A welding ticket is a starting point, not a guarantee. Before a sponsored boilermaker or welder starts on your site, there are a handful of specific things worth verifying beyond “do they have a certificate.”
Start With the TRA Skills Assessment Outcome, Not Just the Certificate
South Africa’s Section 12 Certificate of Competency is a credential Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is well practised at assessing — but TRA still runs its own formal skills assessment before a 482 nomination can proceed. Holding the certificate is the starting point; the assessment outcome is what actually confirms eligibility. Ask to see it, not just the underlying qualification.
Match the Welding Process to the Job
MIG, TIG, and arc welding tickets aren’t interchangeable, and a candidate documented in one process isn’t automatically qualified in another. If your role is structural steel fabrication, confirm the ticket covers structural work specifically. If it’s pressure-vessel or pipeline welding, that’s a distinct competency again — check the documented ticket matches the actual job, not just the general trade.
Check for Documented Work History, Not Just the Ticket
South Africa’s construction and mining sectors put most boilermakers through genuine structural fabrication and pressure-vessel work, but it’s worth confirming that history directly — work references and a documented project history tell you more than the ticket alone about whether a candidate has done the specific kind of job you need, or only trained for it.
Confirm Site-Specific Compliance Requirements
Beyond the trade ticket itself, check whether your site has additional compliance requirements — specific AS/NZS welding standards, WHS induction requirements, or client-specific certifications common on mining and resources sites. These sit alongside the visa and trade qualification, not instead of them, and are worth confirming before day one rather than after.
Where RecruitUp’s Vetting Fits In
RecruitUp verifies Section 12 certification, documented MIG/TIG/arc tickets, work history, references, and spoken English before any boilermaker or welder reaches your shortlist — so the verification groundwork above is already done by the time you’re interviewing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a candidate hold multiple welding process tickets?
Yes — many South African boilermakers document more than one of MIG, TIG, and arc welding. RecruitUp tags candidates by specific ticket so employers can filter for the exact process a role requires.
Who confirms the TRA assessment outcome — RecruitUp or the migration agent?
The formal TRA skills assessment is arranged through your registered migration agent as part of the visa process. RecruitUp’s role is sourcing and initial vetting; the migration agent manages the assessment and lodgement.
Where to Go Next
For the full ANZSCO eligibility criteria, cost breakdown, and step-by-step sourcing process, see the complete Hire Boilermakers & Welders from South Africa guide.
About RecruitUp Global
RecruitUp Global is an international recruitment partner connecting skilled South African trade and agriculture workers with Australian employers. We help employers hire overseas trades compliantly, reduce recruitment risk, and build long-term, reliable teams.
Talk to our team about your boilermaker and welder hiring needs.
