Laser cladding is gaining acceptance for turbomachinery rotor restoration, which has resulted in increased customer demand for laser cladding options. This has increased the number of laser welding suppliers. Therefore, it is important to understand the basic capabilities, limitations, and potential pitfalls of the laser cladding process. It is still unclear how the process should be qualified to ensure that laser weld repairs meet the requirements for turbomachinery applications. Filler material alloy selection, form, and delivery methods can have a significant impact on the quality and suitability of the weldment. Also, it is commonly claimed that a post weld heat treatment is not required with laser welding due to the low heat input of the process, which greatly reduces the size of the heat affected zone. Little academic research has been done to prove this claim, so further testing must be completed to ensure that the repaired component will be suitable for the application. This is especially important for quenched and tempered steels, which form fresh martensite during welding. This paper discusses the most commonly repaired shaft areas, the risks associated with laser welding in these locations, and the types of tests that should be required to qualify a procedure.