CEMP-E
TI 809-26
1 March 2000
steel fabrication, or unless there is a specific reason to question the inspector's ability.
(2) The American Welding Society offers certification to welding inspectors in the form of Certified
Welding Inspectors, Certified Associate Welding Inspectors, and Certified Senior Welding Inspectors.
ANSI/AWS QC1-96, Standard for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors, governs the requirements
and testing of such inspectors, including experience level. The CWI examination tests the inspector's
knowledge of welding processes, welding procedures, welder qualification, destructive testing,
nondestructive testing, terms, definitions, symbols, reports, records, safety and responsibilities. Although
assumed to be competent to inspect welded construction, the AWS Certified Welding Inspector may not
have the background or expertise in other areas of steel construction such as general fabrication and
erection, bolted connections, steel bar joists, and metal decks, and additional education and training
relative to these areas may be needed. It should also be verified that the AWS Certified Welding
Inspector has tested, or is familiar with, the AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code. It is permitted to take
the AWS examinations using either the AWS D1.1, ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, or the API
1104 Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities code, and welding inspection experience may be in any
area of welding.
(3) AWS D1.1 does not recognize the AWS Certified Associate Welding Inspector as qualified to
perform the work solely based upon this certification. A CAWI has passed the same accreditation
examination as the CWI, but has less experience, with two years minimum experience rather than five
years, in the field of welding inspection. A CAWI could be acceptable under condition "c" as listed in
AWS D1.1 Section 6.1.4. The Senior Certified Welding Inspector is a new program offered by the AWS,
and this recent certification option has not been included in the AWS D1.1 code because of publication
schedules. A SCWI should be considered the equivalent of a CWI.
(4) Although AWS D1.1 allows inspector qualification without the CWI certification under AWS
QC1 criteria, it is recommended that the welding inspection personnel for critical welding be AWS QC1
certified (or previously certified) by experience and written examination.
(5) All welding inspectors must have adequate visual acuity, documented by vision testing
performed within the past three years. See AWS D1.1 Section 6.1.4.4.
b. NDT Personnel Qualification. Certification of all levels of NDT personnel is the responsibility of the
employer of the NDT technician. Nondestructive testing personnel should be qualified under the
American Society for Nondestructive Testing, Inc., ANSI/ASNT CP-189, ASNT Standard for Qualification
and Certification of Nondestructive Testing Personnel, or ASNT Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A,
Personnel Qualification and Certification in Nondestructive Testing.
(1) Certification of NDT personnel should be based on demonstration of satisfactory qualification in
accordance with Sections 6, 7 and 8 of ASNT SNT-TC-1A, as modified by the employer's written
practice, or in accordance with Sections 4, 5 and 6 of ANSI/ASNT CP-189. Employers may rely upon
outside training and testing for NDT personnel for certification, however, the employer should
supplement such certification testing with a review of the technician's experience and skill levels. It is
suggested that the certification of NDT personnel should be administered by an ASNT Certified Level III
in the specific area on NDT. Personnel certifications must be maintained on file by the employer and a
copy should be carried by the technician.
(2) AWS D1.1 Section 6.14.6 requires that nondestructive testing be performed by NDT Level II
technicians, or by Level I technicians only when working under the direct supervision of a Level II.
Inspection by a Level III technician is not recognized, as the Level III may not perform actual testing
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