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Certified Welding Sales Representative
CWSR: Welding Fundamentals to Ensure a Solid Customer Experience
CWSR: Welding Fundamentals to Ensure a Solid Customer Experience
Welding sales involves the transaction of welding equipment, products, or services between fabricators, manufacturers, and buyers or distributors. Welding Sales Representatives are the vital link in this process, building and nurturing relationships between manufacturers and their customer base, providing technical support and guidance, and keeping clients informed of new technologies that can enhance welding processes. They might have direct welding experience, or they may have cultivated an interest in the industry through various means.
The Certified Welding Sales Representative (CWSR) credential, offered by AWS (American Welding Society), validates a sales professional's skills and knowledge in welding product sales, making them a trusted source of technological, welding product, and sales distribution information. CWSRs (Certified Welding Sales Representative) not only provides clients with welding consumable and equipment solutions but also prepares and submits bid packages, mentor personnel on welding products, and troubleshoot welding-related issues.
Application, Renewal, Recertification
Application, Renewal, Recertification
Visit my.aws.org to enter information, submit required documentation and a current photo, register for seminars and courses, and make payments.
The CWSR credential is valid for three years. A CWSR can only renew their certification twice - first at the end of the initial three-year period, and again after the sixth year.
Following two consecutive renewals, which account for nine years of continuous certification, the holder must recertify to maintain their CWSR credentials.
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CWSR Initial Application
- How it Works
- Required Documents
- Computer-Based Testing (CBT)
- Training
CWSR Initial Application
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Overview
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Documents
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Exam Information
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Training
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Pricing
CWSR Requirements and Process
- Education: A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
- Work Experience: Applicants should have at least five years of professional experience related to the sales of welding and cutting equipment, supplies, and other associated services.
Alternatively, candidates with less than five years of experience can qualify with at least two years of verifiable experience combined with a certificate of completion for training in welding and cutting processes, as well as filler metals.
Application process:
Visit the online portal to provide the required documentation, make payment and register for seminars and courses to enter their information, submit necessary documentation, photos, and register for seminars and courses.
Make sure to have the following documents ready before starting the application process:
CWSR Standards
A CWSR certification ensures the certificate holder meets all of the specification and certification requirements found in:
- AWS QC14 - Specification for the Certification of Welding Sales Representatives
- AWS B5.14 - Specification for the Qualification of Welding Sales Representatives
Technical and Reference Documents are provided when registered and attending an AWS Seminar.
If an applicant/candidate is not attending an AWS Seminar prior to testing and is planning to self-study, please review the Recommended Self-Study for Examination section below.
TECHNICAL AND SPECIFICATION DOCUMENTS AND REFERENCE MATERIALS
(AWS CWSR BODY OF KNOWLEDGE)
- ANSI Z49.1:2021 - Safety in Welding Cutting, and Allied Processes
- AWS A3.0 - Standard Welding Terms and Definitions
- AWS A5.01M/A5.01 - Procurement Guidelines for Consumables – Welding and Allied Processes – Flux and Gas Shielded Electrical Welding Processes
- AWS A5.32/A5.32M - Specification for Welding Shielding Gases
- AWS F3.2M/F3.2 - Ventilation Guide for Weld Fume
RECOMMENDED SELF-STUDY FOR EXAMINATION
- Brazing Handbook, 5th Edition, American Welding Society
- Modern Welding Technology, 5th Edition, Howard Cary, Prentice Hall
- Soldering Handbook, 3rd Edition, American Welding Society
- Welding Handbook Volume 1: Welding Science and Technology, 9th Edition American Welding Society
- Welding Handbook Volume 2: Welding Processes, 9th Edition, American Welding Society
To purchase any of the AWS publications, visit the AWS Bookstore
Review the AWS CWSR Body of Knowledge (PDF)
Other forms and documents:
- ADA Disability Accommodations
- Change of Site/Cancellation Form
- Candidate Attestation Agreement
- Policies and Fees
- Certification Duplicate Order Form
- Training Hours Upload Requirement Waiver
- Photo Upload Requirement Waiver
- Visual Acuity Upload Requirement Waiver
- Education or Other Upload Requirement Waiver
Seminar and Exam Schedule
Find upcoming in-person seminars and exam dates on AWS by visiting the Seminar and Exam Schedule.
Candidates for the CWSR certification must take a two-hour, closed-book exam consisting of 60 multiple choice questions. The exam covers subjects specified in AWS B5.14, including arc welding processes, brazing, soldering, cutting, safety measures, AWS filler metal classifications, shielding gas applications, welding terminology, ventilation, electrical requirements for power sources, and welding procedures and qualifications. To pass the CWSR exam, candidates must score at least 70%.
Click here to find out more about the CWSR exam.
For more information about Prometric testing:
- Understand the security process at an Exam Center.
- Review a screen navigation tutorial for your computer-based exam.
- Schedule a test drive to familiarize yourself with the testing environment.
- Visit the FAQ (frequently asked questions) for CBT page for more about your test day experience.
Learn more about Prometric CBT and Exam Centers:
- Understand Prometric’s security process when checking in at an exam center.
- Review a tutorial on how to navigate the screen during your CBT.
- Familiarize yourself with the look and feel of the computer-based testing environment by exploring one of two types of Test Drives before Exam Day
- Learn more about your Prometric test day experience on our FAQ for CBT page.
- Access Prometric’s various other resources, by visiting prometric.com/aws.
- Prometric Exam Center COVID Policy
- Prometric Exam Center Cleaning Practices
Exam Preparation Training and Seminar
The Certified Welding Sales Representative basic training course offers an in-depth look at crucial concepts related to welding, cutting, and joining processes, ranging from sales, distribution, and manufacturing standpoints. The course covers basic principles, equipment, consumables, variables, and the disadvantages of common joining and cutting processes. It also educates on standard welding terminology, safety measures, types of shielding gases, electrical characteristics of welding power sources, and welding procedure specifications and qualification records.
CWSR Renewal
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Overview
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Pricing
CWSR Renewal Overview
The Certified Welding Sales Representative (CWSR) credential is valid for three years, with the possibility of two renewals at the end of the third and sixth years, respectively.
To maintain their CWSR status, the certificant needs to renew their certification. This process requires providing written proof of continued professional experience in the welding sales field as defined by the AWS B5.14 specifications.
Renewal applications can be completed through the online Certification Application Portal. The MyAWS Portal can be utilized to verify CWSR credentials and to monitor the status of applications or exam registrations.
Regarding renewal pricing, both members and non-members are required to pay a fee of $340 USD for the CWSR Renewal Application.
CWSR Recertification
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Overview
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Pricing
The Certified Welding Sales Representative (CWSR) recertification comes into play after two consecutive renewals, marking nine years of continuous certification. To retain their CWSR credentials, certificate holders must comply with the following:
They need to submit evidence demonstrating continued involvement in the welding sales representative occupation.
They are obligated to pass the CWSR examination. However, this requirement can be bypassed if they can provide proof of continuous education equivalent to 80 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) during the nine-year certification period, with 20 PDHs completed within the three years preceding the nine-year recertification.
Both the recertification application and exam registration can be processed through the online Certification Application Portal. The MyAWS Portal allows for the verification of CWSR credentials, as well as the tracking of application or exam registration statuses.
Recertification costs differ for members and non-members. For members, the CWSR Reexamination Application fee is $400 USD, while non-members are required to pay $491 USD.