FAQs regarding the Welding Inspector Qualification Examination

FAQs regarding the Inspector Qualification Examination - Structural Welding

Is this a certification?

No. AWS B5.1 defines certification as "the act of determining, verifying and attesting in writing to the qualification of personnel in accordance with specified requirements." Likewise, qualification is defined as "demonstrate training, skill, knowledge and experience required for personnel to perform the duties of a specific job or function typically demonstrated by passing a performance test."

What’s the standard for the qualification of welding inspectors?

AWS B5.1:2003 Specification for the Qualification of Welding Inspectors, available for download here

What’s the standard for the certification of welding inspectors?

AWS QC1:2007 Standard for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors, available for download here

What’s the difference between these two standards?

AWS B5.1 describes the levels of qualification, the functions of inspectors. education and experience requirements, visual acuity requirements, and examination requirements - the type of exam and the body of knowledge. AWS QC1 refers to AWS B5.1 for the levels of qualification, functions of inspectors, education and experience requirements, and visual acuity requirements. Unlike AWS B5.1, AWS QC1 states the minimum number of questions and necessary correct percentage for certification for the examination in the format prescribed in AWS B5.1. AWS QC1 also provides the rules for AWS administration of their certifications, including renewals, and provides a code of ethics and rules of conduct.

How does this exam work?

It meets all the requirements of AWS B5.1, then implements the additional testing requirements of AWS QC1 clauses 6 and 7 for the number of questions and the required percentage of correct answers.

Does SSTC qualify the inspector, or does the employer do this?

AWS B5.1, clause 1.3 states “It shall be the responsibility of the employer to determine that the AWI / WI / SWI is capable of performing the duties involved in his/her particular welding inspection assignment.” SSTC’s Welding Inspector Qualification Exam provides a resource to assist the employer to determine competency, and document that competency to a national standard.

REQUIREMENTS FOR WELDING INSPECTION PERSONNEL

What are the minimum education and experience requirements for an Associate Welding Inspector?

According to AWS B5.1, clause 5.1, an Associate Welding Inspector (AWI) must be a high school graduate, or hold a state or military approved high school equivalency diploma (GED), and have a minimum of two years experience in an occupational function with a direct relationship to weldments fabricated to national or international standards directly involved in one or more specific areas. Alternatives are provided for other both higher and lower levels of formal education.

What are the minimum education and experience requirements for a Welding Inspector?

According to AWS B5.1, clause 5.2, a Welding Inspector (WI) must be a high school graduate, or hold a state or military approved high school equivalency diploma (GED), and have a minimum of five years experience in an occupational function with a direct relationship to weldments fabricated to national or international standards directly involved in one or more specific areas. Alternatives are provided for other both higher and lower levels of formal education.

What direct involvement in weldments counts toward this experience?

It is the responsibility of the employer to document experience for those considered for qualification as welding inspection personnel. AWS B5.1, clause 5.5, provides for the following experience:
✓ Development of plans, drawings, procedures, inspection requirements, acceptance criteria, and specifications for weldments
✓ Planning, control, supervision, and application of base metals and filler metals in the preparation and completion of production weldments
✓ Fabrication, construction, and supervision of personnel in erection of welded assemblies or subassemblies
✓ Detection and measurement of weld discontinuities by application of visual or other nondestructive evaluation processes to a written procedure
✓ Supervision of personnel engaged in material and weld examination
✓ Repair welding, or supervision of personnel performing weld repairs
✓ Preparation of written procedures for welding, nondestructive evaluation, or destructive tests
✓ Qualification of welders or welding procedures to various codes, standards and specifications
✓ Welding design functions, as specified in the applicable code, standard or specification
✓ Operational techniques and activities used to fulfill quality control requirements for weldments
✓ Using a quality system
✓ Teaching the occupational skill of welding or subjects related to welding; its application, control, materials, and processes

What visual acuity requirements must be met?

AWS B5.1, clause 6.1, requires welding inspectors of all levels to pass an eye examination, with or without corrective lenses, to prove near vision acuity on Jaeger J2 at not less than 12 inches. A color perception test must be taken, but it is not necessary to pass the color perception test.

CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR INSPECTOR QUALIFICATION

Does AWS D1.1 require certification or qualification?

Qualification. AWS D1.1:2006 (and other recent versions), clause 6.1.4.1 on Inspector Qualification Requirements - Basis for Qualification, states the following:

“Inspectors responsible for acceptance or rejection of material and workmanship shall be qualified. The bases of Inspector qualification shall be documented. If the Engineer elects to specify the bases of inspector qualification, it shall be so specified in contract documents.
The acceptable qualification basis shall be the following:
(1) Current or previous certification as an AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) in conformance with the provisions of AWS QC1, Standard for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors, or
(2) Current or previous qualification by the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) in conformance with the requirements of the Canadian Standard Association (CSA) Standard W178.2, Certification of Welding Inspectors, or
(3) An individual who, by training or experience, or both, in metals fabrication, inspection and testing, is competent to perform inspection of the work.”

In addition, AWS D1.1 clause 6.1.4.5 states “The Engineer shall have authority to verify the qualification of Inspectors.”

The difficulty lies in documenting the competency of those inspectors who do not have the certifications listed in (1) or (2). The SSTC Welding Inspector Qualification Examination provides a mean for the employer to document competency to an accepted national standard - AWS B5.1.

Does the International Building Code require certification or qualification?

Section 1704.1 on Special Inspections - General states:

“The special inspector shall be a qualified person who shall demonstrate competence, to the satisfaction of the building official, for inspection of the particular type of construction or operation requiring special inspection.”

In addition, for Approved Agencies to do inspections, section 1703.1.3 on Personnel states:

“An approved agency shall employ experienced personnel educated in conducting, supervising and evaluating tests and/or inspections.”

As in AWS, the difficulty lies in documenting the competency of those inspectors. The SSTC Welding Inspector Qualification Examination provides a mean for the employer to document competency to an accepted national standard - AWS B5.1.

Do any other codes and standards reference AWS B5.1 for welding inspection personnel qualification?

Both the 2005 AISC Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings and the AWS D1.8 Structural Welding Code - Seismic Supplement:2005 reference qualification to AWS B5.1.

The AISC Seismic Provisions, in Appendix W, states:

“W3.1. QC Welding Inspectors. QC welding inspection personnel shall be associate welding inspectors (AWI) or higher, as defined in AWS B5.1 Standard for the Qualification of Welding Inspectors, or otherwise qualified under the provisions of AWS D1.1 Section 6.1.4 and to the satisfaction of the contractor’s QC plan by the fabricator/erector.
W3.2. QA Welding Inspectors. QA welding inspectors shall be welding inspectors (WI), or senior welding inspectors (SWI), as defined in AWS B5.1, except AWIs may be used under the direct supervision of WIs, on site and available when weld inspection is being conducted.”

AWS D1.8:2005 cites the following for quality assurance (verification) inspectors:

“7.2.1 QA Welding Inspector Qualifications. QA Welding Inspectors shall be qualified in accordance with one or more of the following:
(1) Welding Inspectors (WIs), or Senior Welding Inspectors (SWIs), as defined in AWS B5.1:2003, Standard for the Qualification of Welding Inspectors, except Associate Welding Inspectors (AWIs) may be used under the direct supervision of WIs, who are on site and available when weld inspection is being conducted, or ...”

Also, AWS D1.8:2005 cites the following for quality control (fabrication and erection) inspectors:

“7.2.3 Quality Control (QC) Welding Inspector Qualifications. QC welding inspection personnel shall be Associate Welding Inspectors (AWI) or higher as defined in AWS B5.1:2003, or otherwise qualified under the provisions of AWS D1.1/D1.1M subclause 6.1.4, and to the satisfaction of the Contractor’s QC program.”

THE INSPECTOR QUALIFICATION EXAMINATION

What’s the passing score for the exam?

SSTC will provide the employer the grade for each part of the exam. The employer is ultimately responsible to establish the necessary knowledge, skills and experience for qualification. AWS QC1:2007 gives 72% correct as the minimum passing score for each component of the exam for one to be considered at the level of Welding Inspector. For Associate Welding Inspector, 60% would be considered the minimum passing score.

What proctoring must the employer do in administering the examination to the employee?

Make sure the employee does not use unauthorized reference (or other) material for those portions of the exam that limit the use of reference material. Make sure the employee does the exam himself or herself, without technical assistance from others. Limit the time allotment for each portion of the exam as specified.

What study materials should be used in preparing for the exam?

AWS D1.1: 2004 or 2006 or 2008 Structural Welding Code: Steel

AWS A2.4:1998 or 2007 Standard Symbols for Welding, Brazing and Nondestructive Examination

AWS A3.0:2001 Standard Definitions; including Terms for Adhesive Bonding, Brazing, Soldering, Thermal Cutting, and Thermal Spraying

AWS WI:2000 Welding Inspection Handbook

AWS WIT-T: 2000 Welding Inspection Technology Seminar Reference Text

(order all of above AWS texts from www.aws.org )

AISC Design Guide 21: Welded Connections--A Primer for Engineers (order here)

Lincoln Electric Co. - Fabricator and Erector’s Guide to Welded Steel Construction (download here)

How much time is needed for the exam?

Neither AWS B5.1 nor AWS QC1 specify the time in testing. Typically, the Fundamentals portion of the exam (150 questions or so) is two hours. The Code Applications portion and the Practical Applications portion are also typically two hours each. More time can be allotted if desired by the employer, especially if the candidate for qualification needs extra time because of reading ability or because English is not the candidate’s first language.

What if the candidate fails to pass a portion of the exam?

Under AWS B5,1, clause 6.2, a person who fails one or more parts of the three-part examination must retake all parts. A discounted fee is available for re-tests. AWS QC1 clause 6.2.5 allows for one retest in the first year without additional training. If the candidate fails the second test, then training must be provided before retesting.