A lot of places use the Welder Certification tests as an interview.
Pass the weld tests (on your own time), and the drug tests = get the job.
Are you familiar with the range of qualification tests needed to cover the work your Welders will be exposed to, and how to conduct / document them? If not, you'll at least need to consult with an knowledgeable CWI /SCWI to get you started.
The codes that you mentioned do not require a CWI to qualify Welders, but many Customer contracts do. You need to verify this. If this is the case, you'll need to sub out the work or hire a CWI for qualification.
Where I work, the hiring ordeal is pretty intense. Welders have to pass aptitude assessment, weld test, background check, and 3 drug tests (saliva, urine, hair follicle) to get hired as a $13ph simple steel Mig Welder. A result of this is that we wind up finding people who are willing and hire-able, and then have to train them to be Welders. In this case, the initial job interview weld test is very simple. I just get them to run a few fillet welds on a pre-set machine to see if they have any skills at all, or if they lied about supposed skills during the interview. (If someone says during the interview "Yes, I'm and experienced MIG Welder, and then tries to scratch start an arc with the MIG gun, then it's pretty safe to assume he's dishonest...) Those who get hired go through an intense training and qualification program before welding on product.
So, what it boils down to is are you looking for experienced self starters who can hit the floor running, or do you have an in-house training program? Experienced guys who can pass drug and background checks have become quite rare.
Tim
Tim