AWS CWI renewal at years 3 and 6 and 9-year recertification: routes and fees

The Fillet Gauge overview explains the three exam parts. This guide covers keeping the certificate once you have it. Fillet Gauge is not affiliated with AWS, and AWS decides every renewal and recertification.

How to renew your AWS CWI in five steps

1. Check your expiration date. Each period runs 3 years from the first day of the month after your exam. Renewal falls at the end of years 3 and 6, recertification at year 9.
2. Get the vision test done. Your eye care provider completes the visual acuity form no more than 1 year before your expiration date.
3. Pick your route. At years 3 and 6, renew by work experience, or by the Part B Practical if you had a break in work longer than 2 years. At year 9, choose an exam route, 80 PDHs or the AWS 9-year course.
4. Apply in the window. AWS must receive your application no earlier than 11 months before your expiration date and no later than the date itself. Aim for at least 60 days ahead.
5. Pay the fee. Renewal by work experience is $650 for AWS members and $915 for non-members in 2026. Every route's fee is in the cost table.

How long a CWI certificate lasts

• Three years per period. Each certificate is valid for 3 years from the first day of the month after your exam date, and expires on the same month and day 3 years later (QC1 10.1 and 15.3).
• Two renewals, then recertification. You get two consecutive 3-year renewals. Before the third period ends you must recertify (QC1 15.5 and clause 16). AWS calls it a nine-year credential with renewals due at years 3 and 6.
• A vision test each time. Every renewal and recertification needs a visual acuity form completed no more than 1 year before your expiration date (QC1 8.1.1).

Renewal at years 3 and 6

By work experience. You attest that you had no break in work longer than 2 years during the previous 3 years, in the activities AWS B5.1 describes (QC1 15.4).

By examination. If you can't make that attestation, you renew by passing the Part B Practical exam with at least 72% (QC1 15.4.1 and 6.2.2). AWS also sells Part B training together with the Part B exam.

When to apply. AWS must receive your application by the expiration date and no earlier than 11 months before it (QC1 15.2.2). AWS recommends applying at least 60 days ahead. A renewal notice may come, but renewing on time is on you if it doesn't.

If you miss the date. You get a 60-day administrative extension, during which the certificate shows as expired (QC1 15.3). AWS can still accept a renewal after that and within 1 year of expiration, and late fees can apply (QC1 15.3.2). Processing starts once late fees are paid.

Recertification at year 9

The window is the same as for renewal: by the expiration date, no earlier than 11 months before it, with the same 60-day extension (QC1 16.1). The CWI 9th Year Application lists two groups of routes.

Exam routes

• The Part B Practical exam, alone or with an AWS seminar, passed at the 72% minimum (QC1 16.3.1 and 6.2.2). It's hands-on, with AWS-supplied equipment, covering WPS and PQR application, inspection tools and methods, and the required welds.
• A Committee-approved endorsement exam (QC1 16.3.1 and 16.7). AWS's 2026 price list has a 9-year recertification group for the MT and PT endorsement exams, taken through Prometric.

Non-exam routes

• 80 PDHs, plus the same work attestation as for renewal (QC1 16.3.2).
• The AWS 9-year recertification course. A multi-day in-person seminar with pre-work that provides the full 80 hours in place of retesting. AWS's seminar page lists its length and dates.
• A CRI certification or a QC1 endorsement earned before year 9. The application form lists both as routes.

How PDHs are counted (QC1 16.4 and 16.5)

• At least 80 PDHs over the nine years, with at least 20 of them in the final 3-year period.
• One PDH is one contact hour of at least 50 minutes. One CEU equals 10 PDHs.
• The subject must relate to the B5.1 body of knowledge or the inspector's job functions. A course can be used once in nine years and gives at most 80 PDHs.
• Clause 16.5 sets credit for other activities, such as technical section meetings (capped at 40 PDHs), committee work, conference presentations, papers and patents.

If you miss the year-9 deadline. If you haven't completed a recertification route by expiration plus 60 days, you take the full exam again: Part A, Part B and Part C (QC1 16.7.1). Failing it ends certification at every level (QC1 16.7.2).

What renewal and recertification cost

From AWS's 2026 program price list, effective 1 January 2026:

Prometric seat fees are included in the endorsement exam prices, with separate test-facility fees for any practical part. The CWI exam cost guide covers the initial exam fees.

What Fillet Gauge covers for renewal and recertification

• The Part B route: our Part B practice follows AWS's published Part B outline. The Part B guide covers the replicas, tool kit and Book of Specifications, and the weld gauge reading trainer drills gauge readings. We don't run the hands-on exam or supply replicas.
• Retaking all three parts after a missed deadline: our Part A and Part C D1.1 practice follows the same published outlines as the initial exam.
• PDHs, the 9-year course and endorsement exams (MT, PT or others): not covered. We don't issue PDH or CEU certificates.
• The vision test and the application itself: those go through your eye care provider and AWS.

Recertifying by Part B? Start with the free 10-question check

It's been years since you sat Part B, so find out what's rusty before you book. Take the free 10-question Part B check. It's scored by domain and takes no signup. When you're ready for the full refresher, the Part B course gives you specification drills in the Book of Specifications, a lesson for every exam subject, two full-length timed practice exams and a worked explanation with every answer.

FAQ

How often do you renew an AWS CWI?

Every three years. You renew at years 3 and 6 and recertify at year 9, then the cycle starts again. Each renewal and recertification needs a vision test from the year before your expiration date.

How much does AWS CWI renewal cost?

In 2026, renewal by work experience costs $650 for AWS members and $915 for non-members, and renewal by the Part B exam costs $1,040 or $1,305. The non-exam 9-year recertification costs $795 or $1,060.

What happens if your CWI expires?

You get a 60-day administrative extension, and AWS can still accept a renewal within 1 year of expiration, with late fees. At year 9, missing the deadline plus 60 days means taking Parts A, B and C again.

Sources

Show the list

• AWS QC1:2016-AMD1: Specification for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors, American Welding Society, clauses 6.2.2, 8.1.1, 10.1, 15.2.2 to 15.5, 16.1, 16.3 to 16.5 and 16.7. Retrieved 20 Oct 2026.
• Certified Welding Inspector, American Welding Society, renewal and recertification sections. Retrieved 20 Oct 2026.
• CWI 9th Year Application, American Welding Society, revised 22 Feb 2022. Retrieved 20 Oct 2026.
• Certified Welding Inspector 9-Year Recertification seminar, American Welding Society. Retrieved 20 Oct 2026.
• Programs Price List, American Welding Society, effective 1 January 2026. Retrieved 20 Oct 2026.