Achieving your CWI certification is a definitive milestone in the welding industry, opening doors to advanced career opportunities and higher earnings. The AWS CWI credential, administered by the American Welding Society CWI program, validates your ability to inspect welds, interpret codes, and ensure structural safety.
Our comprehensive guide covers everything from CWI test structure to salary expectations. Whether you are searching for a CWI certification near me or preparing for the rigorous welding CWI exam, our free resources and CWI practice test questions will help you succeed on your first attempt.
The AWS CWI certification requires passing three distinct exam parts: Fundamentals (Part A), Practical (Part B), and Code Application (Part C). Success demands a deep understanding of welding processes, symbols, and inspection methods. Try our Journeyman Plumbers practice test. Practice with the free CWI practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (500+ questions with answer explanations).
Prepare for the CWI - Certified Welding Inspector exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
The CWI takes about 2 hours and costs $1,255[1][2] (American Welding Society (AWS) — Certification and Education, verified Oct 23, 2026).
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (Part A – Fundamentals) | 150 questions[3] | American Welding Society (AWS) — Certification and Education · Oct 20, 2026 |
| Number of questions (Part B – Practical) | Hands-on activities + 46 questions[3] | American Welding Society (AWS) — Certification and Education · Oct 20, 2026 |
| Number of questions (Part C – Code Book) | 50–65 open-book questions[3] | American Welding Society (AWS) — Certification and Education · Oct 20, 2026 |
| Time limit | 2 hours per part (2.5 hours seat time)[1] | American Welding Society (AWS) — Certification and Education · Oct 23, 2026 |
| Passing score | 72% on each part[3] | American Welding Society (AWS) — Certification and Education · Oct 20, 2026 |
| Exam fee | $1,255 (AWS member) / $1,520 (non-member) for the initial CWI exams[2] | American Welding Society (AWS) — Certification and Education · Oct 23, 2026 |
| Retake fee | $445 per part (A or C), $870 for A and C, $385 for Part B, $915 member / $1,180 non-member for all parts[2] | American Welding Society (AWS) — Certification and Education · Oct 23, 2026 |
| Retake policy | Retest within a 3-year period; Part C retest must use the same code[4] | aws-p-001-delivery.sitecorecontenthub.cloud · Oct 20, 2026 |
| Validity | 9 years, with renewals at years 3 and 6[3] | American Welding Society (AWS) — Certification and Education · Oct 20, 2026 |
| Delivery | Parts A & C: computer-based at Prometric centers; Part B: in person at AWS seminar sites[3] | American Welding Society (AWS) — Certification and Education · Oct 20, 2026 |
| Score release | About 2 weeks after Parts A and C (by email)[3] | American Welding Society (AWS) — Certification and Education · Oct 20, 2026 |
| Late registration deadline | Fast Track up to 18 business days before the event week, $395 non-refundable[5] | aws-p-001-delivery.sitecorecontenthub.cloud · Oct 21, 2026 |
| Registration deadline | 6 weeks before the seminar/exam week[5] | aws-p-001-delivery.sitecorecontenthub.cloud · Oct 21, 2026 |
| Testing window | Parts A and C within 120 days after Part B[5] | aws-p-001-delivery.sitecorecontenthub.cloud · Oct 21, 2026 |
According to American Welding Society (AWS) — Certification and Education, “Covers 150 questions on Destructive Testing, Fabrication Math, Safety, Metallurgy, Nondestructive Testing, Welding Symbols, WPS/PQR, and Welding Fundamentals.”[3]
The content areas below are copied from the official CWI content outline published by American Welding Society (AWS) — Certification and Education. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| Cutting[6] | CWI Welding Process Fundamentals Practise telling the cutting processes apart by how they work, what materials they suit and what edge quality to expect. |
| Definition and Terminology[6] | CWI Fundamentals Learn the standard names for joints, weld types and weld parts so that wording in a question never hides the answer. |
| Destructive Tests[6] | CWI Destructive Testing and Properties Match each destructive test to the property it measures and know how specimens are taken and judged. |
| Duties and Responsibilities[6] | CWI Code Book Application Practise deciding what an inspector may and may not do, and when a decision belongs to the engineer or contractor. |
| Heat Control & Metallurgy (carbon and low-alloy steel)[6] | CWI Metallurgy and Weld Discontinuities Connect heat input, preheat and cooling behavior to the cracking and property problems they cause in steel. |
| Symbols – Welding and NDE[6] | CWI NDE Methods and Symbols Read the arrow side, other side and supplementary symbols until you can decode a drawing without hesitation. |
| Test Methods- NDE[6] | CWI Nondestructive Examination Methods Know what each NDE method can find, what it cannot find and the basic principle behind how it works. |
| Weld Examination[6] | CWI Practical Visual Inspection Practise spotting and naming discontinuities visually and judging them against acceptance criteria. |
| Welding Performance[6] | CWI WPS, PQR, and Welder Qualification Sort out what a welder performance qualification covers compared with what a procedure qualification covers. |
| Welding Processes[6] | CWI Welding Process Principles Compare common arc processes by shielding, equipment, typical discontinuities and variables that matter to an inspector. |
| Welding Related Calculations[6] | CWI Fundamentals Tech Work through the arithmetic for heat input, areas, percentages and conversions by hand until the steps feel routine. |
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: Visible weld metal protruding beyond the base metal surface on the root side of a one-sided groove weld is called:
Answer: B. Melt-through
Explanation:
Melt-through is weld metal that shows on the root side of a joint welded from one side only, so B is correct. Face reinforcement (A) is excess metal on the face, the side the welder works from, not the root side. Undercut (C) is a groove melted into the base metal at the toe and leaves a notch rather than extra metal. Overlap (D) is weld metal that has flowed over the base metal surface without fusing to it. The rule to remember: first ask which side of the joint you are looking at, then ask whether metal is added, missing or unfused. That sorts most visual discontinuity questions.
Question: During an Ultrasonic Test (UT) of a thick plate, a technician uses a transducer to send high-frequency sound waves into the material. The fundamental principle that allows for the detection of an internal flaw, such as porosity or a crack, is that the sound waves will:
Answer: C. be reflected by the boundary of the flaw.
Explanation:
Ultrasonic testing works because sound is reflected from a boundary inside the material, so C is correct. The instrument times the returning echo to locate the flaw. Complete absorption (A) would leave no echo to read, and testing relies on reflection. A change in frequency (B) is not how a flaw is detected; the signal timing and amplitude carry the information. Increased velocity (D) is wrong because sound speed in a given material is treated as a known value, and a flaw does not speed the wave up. The rule to remember: UT reads reflected echoes from interfaces, so a flaw has to present a reflecting boundary.
Question: When AWS D1.1 specifies that a WPS must be 'qualified in accordance with Section 5,' the Contractor's obligation is to:
Answer: C. Test weld test assemblies per Section 5 and document results on a PQR
Explanation:
When the code says a WPS must be qualified under Section 5, the contractor tests weld assemblies and records the results on a PQR, so C is correct. Submitting the WPS to AWS (A) is wrong because AWS does not approve individual procedures. Using prequalified parameters only (B) describes a different route that avoids testing, which is the opposite of qualification by test. Getting engineer approval before any testing (D) puts a step ahead of the testing that the section actually requires. The rule to remember: qualification by test means weld, test, then record on a PQR. The WPS is the instruction, and the PQR is the evidence behind it.
Begin with a baseline. Take the fundamentals set and the code book set cold, without notes, and write down every topic you missed. Group the misses by the official content areas in the table above, then work through the matching practice set for each weak area, reading every explanation, including those for questions you got right.
Use the official AWS material alongside the practice sets, not instead of them. Our questions are written by us to build recall and reasoning and are not real exam questions, so treat them as a check on your understanding. For Part C, spend most of your time with the actual code book edition that AWS lists for your exam. Practise finding answers quickly by learning how the book is laid out: the table of contents, the index, and where tables and figures sit. Tab and annotate only as far as the AWS rules allow.
For Part B, rehearse the visual and measuring skills with real weldments and gauges if you can reach them, since reading a question set cannot replace handling the tools. In the final days before your seminar or test, retake the review sets and the weakest area sets, and confirm your testing location, your identification and the rules for what you may bring.
Interactive CWI resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
Essential concepts for the Certified Welding Inspector exam
This study guide breaks down the essential components of the CWI certification process. From understanding the exam format to knowing the costs, use these tabs to navigate your path to becoming a CWI inspector.
Seminars to prepare for the rigorous exam.
The CWI part b practice test is often the most difficult section. Focus on learning how to correctly use the V-WAC gauge, fillet weld gauges, and micrometers. Practical application is key to passing this section of the CWI test. Try our Safety Trained Supervisor practice test.
Budget approximately $2,000 - $3,000 for your CWI certification journey, including exam fees, code books, and preparatory courses. This investment typically pays off within the first few months of employment as a CWI inspector.
Join thousands of certified inspectors who used our CWI practice test to succeed. Start studying today and boost your career.
Submit your CWI renewal application 60 days before expiration. You can renew by showing work experience or by earning Professional Development Hours (PDHs).
Try these questions from our free CWI practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
A welder's performance qualification test requires a nick-break test on a groove weld. What is the primary objective of this specific destructive test?
Answer: C. To reveal the internal soundness and fusion of the weld metal.
The nick-break test involves cutting notches into the weld and then fracturing the specimen along the weld line. This exposes the internal fracture surface, allowing for a visual examination of the weld's internal quality. It is specifically used to check for discontinuities such as slag inclusions, porosity, and lack of fusion.
When AWS D1.1 requires a 'CVN test' as a supplemental essential variable, what property does this test measure?
Answer: B. Notch toughness (impact energy absorbed at a specified temperature)
The Charpy V-Notch (CVN) test measures the notch toughness of weld metal by determining the energy absorbed when a notched specimen is fractured at a specified temperature.
During a transverse tensile test of a welded specimen, which of the following properties is NOT directly determined from the test data?
Answer: A. Impact Strength
A transverse tensile test measures a material's response to a slow, static pulling force, which is used to determine its ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, ductility (elongation and reduction of area), and the fracture location (weld metal, HAZ, or base metal). Impact strength, which is a measure of toughness under a high strain rate, is determined by a dynamic test like the Charpy V-Notch test, not a tensile test.
An all-weld-metal tension test differs from a transverse weld tension test in that it:
Answer: B. Tests the mechanical properties of the deposited weld metal alone
An all-weld-metal tension test extracts the specimen entirely from deposited weld metal, isolating its mechanical properties.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.