The plastic welding certificate (P17): endorsements and renewal
Which welder's certificate you need and when it must be renewed
Introduction
Plastic welders are certified in the P17 scheme according to DS 2383 and SBC 243. The certificate is called a welding pass (svejsepas). Your endorsements are listed in the pass. An endorsement shows which type of welding you are approved for.
| Endorsement | Course and duration | Is renewed |
|---|---|---|
| BASIS (basic) | «Svejsning af tykvæggede plastmaterialer» (welding of thick-walled plastic materials), 120 lessons | Every 3 years |
| PLADE (sheet) | 80 lessons | Every 3 years |
| RØR (pipe) | «Svejsning af rørsystemer i plast» (welding of plastic pipe systems), AMU 41981, 10 days (80 lessons) | Every 3 years |
| USME (endorsement) | «Udvidet for stuk-, muffe- og elektrosvejsning» (advanced butt fusion, socket and electrofusion welding), AMU 43697, 5 days (40 lessons). Requires a valid certificate with BASIS or RØR | Every 2 years |
| UVE (endorsement) | «Udvidet for varmluft- og ekstrudersvejsning» (advanced hot-air and extrusion welding), 40 lessons. Requires BASIS or PLADE | Every 2 years |
| GAS (gas endorsement) | «Gasforsyning og gassens egenskaber» (gas supply and the properties of gas), 40 lessons with a theory test | Only valid together with a valid USME |
| MEMBRAN (membranes) | «Svejsning af polymermembraner» (welding of polymer membranes), 40 lessons | Every 3 years |
What you do not need to renew
- 01RØR, if you have a valid USME.
- 02PLADE, if you have a valid UVE.
- 03BASIS, if you have both UVE and USME.
The test
The tests are assessed by an external examiner. If you only pass the theory, you can retake the practical test within 3 months.
The European counterpart
EN 13067 is the European standard for testing plastics welders. The P17 secretariat has made a tool that compares SBC 243 with EN 13067 (1 December 2025).