The Certified Welding Inspector certification is more than a rewarding career. It involves great responsibility and remarkable skill demonstration. The CWI® is widely recognized, both nationally and internationally, and successful companies have come to rely on this AWS certification when ensuring the highest level of quality workmanship. As a Certified Welding Inspector, you will find this career path lucrative and rewarding. This certification can lead you to a career that is engaging and promising on all levels. If what you need is a stable career where you will thrive and find fulfillment, then the CWI certification is for you.

IF YOU WORK IN THE FIELD OF WELDING...


AWS WELDING INSPECTION SEMINARS


IF YOU MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT EMPLOYEES IN THE FIELD OF WELDING...


IN-HOUSE CUSTOM TRAINING SOLUTIONS
AWS can bring its training and certification exams to you. Our custom programs provide many important benefits...

CWI Program Packages
CWI Exam Application CWI Renewal Application
CWI/CWE Combo Exam Application CWI Re-Exam Application


Technical Documents (pdf)

Part B Examination Book of Specifications
English  –  Arabic  –  Español  –  Português  –  Русский  –  中国

QC1:2007 - Standard for the AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors
B5.1:2003 - Specification for the Qualification of Welding Inspectors


DO YOU QUALIFY?
To qualify as a Certified Welding Inspector, you must pass a vision test and have a combination of qualifying education and work experience, with supporting documentation:
MINIMUM EDUCATION MINIMUM WORK EXPERIENCE
Associate or higher degree in engineering technology, engineering, or a physical science 3 years
High school diploma plus two or more years engineering/technical school courses 3 years
High school diploma plus one year engineering/technical school courses or one or more years of vocational education and training in a welding curriculum 4 years
High school diploma or approved high school equivalency diploma 5 years
At least 8th grade 9 years
Less than 8th grade 12 years

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Note to Re-exam Candidates:

Effective May 29, 2010, all re-exam candidates applying for the second or third retest (or after the one year grace period), must provide 40 hours of additional training prior to being accepted to the exam site. This information (proof of training taken earlier or the confirmation letter for seminars scheduled just prior to the exam date) must be received by Certification no less than two weeks prior to the scheduled exam date.  Please include this information with your retest application or fax the proof to 305-443-6445.

If a candidate fails to provide the additional training documentation, they will not be allowed to take the AWS CWI or the SCWI exam.

Please refer to the AWS QC1:2007, Standard for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors, Section 6.2.5.

PREPARE YOURSELF FOR A THREE-PART EXAM
The CWI exam consists of three two-hour parts. (Certified Welding Educator [CWE] candidates only have to take the first two parts.)

Part A: Fundamentals. This two-hour, 150-question closed-book test covers all facets of welding processes and nondestructive examination.

Part B: Practical Applications. This two-hour, hands-on test will require you to answer 46 questions using actual visual inspection tools with plastic replicas of welds, and a sample codebook (“Book of Specifications”), which will be provided for the exam.

Part C: Open-Book Code Application.
This two-hour, open-book test includes 46–60 questions establishing your ability to find and comprehend information in one of your choice of five welding codes.
Most candidates choose either D1.1 or API 1104, and AWS offers preparatory Code Clinics for each.

You may also take Part C to several other codes; however, no AWS Code Clinics or study materials are offered for them: AWS D1.2/D1.2M (Aluminum); D1.5M/D1.5 (Bridge Welding Code); AWS D15.1 (Railroad Welding Code); ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Sections VIII and IX, or ASME Section IX, B31.1, and B31.3. The Welding Inspection Technology Workshop and the Visual Inspection Workshop (without a Code Clinic) would be the best choice if you are taking Part C to one of these alternative code books.

Exam Scoring Requirements.
CWI: Completion of Parts A, B, and C with a minimum score of 72% in each part.
CAWI: Completion of Parts A, B, and C with a minimum score of 60% in each part.
CWE: Completion of Parts A and B with a minimum score of 60% in each part.

 

CWI/CWE/CAWI EXAM CANDIDATES

Did you know…
When you obtain your CWI certification, you can easily branch off into other programs and reap additional benefits. 

CWI ENDORSEMENTS
Can broaden your welding inspector credentials. Endorsements may also allow an inspector to perform inspections where previously excluded due to customer or jurisdiction requirements. When you pass endorsement exams, you are provided with a separate endorsement wallet card and a certificate of successful completion.

For inspectors who are up for nine-year recertification, passing one of these endorsement exams can satisfy the examination or continuing education requirements for recertification.
Endorsement Examination
AWS D1.1 – Structural Steel
AWS D1.2 – Structural Aluminum
AWS D1.5 – Bridge Welding
AWS D15.1 – Railroad
AWS D17.1 – Aerospace
API-1104 – Pipeline
Structural Drawing Reading
ASME Section IX, B31.1 and B31.3
ASME Sections VIII, Div 1 and Section IX

Refer to the Body of Knowledge for the current editions being used
Important Note: AWS QC1 defines endorsements as "Indication of an additional skill documented in writing and added to one's certification credential(s)". In fulfilling the 9-year recertification requirement, endorsements cannot be repeated or taken to the codebook to which your CWI certification was attained.
Non-Codebook Endorsement Examination
Structural Bolting Inspection Endorsement
(Earn 20 PDHs toward your 9-Year recertification)

CRI CERTIFICATION CAN ALSO BE A CWI ENDORSEMENT
If you are a CWI or SCWI and you successfully pass your exam for CRI certification, this endorsement makes your existing certification even more valuable. It can also exempt you from your next 9-Year CWI or SCWI Recertification Exam. Certified Welding Inspectors often find themselves required to use their skills in the interpretation of radiographs. The AWS Radiographic Interpreter program helps them expand their credentials in a related inspection skill.

CWI®/CWE/CAWI EXAM CANDIDATES
Register for the exam and submit the proper documents to the AWS Certification Department no later than six weeks prior to the exam. You may register online or download an application from www.aws.org/certification/CWI, or call us at 1-800-443-9353, ext.273. You can also register for the seminar clinics and workshops online or on the exam application. Please mail your completed exam application to AWS, 8669 Doral Blvd., Suite 130, Doral, FL 33166 SORRY, BUT WE CANNOT ACCEPT FAXED APPLICATIONS. Due to the six-week prequalification period, it is not possible to register onsite for the exam. If you need to apply for an exam after the six-week application deadline has passed, it may be possible by paying a $250 Fast Track fee.

International CWI® Seminars/Exams
Download the schedule from www.aws.org/certification/inter_contact.html or call 1-800-443-9353, ext. 328 or 475 (001-305-443-9353 outside of North America). .