AWS CWI 9-Yr Recert
AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) 9-Year Recertification
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ExploreAbout this exam
The AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) is a professional credential offered by the American Welding Society. AWS describes it as a credential that "advances careers and ensures quality with flexible training options," and it sits within a broader family of AWS professional certifications that also includes the Senior Certified Welding Inspector (SCWI), Certified Welding Supervisor (CWS), Certified Welding Educator (CWE), and Certified Associate Welding Inspector (CAWI). This recertification page is written for inspectors who already hold the CWI credential and are preparing to renew it at the nine-year mark rather than sit the full initial examination again. The knowledge tested spans AWS code endorsements and related standards: Structural Steel (D1.1), Structural Aluminum (D1.2), Bridge Welding (D1.5), Railroad (D15.1), Aerospace (D17.1), Pipeline (API 1104), ASME BPVC Section IX with B31.1 and B31.3, the ISO Standard Endorsement, plus Magnetic Particle Testing, Penetrant Testing, Nondestructive Examination Coordination, and Welding Coordination and QA. Candidates should prepare by working directly from the current editions of those codes and from AWS's own Exam and Reference Guide, Seminar and Exam Schedule, and Price List, all of which AWS publishes under Certification & Education. Because AWS revises its codes and policies on a rolling basis, always confirm current editions, scheduling, and fees on the official AWS site before booking. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by AWS.
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About AWS CWI 9-Yr Recert preparation
What is the difference between CWI Renewal and CWI Recertification?
AWS lists CWI Renewal and CWI Recertification as two separate items under Professional Certifications, alongside the CWI credential itself. The source material does not state the eligibility rules, intervals, or requirements that distinguish them, so confirm which path applies to your certificate directly with AWS before you commit to either one.
Which endorsements can a CWI or SCWI hold?
AWS lists twelve: Structural Steel (D1.1), Structural Aluminum (D1.2), Bridge Welding (D1.5), Railroad (D15.1), Aerospace (D17.1), Pipeline (API 1104), Magnetic Particle Testing, Penetrant Testing (PT), ASME BPVC Section IX (B31.1) (B31.3), ISO Standard Endorsement, Nondestructive Examination Coordination, and Welding Coordination and QA.
How many questions are on the exam and how long does it take?
The source material does not publish a question count or time limit, so none is given here. Those details, along with the passing score, appear in the AWS Exam and Reference Guide and on the Seminar and Exam Schedule, both linked from the AWS Certification & Education pages. Check those before planning your sitting.
Is the exam open book?
AWS publishes a document titled the Exam and Reference Guide, linked from its Certification & Education quick links. That guide is the authoritative place to confirm what reference material you may bring into the exam room and which code editions are permitted. Do not assume a format based on what other inspectors tell you.
What does recertification cost?
AWS maintains a Program Price List under Certification & Education, and that list is the only reliable source for current fees. The source material retrieved for this page does not state a recertification fee, so no figure is quoted here. Fees are revised periodically, so verify the amount on the AWS Price List before submitting payment.
How should I order my study across twelve endorsement areas?
Start with the codes you actually inspect against day to day, because recertification rewards current working knowledge. Then cover the method endorsements (Magnetic Particle, Penetrant, NDE Coordination) and finally the coordination and QA material. Work from the current code editions AWS lists, since AWS revises standards on a rolling basis.
Where can I find AWS training near me?
AWS lists CWI training locations across the United States, including Birmingham, Anchorage, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Denver, Miami, Tampa, Kennesaw, Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Detroit, Cleveland, Tulsa, Pittsburgh, and several Texas cities among others. AWS also offers in-person, online instructor-led, self-paced, and dual-format training options.
What are the most common ways inspectors stumble?
Studying from outdated code editions is a frequent problem, since AWS revises standards and publishes notices for them. Another is neglecting the coordination and QA endorsements in favor of pure weld-discontinuity material. Confirm current editions and any standard notices through AWS before you study, and use the official guide to focus your effort.