Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)

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:

Applications

Initial CWI Exam Application
Upgrade from CAWI to CWI Application
Initial CWI/CWE Exam Application
Retest Application for CAWI, CWI, CWE, or CWI/CWE
Renewal Application for CWI/SCWI 3rd and 6th Year
Recertification Application for CWI 9th Year
CWI/CWE Combo Re-Exam Application

Technical Documents

QC1:2016-AMD1 - Specification for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors
(Effective Jan 1st, 2017 - Reference for Qualification Criteria)
English

B5.1:2013-AMD1 - Specification for the Qualification of Welding Inspectors
English

B5.1:2003 - Specification for the Qualification of Welding Inspectors
English (for referencing exam structure)

CWI Part B Examination Book of Specifications

For CWI exams held WITHIN the US or Canada:
Part B Examination Book of Specifications (starting October 1st, 2017)
English

For Metric CWI exams held OUTSIDE the US or Canada only starting October 1st, 2017:
Part B Examination Book of Specifications
English Metric Version

Part B Examination Book of Specifications - Metric (starting October 1st, 2017)
Spanish  |  Portuguese  |  Russian  |  Chinese  |  Japanese  |  Korean

General Forms

16/40 Hours Additional Training Log
ADA Disability Accommodations
Applicant Instructions
AWS Bank Information
Certification Duplicate Order Form
Change of Site/Cancellation Form
Employment Verification Form
Exam Audit Request Form
Exam Security Agreement and General Term of Use Form
Photo ID Requirements
Policies and Fees
Price List
Qualifying Work Experience Form
Visual Acuity Form

Please refer to the following link

Please refer to the following link.

To view the Exam Schedule click here.

AWS Certification Test Supervisor

Interested in becoming an AWS Test Supervisor for Certification? Become part of the AWS team and join in our efforts to maintain the integrity of our various certification programs. Download and read the forms below for more information and how to qualify.

• Test Supervisor Application Form
• Steps to becoming an AWS Test Supervisor

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CWI Body of Knowledge

For CWI's and SCWI's (3 and 6 year cycles):

The renewal process is an important part of maintaining your certification. SCWI’s and CWI’s maintain their certification by submitting an approved renewal application to the Certification Department. The application must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of the current certification and no earlier than 11 months prior to the expiration date of that certification.

To qualify for renewal, the CWI or SCWI shall attest to having no period of continuous inactivity greater than two years during the previous three years of certification in activities described in AWS B5.1. This work experience must be documented in the Qualifying Work Experience section of the application. Resumes are not accepted.

A 60-day administrative extension period is allowed. During this time, certification will be considered as expired. Renewals submitted after the administrative 60-day grace period but within one year of expiration may be accepted for renewal; however, administrative late fees may apply. If all renewal requirements have been met, certification will be reactivated.

AWS may send a renewal notice, but if not received, it remains the responsibility of the SCWI or CWI to renew on time.

For further information concerning the CWI or SCWI certification renewal, please refer to AWS QC1.

For CAWI’s Eligible for Upgrade:

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.

For CAWI’s Eligible for Upgrade and Renewal:

CWI upgrades and renewals can be done simultaneously. If you are interested in applying for a CWI upgrade and your current CAWI certification is soon to expire, you may apply for both the CWI Upgrade and Renewal at the same time. Your certification will be renewed for an additional (3) years at the CWI level.

Please visit the documents tab to access the CWI renewal application.

As an AWS Certified Welding Inspector, you must renew your certification every three years. Every nine years, you must recertify, by one of options indicated below. An approved 9-year recertification application must be in the AWS Certification Department at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of the current certification and no earlier than (11) months prior to the expiration date of the current certification.

A 60-day administrative extension period is allowed. During this time, certification will be considered as expired. If the paperwork is received on time and all renewal or recertification requirements have been met, certification will be reactivated.

1. 9-Year Recertification by Part B Practical Exam:  The two-hour Part B Practical Exam will evaluate you in the practical aspects of weld inspection and establish that your skills are current. It is to your advantage to be familiar with the various measurement tools used for testing as described in the AWS Applicant Instructions. You should review a variety of weldments that show various levels of porosity and undercut. Be prepared to interpret and inspect bend, t-joint, groove, and pipe weld samples.
2. 9-Year Recertification by Endorsement:  You can take an endorsement exam to recertify. You can apply for this option up to (11) months prior to your expiration date. Passing one of these exams meets the requirements for recertification. Endorsements require passing a two-hour exam on one of the following:
   • AWS D1.1 Structural Steel
   • AWS D1.2 Structural Aluminum
   • AWS D1.5 Bridges
   • AWS D15.1 Railroad
   • AWS D17.1 Aerospace
   • API 1104 Pipelines
   • ASME Section IX, B31.1 and B31.3 Boiler & Pressure Vessel
   • ASME Section VIII, Div. 1 & Section IX Boiler & Pressure Vessel
   • Structural Drawing Reading

• All endorsement exams (with the exception of Structural Drawing Reading) will be offered all over the US in convenient locations using computer based testing with our partners at Prometric. After your application has been submitted to AWS and approved, you will be provided with an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter in order to schedule your appointment through Prometric at one of their centers. Prometric session fees will apply at the time you schedule your appointment.
• 
  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 taken to the codebook to which your CWI certification was attained.

3. 9-Year Recertification by Accumulated Continuing Education:  If you have kept yourself up to date in the inspection profession by attending classes and seminars related to welding, your education requirements may be satisfied. You need 80 contact hours (PDHs) of seminars, courses or online courses such as those found through American Welding Online (awo.aws.org) that meet the requirements of QC1 Section 16.

The course content must be in one or more of the subject areas as defined in the Education and Experience Requirements of the B5.1, Specification for the Qualification of Welding Inspectors Section 5.

4. Endorsements or Certifications Achieved Prior to 9-Year Recertification:
   • Endorsements: Certified Welding Inspectors who have previously taken and passed one or more endorsement exams prior to the nine-year cycle may apply for recertification without having to meet further examination, professional development hour, or seminar requirements.
   • Certified Radiographic Interpreter: At any time during your nine-year cycle, if you meet the prerequisites, you can apply to become certified as an AWS Certified Radiographic Interpreter (CRI). This is a valuable certification that fulfills your nine-year requirement.
5. 9-Year Recertification Course: If your certification expires within the next eleven (11) months and you aren’t going to recertify through examination or haven’t accumulated 80 PDHs in the past nine years, the AWS 9-year recertification course is for you. Upon completion of the course, you will receive an AWS Certificate of Completion for the course. Your new wallet card, certificate, and stamp will be mailed to you. Your certification number and renewal month will not change.

Note: DO NOT mail the full 9yr Recertification application if completing the online registration.

DID YOU KNOW...

CWI applicants in their ninth year of certification who qualify and wish to earn a Senior Certified Welding Inspector SCWI can apply for both SCWI and CWI 9YR Recertification. If taking either the endorsement or Part B option for CWI 9YR recertification, both the SCWI and CWI 9YR exam can be taken at the same exam location.