Provides an outline of fundamental prerequisites for personnel carrying out visual examination of welds. These include physical capabilities or limitations, together with technical knowledge, experience, training, certification, and judgement. Extensive treatment is supplied on weld surface conditions. Examinations may be performed by different people and organizations. These include welders, welding super- visors, contractor's inspector, purchaser's examiner or regulatory inspector. Also gives a review of visual examination equipment aids routinely used, and additional reading/references which may supply more detailed requirements are also suggested.