Part B is the Practical Application section. Remember: an educated guess is better than not answering, because an unanswered question will be marked incorrect.ĭuring this part, you’ll answer questions about welding principles such as processes, definitions, inspector’s duties, joint design, safety, non-destructive testing, metallurgy, welding processes, and even some math calculations for the job. That’s a lot of questions so it’s important to move quickly. Part A, called Fundamentals, is closed-book with 165 questions. You spend six hours taking the exam, so you need to be mentally prepared on test day. The exam is divided into 3 sections and each section is allotted a time limit of two hours. Also, read the AWS B5.1 Specification for the Qualification of Welding Inspectors and AWS QC1 Specification for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors for in-depth requirements of the CWI certification. You can view the full table of requirements to see if you have enough experience to qualify. On the other hand, if you have a high school diploma but no technical degrees or courses, you need to have a minimum of five years of welding-based work experience. If you have a bachelor’s degree or higher in welding engineering or related field, you only need one year of welding-based work experience. To qualify for the exam, you must pass a vision test and have a combination of education and work experience. View the AWS 2020 Price List for more detailed information. After 9 years, CWIs must recertify by retaking the exam or taking 80 hours worth of approved PDH educational coursework. Once you’ve been certified, however, your CWI certification is valid for 3 years.Īfter 3 years, you’ll need to renew the certification, which costs between $525 and $1090. Here’s the list of test locations and dates.Īs of 2020, the CWI exam costs $1070 for AWS members and $1325 for non-members. Depending on your level of experience, you can become a Certified Welding Inspector, a Senior Certified Welding Inspector (SCWI), or a Certified Associate Welding Inspector (CAWI).Įxams are held year-round across the country. The CWI exam is administered by the American Welding Society (AWS).

Welder certification list