The American Welding Society (AWS) Education Grant Committee was organized in 1993 to unite employers, trade unions, educators, technical specialists, welding equipment manufacturers, and AWS members in efforts to develop national skills standards for training and certifying entry-level, advanced, and expert welders. Data were collected through the following activities: survey of industry and education representatives in all 50 states (20% of the 9,733 survey instruments distributed were returned); comparison of the survey findings with past AWS studies; and task analyses for all three welding skill levels. The survey and analysis results were used to develop the national standards, curriculum guidelines, and certification programs for all three welding skill levels. Fourteen related products/programs were also produced, including the following: specifications for the qualification/certification for the different skill levels, training guides, career guidance videotape, three certification programs, and program for schools willing to commit to using the curriculum guidelines and certificationi process. (Contains the following: summative evaluations of the efforts to develop standards and certification for all three welding skill levels; names/addresses of the 169 organizations from 36 states that participated in the project; brochure presenting the case for world-class standards; and transparency masters listing the standards.) (MN)