AWS Certified Welding Inspector Exam Practice Test
Preparation for AWS CWI covering welding processes, metallurgy, weld symbols, visual inspection, welding codes and standards, destructive and nondestructive testing. Administered by American Welding Society as a linear (computer-based at aws approved sites or pearson vue test centers) format exam. Key domains include Codes and Standards, Welding Inspection Fundamentals and Welding Processes and Metallurgy.
Sample Questions
Try a few questions to see what the full exam is like.
At a food-grade stainless line, inspector Morgan is reviewing weld W-2204 on day 14 of a CWI practice rotation. The packet references AWS Part B inspection tool kit, drawing revision R6, and a WPS that was issued before the night shift changed fit-up practice. Ambient temperature is 83 deg F, the crew is behind schedule, and the foreman says the same condition passed on a different job. Part B is open book and practical, so the candidate must use the BOS, exhibits, specimens, and tools. The issue in front of you is unlisted backing change. Which response best matches CWI exam practice and the applicable inspection logic?
At a pressure-piping module shop, inspector Patel is reviewing weld W-2191 on day 25 of a CWI practice rotation. The packet references AWS Part B weld replica set, drawing revision R5, and a WPS that was issued before the night shift changed fit-up practice. Ambient temperature is 76 deg F, the crew is behind schedule, and the foreman says the same condition passed on a different job. Part B is open book and practical, so the candidate must use the BOS, exhibits, specimens, and tools. The issue in front of you is missed start crater in a multi-pass weld. Which response best matches CWI exam practice and the applicable inspection logic?
At a structural steel fabricator, inspector Nguyen is reviewing weld W-2120 on day 26 of a CWI practice rotation. The packet references AWS B1.10 NDE guidance, drawing revision R6, and a WPS that was issued before the night shift changed fit-up practice. Ambient temperature is 83 deg F, the crew is behind schedule, and the foreman says the same condition passed on a different job. Part A is closed book, so the candidate must apply fundamentals without looking up a table. The issue in front of you is crater cracks. Which response best matches CWI exam practice and the applicable inspection logic?
At a pressure-piping module shop, inspector Patel is reviewing weld W-2215 on day 25 of a CWI practice rotation. The packet references AWS Part B weld replica set, drawing revision R5, and a WPS that was issued before the night shift changed fit-up practice. Ambient temperature is 76 deg F, the crew is behind schedule, and the foreman says the same condition passed on a different job. Part B is open book and practical, so the candidate must use the BOS, exhibits, specimens, and tools. The issue in front of you is revision mismatch. Which response best matches CWI exam practice and the applicable inspection logic?
Bridge Girder Inspection During the fabrication of a steel bridge girder, a CWI is inspecting a full penetration groove weld in a butt joint between two 1-inch thick A36 plates. The weld was made using the Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) process. The visual inspection reveals a smooth, uniform weld face that is slightly recessed below the surface of the base metal.
Which of the following terms BEST describes the observed weld face contour?
Career Opportunities & Salary
Why This Certification Opens Doors
In the real world, the integrity of welds is non-negotiable. A single undetected flaw can lead to catastrophic structural failure, environmental damage, or loss of life. The CWI credential provides a standardized benchmark of expertise that owners, contractors, and regulatory bodies rely on to ensure safety, reliability, and code compliance in everything from skyscrapers and bridges to pipelines and pressure vessels. Holding this certification means you possess the proven, practical knowledge to safeguard projects, mitigate risk, and uphold the highest standards of quality in the welding industry.
Recommended
These are the backgrounds the certifying body suggests. Check the vendor's own page for anything it formally requires.
Exam Blueprint
Each domain is weighted to match the real certification exam, so a full practice simulation predicts your result.