Certified Welding Inspector Basics

To become a certified welding inspector, The American Welding Society (AWS) has produced a standard for certification of prospective CAWI (welding inspectors) called the QC1.

If you are interested in becoming a weld inspector, you need certain abilities and qualifications. Firstly you need to know and love welding. Then you need problem solving skills and the ability to work with people. You also need a really good aptitude for math.As far as education goes, the higher the level of high school education you have, the fewer number of years you need to be apprenticed or have metal-workshop experience to become a certified welding inspector.

Should you have graduated from high school (ideally with school welding experience) you can go straight ahead with the certfied welding inspector or regular welding programs. If you were fortunate enough to go to a technical or vocational school, you may have been able to qualify with an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) qualification, which will give you a really good head-start. If you have at least 8th grade schooling you need 4 years of apprenticeship training, and if you have less than 8th grade, you need 6 years.

You will find that there are many welding inspector training institutions that advertise to prepare you for your Certified Welding Inspector examination. There are courses available for training for a Certified Associate Welding Inspector. At this stage it would be a very good idea to try and get employment with a qualified inspector, as part of your preparation. Now you are recommended to attend clinics, seminars and workshops in preparation for the CAWI examination.

If you go to the / American Welding Society website -- http://www.aws.org/certification/CAWI -- you will find the exact requirements listed for your welding inspector training and testing, clinic, seminar and workshop.

American Welding Society Welding Inspection Book: Welding Inspection Book

You are required to achieve a score of at least 72% average on each of the three-part exam sections. Should you fail the exam, you will not be allowed to re-write until you have put in at least another 40 hours of training by a professional.

If you wish to become qualified as a Senior Certified Welding Inspector, you need to have had at least 6 years experience as a CAWI before you sit for the SCAWI examination. You need to bear in mind that most AWI certifications last only about 9 years before renewal is needed.

Don’t forget that these qualifications go hand in hand with a great deal of constant practice and hands on personal welding experience.

You are entering a lucrative and interesting welding career as a certified welding inspector, but with it goes the huge responsibility of ensuring people’s safety and ensuring the professionalism and quality of work done.