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American Welding Society (AWS) Certifications for WELDING INSPECTOR WELDING ENGINEER

EDUCATION

THIRUNAVUKARASU.H13MY12

WELDING INSPECTOR

• In today’s world there is increasing emphasis on the need for quality.

• Weld quality is an important part of the quality effort. • This concern for product quality is due to several factors,

including economics, safety, government regulations, global competition, and the use of less conservative designs.

• In reality, many people participate in the creation of a quality welded product.

• The welding inspector is one of the “front line” individuals who must check to see if all of the required manufacturing steps have been completed properly.

WELDING INSPECTOR AND CERTIFICATION

• Section 4 of “AWS QC1, Standard for Qualification and Certification of Welding Inspectors.” outlines the various responsibilities of the welding inspector.

• A successful quality control program begins before the first arc is struck.

• Before welding, the inspector will check drawings and specifications to determine such information as the configuration of the component, its specific weld quality requirements, and what degree of inspection is required.

• Once welding begins, the welding inspector may observe various processing steps to assure that they are done properly.

• Final inspection should simply confirm the success of those operations.

WELDING INSPECTOR AND CERTIFICATION

• The ten modules listed below are sources for examination information.

• Module 1 : Welding Inspection & Certification• Module 2 : Safe Practices for Welding

Inspectors• Module 3 : Metal Joining and Cutting Processes• Module 4 : Weld Joint Geometry and Symbols• Module 5 : Documents Governing Welding

Inspection and Qualification

WELDING INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION

• Module 6 : Metal Properties and Destructive Testing• Module 7 : Metric Practice for Welding Inspection• Module 8 : Welding Metallurgy for the Welding

Inspector• Module 9 : Weld and Base Metal Discontinuities• Module 10 : Visual Inspection and Other NDE Methods

CERTIFICATION• The American Society for NondestructiveTesting has issued guidelines for certification of NDE personnel in ASNT SNT TC-1A. • This document describes the recommended procedures for certifying inspectors performing nondestructive testing. ASNT recognizes three levels of certification, Levels I, II, and III.

• The document AWS QC-G, Guide to AWS Qualification and Certification, provides the necessary applications and background information.

• AWS QC-1 Standard for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors establishes the requirements for AWS certification of welding inspection personnel, describes how personnel are qualified, lists the principles of conduct, and notes the practice by which certification may be maintained.

• Experience: • Candidates with a high school education, either by diploma

or state or military equivalency, must have at least 5 years experience.

• With supporting documentation (e.g., copies of transcripts, reference letters, credited hours of training, quarter hours or semester hours) up to two years of work experience may be substituted for post high school educational experience. Substituted educational experience includes as Associate or higher degree in engineering, physics or physical science and welding technology.

• Trade and vocational courses can be applied to work experience substitution for completed courses related to welding (up to one year maximum).

• Individuals with eighth grade schooling are required to have not less than 10 years job experience to qualify for the examination.

• For individuals with less than eighth grade schooling, not less than 15 years is required.

• A subordinate level of qualification is the Certified Associate Welding Inspector (CAWI), which requires fewer years of experience for each educational level.

• Individuals who qualify for the Certified Welding Inspector Examination take a three-part examination.

• Part A – Fundamentals. • The Fundamental examination is a closed book

test consisting of 150 multiple choice questions. • The topics covered in this portion of the exam

include reports and records, destructive tests, welding performance, duties and responsibilities, weld examination, definitions and terminology, safety, welding and nondestructive examination symbols, nondestructive examination methods welding processes, heat control, metallurgy, mathematical conversions and calculations.

• Part B – Practical. • The Practical examination consists of 46 questions. • It requires measurement of weld replicas with provided

measuring tools, and evaluation in accordance with a supplied “Book of Specifications”.

• Not all questions require the use of the Book of Specifications; they do require the individual to answer from practical knowledge.

• The Practical Test covers welding procedures, welder qualification, mechanical tests and properties, welding inspection and flaws, and nondestructive test. Test candidates should be familiar with fillet and butt weld gages, micrometer, dial calipers, and machinist’s scale.

• Part C – Open Book Code. • This portion consists of 46 questions on the code the

individual has selected for this part of the examination. • AWS D1.1. • API 1104. • ASME B31.1. • ASME Section VIII. • ASME Section IX. • MIL-STD-1689 (SH) (83). • MIL-STD-248D(89).

• The passing score in each part for the CWI is 72 percent; the passing for CAWI is 50 percent.

• Part of the welding inspector’s job is there view and interpretation of various documents relating to the welded fabrication.

• This requires that the individual have a full understanding of the proper terms and definitions that are used.

• ANSI/AWS A3.0 was developed by the Committee on Definitions and Symbols to aid in welding information communication.

• When non-standard terms are mentioned, they appear in parentheses after the preferred words.

• While most of the terms used apply to the actual welding operation, it is important for the welding inspector to understand other definitions which apply to other related operations.

Certified Welding Engineer• A person with the demonstrated education, experience, and

knowledge as defined by this information and who successfully passes the required examinations is considered qualified as an AWS Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng).

• The CWEng is capable of directing those operations associated with weldments and other types of joints that are completed in accordance with the appropriate contract documents, codes, and other standards to produce a satisfactory product.

Quality Assurance, Quality Control, and Welding/Joining Economics.

• The AWS CWEng is knowledgeable in all aspects of quality control.• The AWS CWEng shall understand procedure and welder performance

qualification, including destructive and nondestructive testing.• The AWS CWEng is capable of performing visual inspection of welds and

specifying the appropriate nondestructive examination, NDE, methods for a particular weldment.

• The AWS CWEng shall understand the advantages and limitations of NDE.• The AWS CWEng is familiar with the qualification requirements of NDE

personnel.• The AWS CWEng has a practical knowledge of manufacturing systems,

including material control, production scheduling, and quality assurance.• The AWS CWEng is able to evaluate the relative cost effectiveness of

competitive welding/joining processes.

AWS Standard for Certification of Welding Educators

• AWS QC 5-91 AWS Standard for Certification of Welding Educators5.1 A Certified Welding Educator (CWE) is a person certified by AWS as having met the qualification requirements of 5.1 and section 6. This shall be the only level of certification of Welding Educators.

• The following applies to each applicant for certification as a Certified Welding Educator (CWE): 5.1 The applicant shall be a high school graduate; or hold a state or military approved high school equivalency diploma.1

• 5.2The applicant shall have no less than five years experience in an occupational function that has a direct relationship to weldments fabricated to a code or standard and shall be directly involved in one or more of the following:

• (1) Production. Planning and control of weldingmaterials, welding procedures and welding operations for weldments.

• (2) Construction. Welding, fabrication and erection of weldments.

• (3) Inspection. Detection and measurements of weld discontinuities and the verification of fabrication requirements.

• (4) Repair. Repair of welds that were found to be defective.

• 5.3The applicant shall submit written verification of documented employment with the application. This verification shall be completed and signed by the applicant's most recent employment supervisor or the appropriate personnel department staff.

• 5.4 The applicant shall be able to explain and demonstrate the welding and cutting processes to be taught.

• 5.5The applicant shall be thoroughly familiar and capable of performing the duties described in section 4, Function.

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Welding Occupations Requiring a High School Education

• Welding operator• Welding fitter• Combination welder• Master welder• Welding supervisor• Welding analyst• Inspector• Welding foreman

• Welding superintendent

• Equipment sales• Sales demonstrator• Sales troubleshooter• Welding instructor• Robotics welder

operator• Jog or fabrication shop

owner

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Welding Occupations Requiring a College Education

• Welding engineer(metallurgical)

• Welding development engineer

• Welding research engineer

• Welding engineer

• Technical editor• Welding professor • Certified welding

inspector (AWS/CWI)• Corporation executive• Owner of welding

business• Sales engineer