Welding Metallurgy-1, for Certified Welding Inspector

The Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) exam is a rigorous assessment of welding knowledge and skills, comprised of three distinct parts: Part A – Fundamentals, Part B – Practical, and Part C – Code Book Applications. Achieving certification requires a comprehensive understanding of welding principles and practices.

Part A – Fundamentals: This closed-book exam tests your knowledge of 150 questions covering essential topics such as:

• Welding fundamentals, terms, and definitions
• Diverse welding processes (SAW, PAW, RW, SMAW, SW, FCAW, GTAW, OFW, ESW, GMAW)
• Thermal Spraying, Soldering, Mechanical Cutting, Thermal Cutting/Gouging, Brazing/Braze Welding
• Non-destructive examination (NDE) methods (VT, MT, UT, PT, RT, LT)
• Welding safety practices and duties/responsibilities of a CWI
• Welding symbols and engineering drawings
• Calculations related to welding

Part B – Practical: This hands-on test evaluates your ability to visually identify welding discontinuities and determine whether a weld meets acceptance criteria. It's a crucial component demonstrating practical competence.

Part C – Code Book Applications: This open-book exam assesses your familiarity with and ability to apply relevant welding codes. It requires you to understand and interpret code requirements for specific applications.

Passing Score: A minimum of 72% is required to pass each part of the CWI exam.

Resources for Preparation: Thorough preparation is key to success. Refer to the AWS Certification and Qualification Standards, available for free on the AWS website:

• [QC1:2016-AMD1 - Specification for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors](link to AWS QC1)
• [B5.1:2013-AMD1 - Specification for the Qualification of Welding Inspectors](link to AWS B5.1)

In this course, you will gain expertise in:

• Welding Processes: Develop a complete understanding of various welding processes, including:
  • Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
  • Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
  • Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
  • Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
  • Submerged Arc Welding (SAW)
  • Plasma Arc Welding (PAW)
  • Resistance Welding (RW)
  • Oxyfuel Welding (OFW)
  • Electron Beam Welding (EBW)
  • Laser Beam Welding (LBW)
  • Thermal Spraying
  • Soldering
  • Brazing/Braze Welding
• Welding Metallurgy: Gain in-depth knowledge of welding metallurgy, covering:
  • Structure of Metals (BCC, FCC, HCP)
  • Grain Boundaries and Solid Solutions
  • Phase Transformations
  • Copper-Silver Phase Diagram
  • Welding of Precipitation-Hardening Alloys
  • Aluminum Alloys
  • Heat Treatment of Steels
  • Iron-Carbon Equilibrium Diagram
  • Isothermal Transformation (TTT Diagram)
  • Heat Affected Zone (HAZ)
• Non-Destructive Testing (NDT): Understand the fundamental principles of various NDT methods, including:
  • Visual Testing (VT)
  • Magnetic Particle Testing (MT)
  • Ultrasonic Testing (UT)
  • Penetrant Testing (PT)
  • Radiographic Testing (RT)
  • Liquid Penetrant Testing (LT)
• Quality Procedures & Audits: Learn about quality procedures and quality audits/surveillance.
• Material Compliance: Understand base material and filler metal compliance requirements.
• Documentation: Master the importance of filler metal storage, handling, inspection records, and verification of proper documentation.
• Compatibility: Ensure base material and filler metal compatibility.
• Procedure Qualification: Understand certification of documented results and compliance, procedure qualification records, and welding procedure compliance.
• Safety: Comprehend applicable safety requirements in the workplace as per International Standards.

This course provides a comprehensive foundation for the CWI certification, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to excel in the welding inspection field.