AWS Certification - Renewal & Upgrade Information

QC1:2007 Standard for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors

The latest edition of AWS QC1, QC1:2007, Standard for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors, has been approved, published, and goes into effect immediately. The changes are relatively minor, are summarized in its Foreword, and are shown as underlines in the text. The major revisions to QC1 occurred in the 2006 and have carried over into QC1:2007. Shown below is a summary of the some of the most significant changes that had been introduced by AWS QC1:2006.

A Certified Associate Welding Inspector (CAWI) will no longer be able to renew or recertify at the CAWI level. CAWIs must retest and score at the certified welding inspector’s cutoff of 72% to retain any certification.

QC1:2006 also has new provisions to cover retest. If the simple average of the three parts of the exam is 72% or higher, the candidate is allowed to retest on the part(s) that fell below the required 72%. If the simple average is below 72%, all three parts of examination will have to be repeated. If the candidate fails the first retest, subsequent retests require 40 hours of additional training before being permitted to retest.

It is now permitted to take committee-approved supplemental inspection exams (SIEs or endorsements) to enhance one’s inspection credentials. Passing these SIEs not only enhances one’s credentials as a CWI, but may also me applied toward the 9-year recertification. These exams may be taken any time during the 9-year certification cycle for CWIs and may also be taken by non-CWIs who wish to add such supplemental credentials to their resume. Non-CWIs will not be permitted to use these credential toward credits for CWI certification, but must still take and pass the full three-part exam.
Renewal & Upgrade - CWI & SCWI
The renewal process is part of your continued certification according to QC1. The SCWI CWI Renewal & Upgrade Application provides you with the opportunity to apply for both the SCWI and CWI Renewal OR/AND the CWI upgrade. Please check the appropriate box at the top left corner of the application for which it is being used. Please complete the application accordingly and submit to AWS before your certification expiration date. For further information concerning the SCWI and CWI Renewal, as well as the CWI Upgrade, please refer to QC1.

Program Forms and Document Downloads
CWI Renewal & Upgrade Package

Technical Documents
QC1:2007  Standard for the AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors

CWI & SCWI RENEWAL
(Be sure to check the Renewal box at the top of application):

Please be aware that it is your responsibility to renew your certification before it expires. You will not be allowed to renew your certification after the expiration date. In order to re-certify after your certification has expired, you will be required to test on all parts of the CWI/SCWI examination.

To qualify for a renewal, all SCWI and CWI applicants must attest to having no continuous inactivity two years or greater, of the three-year certification period, in the practice of welding inspection or related activities as defined in QC1. This work experience must be documented in the Qualifying Work Experience section of the application. Résumés are not acceptable.

Additionally, you must also provide a current Visual Acuity Record with your application. The Visual Acuity Record cannot be more than (6) months prior to the date of your certification expiration. Eye examinations must also be administered by ophthalmic medical personnel.

INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC RENEWAL APPLICANTS:

Please be aware that it is MANDATORY that all applications are notarized. There will be NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule. Applications without proper notarizations will not be processed.


CWI UPGRADE
(Be sure to check the Upgrade box at the top of the application):

CAWI applicants whose scores on each part of the examination met the requirements of a CWI but lacked the mandatory (5) years experience are eligible for a CWI upgrade provided that the CAWI status is still current. Please document any additional experience you have had since initially taking the CWI/CWE examination in the Qualifying Work Experience section of the application. Certification personnel will review the additional experience to ensure that the (5) year requirement has been met. Additionally, please keep in mind that the experience has to be in an occupational function that has a direct relationship to welded assemblies fabricated to national or international standards and be directly involved in one of the concentrated areas as defined in QC1. RESUMÉS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.


CWI UPGRADES AND RENEWALS CAN BE DONE SIMULTANEOUSLY:
(Be sure to check the Renewal and Upgrade box at the top of the application)

If you are interested in applying for a CWI upgrade and your current certification is soon to expire, you may apply for both the CWI Upgrade and the Renewal at the same time. Your certification will be renewed for an additional (3) years at the CWI level. AWS offers our customers a combination price for both the CWI Upgrade and Renewal if being done concurrently (refer to the Certification Price List).

RENEWAL AND UPGRADE FEES:
(checks, money orders, major credit cards or company purchase orders)

Please refer to the Certification Price List for all applicable fees. Be sure to complete the Method of Payment section on the application. All checks and money orders should be made payable to AWS. Payment must accompany your application. NO RENEWAL OR UPGRADE INFORMATION WILL BE MAILED UNTIL PAYMENT HAS BEEN FULLY SATISFIED.

The standard application processing time is (6) weeks. Please be advised that you will be notified (6) weeks AFTER your application has been submitted. We strongly urge applicants to please allow the (6) weeks processing time so that we at AWS may efficiently and accurately serve your certification needs. Applications CANNOT be faxed in so please be prompt in submitting your application.

We recommend you use priority mail with tracking options when mailing your application. If you choose to mail your application via overnight delivery, please mail directly to:
American Welding Society
Certification Department
550 NW LeJeune Road
Miami, Florida 33126

Please retain a copy of your completed application for your records.


Please be sure to do the following before submitting your application to AWS:

• Check the appropriate box indicating the purpose of this application.
• Complete and sign the application (the address indicated on the application is where your documents will
be mailed).
• Visual Acuity Record enclosed.
• Application must be notarized – Both domestically and internationally. NO EXCEPTIONS.
• Payment is included with the application

If there are any questions or concerns regarding the renewal or/and upgrade process, please feel free to contact the
AWS Certification Department at: 1-800-443-9353, ext. #273. Our Certification Coordinators are available to
assist you Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. EST.