AWS offers certification endorsement to CWIs/SCWIs to perform WPS qualifications

The American Welding Society (AWS), Miami, has introduced the welding procedure qualifier endorsement, developed for existing certified welding inspectors (CWIs) and senior certified welding inspectors (SCWIs) who want to conduct welding procedure specification (WPS) qualifications.

The WPS’s qualifying process is a mixture of engineering, metallurgy, welding capability, and inspection. To meet code requirements, the WPS must be properly qualified by a relevant engineering authority.

“While certified welding inspectors have a fundamental knowledge of WPS qualification, they require further training and assessment,” said Denny Smith, managing director of certification. “CWIs or SCWIs who hold the welding procedure qualifier endorsement have demonstrated that they are able to qualify WPSs with appropriate engineering oversight.”

Before sitting for the endorsement exam, candidates are encouraged to participate in either an in-person or online training seminar—16 hours of instruction provided in two and four days, respectively.

“Participants will learn how to assess project requirements, demonstrate knowledge of process variables and relevant documents, evaluate mechanical and nondestructive testing for procedure qualification purposes, prepare a PQR, establish ranges for prequalified WPSs, and list ranges for WPS qualified by testing,” said Alicia Garcia, director of education.