Thinking about becoming an AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)? Before you buy a study book or pick a test date, make sure you qualify. The American Welding Society (AWS) sets the rules, and they come down to four things: the right mix of education and experience, a vision test, a complete application, and passing three exam parts. AWS updates forms and fees from time to time, so double-check the official AWS CWI page before you apply.
Who Can Become a CWI? Education and Work Experience
AWS doesn’t require a degree. It requires a combination of schooling and documented welding-based work experience. The more qualifying education you have, the fewer years you need.
| Your highest education | Minimum welding-based work experience |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s or higher in welding engineering or welding technology (up to 4 years’ substitution) | 1 year |
| Associate’s or higher in welding or non-welding engineering technology, engineering, or a physical science (up to 3 years’ substitution) | 2 years |
| Engineering/technical courses that apply toward a bachelor’s in welding (up to 2 years’ substitution) | 3 years |
| Trade/vocational courses (up to 1 year’s substitution for successfully completed courses) | 4 years |
| High school diploma or approved equivalency (GED) | 5 years |
| 8th grade level of schooling | 9 years |
| Less than 8th grade | 12 years |
What counts as “welding-based” experience?
AWS B5.1 lists the kinds of work that qualify, on weldments built to national or international standards. Examples include working as a welder, welding operator or tack welder; doing visual or other NDE to a written procedure; qualifying welders or procedures; applying welding codes; quality control on weldments; and teaching welding. Short on years? AWS also offers the Certified Associate Welding Inspector (CAWI) level, which uses the same exams.
The Vision Test
Every applicant has to pass an eye exam, recorded on the official AWS Visual Acuity Form (no other form is accepted):
- Near vision: you must read Jaeger J2 at 12 inches or more, with or without glasses or contacts.
- Color perception: you have to take a color perception test.
- Who can test you: an ophthalmologist, optometrist, medical doctor, registered nurse or certified physician’s assistant, among others, with their license number on the form.
- Timing: no more than one year before your certification exam. You pay for the eye exam yourself.
Documents You’ll Need
Download and complete these from the AWS CWI page before you start your application:
- Employment Verification Form, signed by a supervisor or personnel manager at your current or most recent employer. If you’re self-employed or a contractor, you also upload two signed reference letters from two different clients, on company letterhead. They have to describe your work and give start and end dates. If an employer has closed, include a W-2.
- Additional Qualifying Work Experience Form to list the rest of your welding-related jobs.
- Visual Acuity Form (see above).
- A passport-style photo and a government-issued ID. The name on your application has to match your ID exactly.
How to Apply: Step by Step
- Check your eligibility against the table above.
- Gather your forms, get your eye exam done, and scan everything.
- Pick a Part B exam date and site. Part B is given at AWS exam sites, so find a date and site on the exam schedule at aws.org.
- Apply online at my.aws.org, upload your documents and pay. Paper or email applications add a $125 processing fee.
- Watch the deadline. In the U.S., AWS says to apply at least six weeks before your Part B exam date.
- Wait for your confirmation letter, usually about 4–6 weeks after you apply. Don’t book travel until you have it.
- Schedule Parts A and C with Prometric using the eligibility code in your letter. AWS recommends booking at least 30 days ahead because seats fill up.
CWI Exam Fees (2026)
According to the AWS price list (effective January 1, 2026):
| Item | AWS member | Non-member |
|---|---|---|
| Initial CAWI/CWI exams (all three parts) | $1,255 | $1,520 |
| Initial exams + Part B training | $2,000 | $2,265 |
| Retest, Part A or Part C | $445 | $445 |
| Retest, Part B | $385 | $385 |
| Retest, all parts | $915 | $1,180 |
The non-member price for the initial exams includes a 3-year AWS membership, and Prometric seat fees are included. AWS can change prices without notice, so confirm the current fees on the AWS price list before you apply.
The CWI Exam Format: Parts A, B and C
You have to take Part B first. After that, you can take Parts A and C at a Prometric test center in either order. AWS sets a time limit for finishing Parts A and C after Part B, so confirm the current window with AWS when you apply.
| Part | Format | Questions | Time | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A – Fundamentals | Closed book, computer-based | 150 scored + 15 unscored pretest | 135 minutes | Prometric |
| B – Practical | Hands-on and written (paper), open book with materials provided | 46 | 120 minutes | AWS exam sites |
| C – Code Book | Open book, computer-based | 50–65 depending on the code; API 1104 is 60 scored + 5 pretest | API 1104: 135 minutes to answer | Prometric |
Passing score: you need at least 72% on each part. AWS also looks at your composite (average) score.
- Part A covers welding processes, symbols, NDE, metallurgy, testing, safety and calculations.
- Part B supplies the AWS Book of Specifications, an exhibits booklet, plastic weld replicas and a tool kit on test day. Our CWI Part B guide walks through each one.
- Part C tests finding and applying requirements in the code you pick: AWS D1.1, API 1104, D1.2, D1.5, D15.1, D17.1, ASME Section IX/B31.1/B31.3 or ISO. A Part C retest has to use the same code. Choosing API 1104? See Do You Need to Buy API 1104 for the CWI Exam?
Your official AWS score letter usually arrives 2–4 weeks after your last part.
If you don’t pass
You can retest up to three times within three years of your original test date. The first retest needs no extra training. The second and third retests need proof of more training: 16 hours if you’re retesting one or two parts, or 40 hours for all three.
Keeping Your CWI: Renewal Basics
A CWI certification runs on a 9-year cycle:
- Years 3 and 6: you renew, usually by showing continued work experience, with no break in practice over two years within the prior three. You can apply up to 11 months early, and there’s a 60-day grace period.
- Year 9: you recertify through 80 professional development hours (PDHs), the Part B exam, an endorsement exam, the 9-year course, or CRI certification.
Renewal fees are different for AWS members and non-members, so check the current AWS price list before you renew.
How Lone Star CWI Fits In
AWS doesn’t require prep training for your first attempt, but the exam covers a lot of ground. Lone Star CWI is a registered AWS Educational Institute, and our online, self-paced courses follow the exam’s three parts:
- CWI Part A Fundamentals ($399.99, about 25 hours): study guides, flashcards, quizzes with explanations, and timed mock exams.
- CWI Part B Practical ($399.99, about 30 hours): Book of Specifications training, gauge lessons and timed practice.
- CWI Part C API 1104 ($399.99, about 25 hours): API 1104, 22nd Edition navigation drills and a final mock exam.
- Full CWI Bundle ($1,000, about 80 hours): all three parts for less than buying them one at a time.
Your instructor is Leandro Gutierrez, a welder and inspector with over a decade in the field. Questions? Use the course Q&A, call 1 (956) 833-1835, or email contact@lonestarcwi.com. (We help you prepare; you apply directly with AWS.) Studying from home? See how our online CWI training works anywhere in the U.S.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many years of experience do I need for the CWI exam?
With a high school diploma or GED, you need 5 years of welding-based work experience. A welding-related degree can bring that down to as little as 1 year. Without a diploma, it can be 9 or 12 years. See the table above.
What eye exam is required for CWI?
You need near vision of Jaeger J2 at 12 inches or more (glasses are OK) and a color perception test. Both have to be recorded on the AWS Visual Acuity Form within one year before your exam.
How much does the CWI exam cost in 2026?
The initial three-part exam costs $1,255 for AWS members or $1,520 for non-members. The non-member price includes a 3-year membership. Prep courses, books and travel cost extra.
What score do I need to pass the CWI exam?
At least 72% on each of Parts A, B and C.
Is the CWI exam open book?
Part A is closed book. Part B is open book, using the Book of Specifications AWS provides. Part C is open book with your chosen code. For API 1104, the code is shown on screen as a PDF, and you may also bring a permanently bound printed copy.
Do I have to take a prep course to sit for the CWI exam?
No, not for your first attempt. Training is optional, but a second or third retest requires documented extra training hours.
Ready to start? Enroll in the Full CWI Bundle and study all three parts at your own pace, or contact us with questions about your eligibility.