of training establishments and institutions have to be very clear and strict in use.