AWS Certified Welding Inspector Exam Practice Test

167 questions available

Build your confidence for AWS Certified Welding Inspector Exam. Practice the concepts, understand the answers, and strengthen your knowledge one question at a time.

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167 Practice questions
2 hours 47 minutes Practice Time
Try 5 free questions
No account needed. A free account includes 20 questions for this exam.
The bar to clear Pass/fail; specific passing thresholds not publicly disclosed Published passing score for this certification.
Official objectives from American Welding Society
AWS - American Welding Society167 practice questionsBank updated 2026-07-24

Exam overview and details

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

Choose an answer and explore the explanation to see how practice works.

Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)
Scenario

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?

Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)

In the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) process, the primary function of the inert shielding gas is to:

Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)

Place the following steps for performing a standard Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT) examination in the correct chronological order. 1. Apply developer 2. Apply penetrant 3. Clean excess penetrant 4. Visual inspection 5. Surface preparation and cleaning

Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)
Scenario

Process Selection A fabricator is welding 1/2-inch thick carbon steel plates in the flat (1G) position for a structural application requiring high deposition rates. The joint design is a single-V groove. The environment is a shop with good ventilation.

Based on this scenario, which two welding processes would be MOST suitable and efficient for this application?

Part B - Procedure and Welder Qualifications

At a structural steel fabricator, inspector Nguyen is reviewing weld W-2200 on day 10 of a CWI practice rotation. The packet references AWS Part B inspection tool kit, drawing revision R2, and a WPS that was issued before the night shift changed fit-up practice. Ambient temperature is 55 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 missing essential variable on WPS. Which response best matches CWI exam practice and the applicable inspection logic?

Career Opportunities & Salary

Median salary: $53,750– Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 -- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (SOC 51-4121), US national. Occupation median, not a certification salary. (2025)

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Exam insights and study advice

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.

These are the backgrounds the certifying body suggests. Check the vendor's own page for anything it formally requires.

What this exam covers

Use the published domain weights to plan your study. Practice results do not predict your certification exam score.

01Codes and Standards

34%

02Welding Inspection Fundamentals

33%

03Welding Processes and Metallurgy

33%

Exam Details CWI | $895 USD

Exam Code CWI
Vendor AWS - American Welding Society
Exam Cost $895 USD
Passing Score Pass/fail; specific passing thresholds not publicly disclosed
Question TypesMultiple Choice, Open-book Multiple Choice (Codes section)
Retake Policy 30-day waiting period between attempts. Unlimited retakes allowed. Full fee required for each attempt. CWI: must pass all 3 parts within 1 year of passing the first part.
Exam Format Linear (computer-based at AWS approved sites or Pearson VUE test centers)
Exam rules CWI Fundamentals: closed-book. Practical Application: closed-book. Codes and Standards: open-book (current code book required). No electronic devices except CWI-approved calculators. All 3 CWI parts must be passed within 1 year of first passing attempt.
Available In
English

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the experience requirements to sit for the CWI exam?

How long should I prepare for the exam?

Is the exam open book?

What is the pass/fail structure?

How long is the certification valid, and how do I renew it?