IIW IWI-B

IWI-B is the basic level: broad knowledge and visual inspection under supervision. IWI-S (Standard) adds depth in methods, standards and procedure review. IWI-C (Comprehensive) is the highest level, covering full quality systems and inspection management. Each level builds on the one below, so most candidates start at Basic.

Typically a written examination covering the seven syllabus areas plus a practical visual inspection and reporting task. The exact mix of papers, question counts and time allowed is set by your Authorised Nominated Body under IIW rules, so check the current scheme description with your ANB rather than relying on older course notes.

These are set and published by the IIW and your Authorised Nominated Body, and they change over time. The IIW and your national ANB publish the current figures on their websites. Contact your ANB directly before booking so you know the duration, the pass criteria for each paper and whether any component must be passed separately.

The individual topics are not highly technical - much of the content overlaps with a welding coordinator's or supervisor's daily work. The difficulty is breadth and precision: you must use standard terminology correctly and apply acceptance criteria exactly as written. Candidates with shop-floor experience usually find the practical part easier than the standards and quality management sections.

Retake rules are set by the IIW and administered by your ANB, and they cover how soon you can resit, whether you resit one paper or all of them, and any limit on attempts. There is no single answer that applies worldwide. Ask your ANB in writing before you enrol so you understand the risk of a failed attempt.

Start with processes and materials, because construction and design, and fabrication and inspection, both assume that vocabulary. Then work through fabrication and inspection, which carries the largest share of the syllabus. Add quality management and standards, then health and safety. Finish with practical visual inspection and report writing, practising on real or sample welds until the routine is automatic.

Three recur: vague answers that do not use standard terminology, misapplying acceptance criteria because the standard was not read carefully, and weak inspection reports that state a defect without location, size, or the clause it breaches. Poor time management in the written paper also costs marks. Practise writing short, precise answers and complete reports under time pressure.

Not strictly, but it helps considerably. The syllabus assumes familiarity with workshop practice, drawings and typical weld imperfections. Candidates without fabrication background should arrange shop visits or supervised visual inspection practice, because the practical assessment rewards recognising real discontinuities rather than reciting definitions from a textbook.

Learn a consistent routine: check the drawing and welding procedure specification, confirm joint preparation and cleanliness, inspect the root and cap where accessible, measure leg length, throat and alignment, and record every finding with location and size. Practise writing reports that separate observation from judgement and cite the acceptance criterion you applied.