Becoming a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) through the American Welding Society (AWS) is a significant career milestone. It signifies a high level of expertise in welding inspection, opening doors to better job opportunities, higher earning potential, and increased professional respect. However, earning this prestigious certification requires passing a challenging three-part examination.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the AWS CWI certification process, with a special focus on Part A: Fundamentals, including sample questions and answers to help you prepare.
What is the AWS CWI Certification?
The AWS CWI certification is widely recognized in the welding industry as proof of a person’s ability to perform welding inspections. A CWI is responsible for ensuring that welds meet the requirements of applicable codes, standards, and specifications. Their duties include:
- Reviewing documents: Checking welding procedure specifications (WPSs), welder performance qualifications (WPQs), and material test reports.
- Visual inspection: Examining welds before, during, and after welding for discontinuities and defects.
- Monitoring welding parameters: Ensuring that welders are following the approved WPS, including voltage, amperage, travel speed, and preheat/interpass temperatures.
- Witnessing tests: Observing destructive and nondestructive testing (NDT).
- Maintaining records: Documenting inspection results and preparing reports.
Who Should Become a CWI?
The CWI certification is ideal for individuals with experience in the welding industry who want to advance their careers. This includes:
- Welders looking to move into inspection and quality control roles.
- Welding supervisors and foremen seeking to enhance their knowledge and credentials.
- Quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) personnel involved in welding operations.
- Engineers and technicians working in design, manufacturing, or construction fields related to welding.
AWS CWI Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the CWI exam, candidates must meet specific education and work experience requirements based on a point system. The more education you have, the less work experience you need, and vice versa.
Here’s a general breakdown:
| Education Level | Minimum Work Experience |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering or a related technical field | 1 year |
| Associate’s degree or higher in engineering or a related technical field | 2 years |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5 years |
| Less than a high school diploma (minimum 8th grade) | 9 years |
| Less than 8th grade | 12 years |
All work experience must be in a welding-related function. Candidates must also pass a visual acuity test to ensure they meet the required vision standards for inspection.
The Three-Part CWI Exam
The CWI exam consists of three parts, each designed to test a different aspect of a welding inspector’s knowledge and skills. You must pass all three parts with a minimum score of 72% on each part to become certified.
- Part A: Fundamentals (Closed-book)
- This is a computer-based exam consisting of 150 multiple-choice questions.
- You have 2 hours to complete this section.
- It tests your knowledge of welding fundamentals, inspection methods, terminology, symbols, safety, and other general welding topics.
- Part B: Practical (Hands-on)
- This is a hands-on exam where you will inspect plastic weld replicas and measure weld discontinuities using standard inspection tools.
- You will also answer questions based on a “Book of Specifications” provided during the exam.
- This part tests your ability to apply your knowledge to real-world inspection scenarios.
- Part C: Code Book Application (Open-book)
- This is an open-book exam where you will answer questions based on a specific welding code book of your choice (e.g., AWS D1.1, API 1104).
- You have 2 hours to complete a minimum of 46 multiple-choice questions.
- It tests your ability to locate, understand, and apply the provisions of a specific code.
Master the AWS CWI Part A Fundamentals
The Part A exam is closed-book and covers a massive amount of information. Don’t let the 150 questions overwhelm you. Test your knowledge of metallurgy, NDT, welding symbols, and processes before exam day.
- Hundreds of realistic Part A multiple-choice questions
- Detailed explanations for every answer to reinforce your memory
- Timed mock exams designed to simulate the strict 2-hour test environment
Deep Dive: Part A – Fundamentals
Part A is often considered the most challenging part of the CWI exam because it covers a wide range of topics and requires a strong foundation in welding theory and principles. It is a closed-book exam, so you must memorize the information.
Key topics covered in Part A include:
- Welding Processes: SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, SAW, PAW, ESW, EGW, and brazing/soldering. You need to know the principles, equipment, consumables, advantages, and limitations of each process.
- Welding Metallurgy: Basic principles of heat treatment, material properties, grain structure, phase diagrams, and the effects of welding on different metals (especially carbon and low-alloy steels).
- Welding Symbols: Understanding and interpreting standard welding symbols according to AWS A2.4.
- Welding Examination and NDT: Principles, applications, advantages, and limitations of various destructive and nondestructive testing methods (VT, PT, MT, RT, UT).
- Welding Performance: Factors that affect weld quality, including welder technique, parameters, and joint preparation.
- Definitions and Terminology: Standard welding terms and definitions according to AWS A3.0.
- Safety in Welding: Hazards associated with welding and cutting, including fumes, gases, radiation, electrical shock, and fire.
- Duties and Responsibilities of a Welding Inspector: The role of a CWI before, during, and after welding.
CWI Part A Sample Questions and Answers
Here are some sample questions similar to what you might encounter on the Part A exam.
1. Welding Processes
Q: In Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), what is the primary function of the shielding gas?
- a) To provide filler metal to the weld pool.
- b) To protect the molten weld pool from atmospheric contamination.
- c) To add alloying elements to the weld.
- d) To control the arc length.
A: b) To protect the molten weld pool from atmospheric contamination.
Explanation: The shielding gas displaced the air around the arc and weld pool, preventing oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen from coming into contact with the molten metal. Contamination from these atmospheric gases can cause porosity, brittleness, and other weld defects.
2. Welding Metallurgy
Q: Which of the following is a common method for reducing residual stresses in a welded joint?
- a) Increasing the travel speed.
- b) Using a higher welding current.
- c) Post-weld heat treatment (PWHT).
- d) Using a smaller diameter electrode.
A: c) Post-weld heat treatment (PWHT).
Explanation: Residual stresses are locked-in stresses that remain in a welded joint after it has cooled. PWHT, such as stress relief annealing, involves heating the weldment to a specific temperature and holding it there for a certain period, allowing the material to yield and relieve these internal stresses.
3. Welding Symbols
Q: A welding symbol has a flag on the reference line where the arrow connects. What does this flag indicate?
- a) Field weld.
- b) Weld-all-around.
- c) Fillet weld.
- d) Groove weld.
A: a) Field weld.
Explanation: A flag indicates that the weld is to be performed in the “field,” meaning at the construction site, rather than in the shop.
4. Nondestructive Testing (NDT)
Q: Which NDT method is best suited for detecting surface-breaking discontinuities in non-porous materials?
- a) Radiographic Testing (RT).
- b) Ultrasonic Testing (UT).
- c) Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT).
- d) Magnetic Particle Testing (MT).
A: c) Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT).
Explanation: Liquid penetrant testing is a simple and effective method for detecting discontinuities that are open to the surface, such as cracks, seams, and laps. It works on both ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic materials, as long as the surface is not porous.
5. Welding Terminology
Q: What is the term for the junction between the weld face and the base metal?
- a) Root.
- b) Toe.
- c) Face.
- d) Leg.
A: b) Toe.
Explanation: The weld toe is the intersection of the weld face and the base metal. It is a critical area for stress concentration and potential cracking.
Tips for Preparing for the CWI Exam
- Start early: Give yourself plenty of time to study. A minimum of 3-6 months is recommended.
- Attend a CWI seminar: AWS offers instructor-led seminars that cover all three parts of the exam. These are highly recommended, as they provide structured learning and hands-on practice.
- Study the right materials: AWS publishes several key documents that are essential for CWI exam preparation, including:
- AWS QC1, Specification for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors
- AWS B5.1, Specification for the Qualification of Welding Inspectors
- AWS A3.0, Standard Welding Terms and Definitions
- AWS A2.4, Standard Symbols for Welding, Brazing, and Nondestructive Examination
- Welding Inspection Technology (WIT) textbook and workbook
- Visual Inspection Workshop reference manual
- Specific code book for Part C (e.g., AWS D1.1)
- Take practice exams: Practice exams are a great way to assess your knowledge, identify your weak areas, and get used to the exam format.
- Form a study group: Studying with others can help you stay motivated and learn from each other.
- Get hands-on experience: The best way to prepare for Part B is to get as much practical experience with visual inspection and measuring tools as possible.
Becoming an AWS Certified Welding Inspector is a challenging but rewarding journey. By understanding the requirements, studying diligently, and practicing with sample questions, you can increase your chances of success and take your career to the next level.
Practice Full AWS-CWI Part A exam with 150 questions answers.
AWS-CWI Part A exam- 150 Questions-answers
Answers for the exam are given below:
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