BODY OF KNOWLEDGE

Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)

Certified Welding Educator (CWE)
Welding Inspector Endorsement (SIE)
The following is an approximate breakdown of the examination categories and the number of questions drawn from each subject area.
AWS Recommended Self-Study
Examination Preparatory Material
AWS Publications
Order Number

Part A: Fundamentals (CWI and CWE)

Percentage1

Subject
Welding Processes
Heat Control & Metallurgy (carbon and low-alloy steel)
Weld Examination
Welding Performance
Definitions and Terminology
Symbols Welding and NDE
Test Methods NDE
Reports and Records
Duties and Responsibilities
Safety
Destructive Tests
Cutting
Brazing
Soldering

10%
6%
9%
9%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
5%
4%
3%
2%
1%

Part B: Practical (CWI and CWE)

Percentage1

Subject
Procedure and Welder Qualifications
Mechanical Test and Properties
Welding Inspection and Flaws
NDE
Utilization of Specification and Drawings

Subject

30%
10%
36%
10%
10%

Part C: Code Book Applications (CWI, CWE and SIE)

Percentage1

Materials and Design

Fabrication
Inspection
Qualification

10%
30%
25%
30%

Code subjects available and current exam editions

(applicants must provide own codebook for exam)
AWS D1.1- Structural Steel Code: 2010 Second Printing Edition
Code clinic available - Codebook provided for D1.1 week seminar participants only

Certification Manual for Welding Inspectors

CM: 2000

Welding Inspection Handbook

WI: 2000

* D1.1/D1.1M Structural Welding Code-Steel

* D1.1 Code Clinic Reference Manual
* API 1104 Study Guide for API Standard 1104
Welding of Pipelines
* Welding Inspection Technology
* Welding Inspection Technology (Workbook)
*Welding Inspection Technology Sample CWI
Fundamentals Examination & Key
* Standard Welding Terms and Definitions

D1.1/D1.1M: 2015
D1.1CCRM: 2015
API-M: 2008
WIT-T-2008
WIT-W: 2008
WIT-E: 2008
A3.OM/A3.0:2010

* Standard Symbols for Welding, Brazing, and

Nondestructive Examination
*Guide for the Nondestructive Examination of
Welds
Book of Specification for the Qualification of
Welding Inspectors (errata 2007)

A2.4: 2012
B1.10M/B1.10:2009
B5.1: 2003

*Books are provided to participants of the AWS Seminar week

Other Recommendations
AWS Welding Handbook Series
Guide for the Visual Examination of Welds
Safety in Welding, Cutting and Allied Processes
Metric Practice Guide for the Welding Industry
Standard Methods for mechanical Testing of Welds
Specification for Welding Procedure and
Performance Qualification
Standard for AWS Certification of Welding
Inspectors

Order Number
WHB-ALL
B1.11: 2000
ANSI Z49.1: 2005
A1.1: 2001
B4.0: 2007
B2.1: 2009
QC1:2007

API 1104- Pipelines 20th or 21st Editions

Code clinic available only for 20th edition with Errata /Addendum July 2007, Errata 2
December 2008/ Errata 1 April 2014

AWS D1.2- Structural Aluminum Code: 2014 Edition

AWS D1.5- Bridge Welding Code: 2010* Edition (including Clause 12)
AWS D15.1 - Railroad: 2012 Edition
AWS D17.1- Aerospace: 2010 w/ Errata and Amendment
ASME Sec IX: 2013* Edition, B31.1 (2014) & B31.3 (2012)
ASME Sec VIII (Div 1) & ASME Sec IX: 2013* Editions
Structural Drawing Reading

To purchase any of the AWS publications or the API 1104 Codebook:

Contact WEX at 888-WELDING or 305-824-1177
Or visit the website

To purchase any of the ASME publications:

Contact ASME at 800-843-2763
Or visit the ASME website

*Effective Friday, May 15th, 2016, the following codebooks will be updated in
the exam, and candidates will be required to use the updated version with the
corresponding exam:
AWS D1.5 2015 Edition ASME Sec IX 2015 Edition

Note: The editions listed above apply to the English version only. To verify
the edition being used with language-assisted exams, please contact the
AWS Certification department or the Agent.
1

Percentages indicate the minimum required for each category in an examination.

Welding Inspector Body of Knowledge

March 29, 2016