A lot of people ask me about becoming a CWI. Here is my recommendations which has become a proven path to success. 1. Make sure you qualify to become an American Welding Society Certified Welding Inspector by checking at aws.org/certification/CWI/ and click on the CWI EXAM APPLICATION link. 2. Get yourself a membership to American Welding Society. At the time you buy your membership you get to choose a book for $35 , I HIGHLY recommend the Welding Inspectors Handbook as it will be the first book to set you on your way to becoming a CWI. Also when they ask you how you heard of membership, please use my name and my member number 2031544 3. Decide on the code book you wish to test on ( usual cost is about $150-$400 depending on the code book you wish to certify on ) for AWS Code books use the AWS book store ( after you have bought your membership to take advantage of the discounts, the discounts more then pay for the cost of membership) 4. Contact Real Educational Services and sign up for their 10 day class ($1625 ) you can put a deposit down ($200 ) and get your precourse study guide. 5. You will need an eye exam ($20-75 depending on where you go ) 6. You will need a passport photo ($15 at any CVS or Walgreens) 7. A notary public to stamp your application ($7 and up depending on where you go ) 8. $850 for your AWS CWI TEST 9. Plan on failing at least 1 part of the 3 part test, have $275 and some travel money put back in case you do I have seen a lot of people fail the test by 1-4 questions on one part. As soon as you get your results either you passed and got that extra money to celebrate with or you reschedule the test part you failed and retake it as soon as possible. You will usually ace it the second go around because you do not have the pressures of the other 2 test over your head. If the class and test location is not near you, go alone to a hotel near the class, do not take your wife, girlfriend or kids with you, you do not have time or need the distraction as you will have 3-6 hours of homework every night and about 30 hours of homework on the weekend. Stay focused as this is a VERY hard test if you lose focus. I do not recommend the AWS CWI classes, they are 5 days and cheaper BUT they also have a HIGH fail ratio. The test is a 3 part test Part A is fundamentals , a 150 question general knowledge test Part B is a bullcrap code, you can download it from the same page as the CWI application link is on , it blends together several codes you may already be familiar with, but is not a real code. This is also your hands on section of the test , be familiar with the various measuring gauges a welding inspector uses. And know what kind of defects you are looking at. ALSO ALMOST ALL your math is in this part of the test. Have you a good calculator , I highly recommend one from calculated such as the construction calculator ( you can find it at lowes and home depot also ) if you do a lot of pipe order you one from calculated for the pipeline. DO NOT buy the app for your phone as you are not allowed to take your phone in to the test with you. Part C is for the code book you are certifying to. It is an open book test so every question you are asked, you can put your finger on in the book. ( API 1104 test is full of trick bagging questions be sure of the question you just read befor you look it up , aws hates this test as most people choose this book because it is the smallest and easiest to remember, so they have come up with the brilliant idea to ask some real tricky questions) Best of luck in your endeavors The links below may also help you. Any questions feel free to message me on here AWS.ORG ( pay for aws membership first to save money on the books you buy, it pays for itself in savings alone ) global.ihs.org ( great source for non-aws books ) asnt.org ( NDT methods ) alot of jobs want these( you get a level II VT cert when you pass your CWI, all you got to do is paperwork and send them a little money and a cute little picture) NACE.ORG ( alot of jobs want this with a cwi )
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 03:46:14 +0000
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