CWI vs CAWI vs SCWI: the three AWS inspector levels

The three levels side by side

CAWI: the entry step

A CAWI takes the same three exam parts as a CWI. Part A is Fundamentals, Part B is the hands-on Practical, and Part C is the open-book Code Book part. AWS requires a minimum of 72% on each part. The difference is the experience you need before you sit.

AWS lists these combinations for the CAWI:

• High school diploma or equivalent: 2 years of work experience.
• At least 8th grade: 4 years.
• Less than 8th grade: 6 years.
• At least 8th grade plus one year of welding vocational training: 3 years.
• Two years of post-high school education in welding, engineering technology or physical sciences: 6 months.

You also pass a vision test and give documented proof of your education and experience. The CAWI is valid for three years and AWS says it can't be renewed or recertified. Treat it as a stepping-stone with a clock on it.

CWI: the working credential

The CWI uses the same exam parts but a longer experience requirement. AWS lists these minimums:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in welding engineering or welding technology: 1 year.
• Associate degree or higher in welding, engineering technology, engineering or a physical science: 2 years.
• Applicable engineering or technical coursework: 3 years.
• Trade or vocational coursework: 4 years.
• High school diploma or equivalent: 5 years.
• 8th grade schooling: 9 years.
• Less than 8th grade: 12 years.

Education substitutions have limits, so read the AWS table for your case or run your dates through the CWI eligibility checker. The CWI is valid for nine years, with renewal applications at years three and six. The renewal and recertification guide covers what happens at each point. To check a certification someone holds, see how to verify a CWI certification.

SCWI: the senior level

The SCWI isn't a bigger version of the Part A, B and C exams. AWS requires that you have held a CWI for at least six of the past eight years, plus a minimum of 15 years of work experience in at least three listed areas, such as procedure development, qualifying welders or procedures, and teaching welding. You then pass four endorsement exams, in any order:

• Welder Performance Qualifier (WPQ1)
• Welding Procedure Qualifier (WPQ2)
• Welding Coordination and Quality Assurance
• Nondestructive Examination Coordination

The SCWI lasts nine years with renewals at years three and six. AWS also says an endorsement used for recertification has to differ from the codebook behind your CWI certification.

How to move up

CAWI to CWI. AWS describes the CAWI as a stepping-stone: as CAWIs gain more qualifying experience, they may become eligible to pursue the CWI exam. The AWS page doesn't give a number, so check the CWI table above against your own record. The CAWI lasts three years, so plan the timing.

CWI to SCWI. Hold your CWI, build the experience, then take the four endorsements. Because the CWI renewal and the SCWI path both depend on documented work, keep your records current from day one.

Straight to CWI. If your experience already meets the CWI table, you don't need the CAWI step. Skipping it saves a credential that expires.

Which one should you aim for?

Check your dates first. If you meet a CWI row, go for the CWI. If you're short on years but meet a CAWI row, the CAWI lets you start inside the same exam format and carry what you learn forward. If you're already a CWI with 15 years behind you, look at the SCWI endorsements. For the full path, read how to become a CWI, and see what the job involves in what a certified welding inspector does.

Start with the part that worries you most

Whether you're sitting as a CAWI or a CWI, Parts A, B and C are the same exams, so one study plan works for both. The free 10-question check shows which areas to study first. Take the free 10-question check and let the result set your plan. The course turns the gaps it finds into drills and practice you can repeat until the readings and clause lookups are automatic.

FAQ

Is a CAWI the same as a CWI?

No. They take the same three exam parts, but the CAWI needs less experience, lasts three years and can't be renewed. The CWI lasts nine years with renewals at years three and six.

Can I go straight to CWI without being a CAWI?

Yes, if your education and work experience meet a row of the CWI table. The CAWI is a separate credential, not a required step.

Is SCWI harder than CWI?

It asks for more. You need years as a CWI, 15 years of experience and four endorsement exams, instead of Parts A, B and C. It suits experienced inspectors who coordinate quality and qualification work. Source: AWS certification pages.