Prepare for the American Welding Society Certified Welding Educator (CWE) credential by reviewing fundamentals and practising how to explain a measurement decision. Check the exam and prior-results routes, use the current official topic guides, and work the complete paper exercise below.
Which CWE route applies to you?
The exam route uses Part A fundamentals and Part B practical inspection. A separate non-exam application can use qualifying prior CWI Part A and B results.
CWE is a credential for welding educators. AWS QC5 and B5.5 describe the certification and qualification requirements. The current CWE user guide defines the two-part exam route; there is no additional Part C requirement for CWE.
Earlier CWI Part A and B scores of at least 60% on each can support the non-exam route. You still need the separate CWE application, Instructor Credentials form, required welder certification or test record and applicable eligibility evidence.
Sources checked: AWS CWE Examination User Guide (revised 09.30.2025) — Official exam guide: process, eligibility, exam parts, policies, appendices; AWS QC5-91, Standard for Certification of Welding Educators — Sections 5-6 (eligibility, examination), 8 (ethics), 11 (renewal); AWS B5.5:2000, Specification for the Qualification of Welding Educators — Foreword, Section 5 (function, skills, knowledge)
What eligibility evidence do you need?
The standard route requires a high school diploma or equivalent and five years of relevant experience in work related to welding codes or standards.
The listed work functions include production, construction, inspection and repair. Submit the CWE Instructor Credentials form and a valid welder certification or test record for the process you intend to teach.
QC5 describes limited credit for relevant postsecondary education or teaching experience, with documentation. Confirm your individual credit with AWS before relying on a reduced work requirement; do not assume the separate credit provisions can be added together.
Sources checked: AWS CWE Examination User Guide (revised 09.30.2025) — Official exam guide: process, eligibility, exam parts, policies, appendices; AWS QC5-91, Standard for Certification of Welding Educators — Sections 5-6 (eligibility, examination), 8 (ethics), 11 (renewal)
What should you expect on Parts A and B?
Take Part B before Part A. The CWE passing requirement is at least 60% on each part; the CWI’s 72% standard is a separate requirement.
Part A’s 15 unscored pretest items are included in its total of 165 delivered questions. Part B uses supplied inspection materials; it is not a live welding performance test.
| Part | Format and questions | Question time | Reference policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| A: Fundamentals | Computer-based test at Prometric; 165 total, with 150 scored and 15 unscored pretest items | 135 minutes | Closed book |
| B: Practical | Paper and hands-on inspection examination at an AWS-approved site; 46 questions | 120 minutes | Supplied Book of Specifications and exam materials |
Sources checked: AWS CWE Examination User Guide (revised 09.30.2025) — Official exam guide: process, eligibility, exam parts, policies, appendices; AWS QC5-91, Standard for Certification of Welding Educators — Sections 5-6 (eligibility, examination), 8 (ethics), 11 (renewal); AWS CWI Part A Fundamentals Exam Info (Rev. 03.01.2024) — Test specifications, question count, timing, passing score; AWS CWI Part B Practical Exam Info Guide (Rev. 03.01.2024) — Domains, materials, question count, timing
What should you study for each part?
Use the current Part A and B content guides as coverage checklists, together with the CWE user guide’s self-study references.
NDE means nondestructive examination. The table summarizes topics and suggests study tasks. The educator standards also cover instruction planning, evaluating training and qualification for the processes taught; these are not a separate weighted exam section.
The public Part B Book of Specifications is available from AWS for preparation. Read it alongside the content guide; the exam supplies the exhibits, replicas and inspection tool kit. For other reading, check Appendix E of the current CWE guide before choosing editions. A self-study reference is not automatically permitted in the exam room.
| Part | Areas to review | A useful study task |
|---|---|---|
| A | Terminology; welding and cutting processes; symbols and print reading; weld examination; NDE; safety; metallurgy and heat control; equipment; calculations; inspector duties; destructive tests | Explain a concept or work a calculation, then check the reasoning against an appropriate technical reference. |
| B | Inspection and discontinuities; procedure and welder qualification; mechanical tests and properties; NDE; specifications and drawings | Identify a supplied criterion, its units and evidence, then explain whether the stated value meets it. |
Sources checked: AWS CWE Examination User Guide (revised 09.30.2025) — Official exam guide: process, eligibility, exam parts, policies, appendices; AWS QC5-91, Standard for Certification of Welding Educators — Sections 5-6 (eligibility, examination), 8 (ethics), 11 (renewal); AWS B5.5:2000, Specification for the Qualification of Welding Educators — Foreword, Section 5 (function, skills, knowledge); AWS CWI Part A Fundamentals Exam Info (Rev. 03.01.2024) — Test specifications, question count, timing, passing score; AWS CWI Part B Practical Exam Info Guide (Rev. 03.01.2024) — Domains, materials, question count, timing
Practise explaining a boundary-value decision
Compare each supplied value with both limits, then ask the learner to explain the reasoning. An inclusive range allows its endpoints.
This original paper exercise uses an invented criterion and exact supplied values. It is a teaching prompt, not an AWS limit or a complete weld-acceptance decision.
Practice exercise
A fictional training worksheet gives one permitted range for a measured dimension: 0.8 mm through 1.2 mm, inclusive. Treat the supplied values as exact. Learner A reports 0.7 mm, learner B reports 1.0 mm and learner C reports 1.2 mm. Which values meet this criterion? Give each learner one follow-up question that checks their reasoning.
Show answer
A does not meet the criterion: 0.7 mm is below 0.8 mm. B meets it because 1.0 mm is within the range. C also meets it because 1.2 mm is an included endpoint. Ask A: “What is the minimum, including its units?” Ask B: “How does your value compare with both limits?” Ask C: “Which word permits a value equal to the upper limit?”
The values and limits all use millimeters, so compare them directly. Check both bounds rather than only the upper limit. The three follow-up questions assess the lower boundary, the two-sided comparison and the inclusive endpoint. Each finding concerns only the invented criterion; a broader acceptance decision needs the other applicable requirements and evidence.
Sources checked: AWS CWE Examination User Guide (revised 09.30.2025) — Official exam guide: process, eligibility, exam parts, policies, appendices; AWS QC5-91, Standard for Certification of Welding Educators — Sections 5-6 (eligibility, examination), 8 (ethics), 11 (renewal); AWS CWI Part B Practical Exam Info Guide (Rev. 03.01.2024) — Domains, materials, question count, timing
How can you make each study session useful?
Turn missed or guessed answers into a specific follow-up task. Explaining a decision to another learner can reveal steps you skipped.
- Map each practice error to a Part A or B topic and identify the concept, calculation or reference you need to revisit.
- For fundamentals, explain the answer in your own words and check it against the selected reference.
- For practical interpretation, locate the criterion and state its units and boundary wording before comparing a value.
- Use the worked exercise to check that your explanation answers every part of the prompt.
- Review the full content guides, including unfamiliar topics; a practice percentage does not guarantee the official result.
Sources checked: AWS CWE Examination User Guide (revised 09.30.2025) — Official exam guide: process, eligibility, exam parts, policies, appendices; AWS QC5-91, Standard for Certification of Welding Educators — Sections 5-6 (eligibility, examination), 8 (ethics), 11 (renewal); AWS CWI Part A Fundamentals Exam Info (Rev. 03.01.2024) — Test specifications, question count, timing, passing score; AWS CWI Part B Practical Exam Info Guide (Rev. 03.01.2024) — Domains, materials, question count, timing
What should you check before booking?
Confirm the current application route and fee with AWS or the applicable international agent. Check the required documents and appointment instructions for your location.
Use your confirmation letter and eligibility code for the computer-based appointment, and keep the required order of taking Part B before Part A. Verify identification, arrival and permitted-equipment rules in the current instructions.
Sources checked: AWS CWE Examination User Guide (revised 09.30.2025) — Official exam guide: process, eligibility, exam parts, policies, appendices
Sources checked
Facts checked against AWS documents:
- AWS CWE Examination User Guide (revised 09.30.2025)
- AWS QC5-91, Standard for Certification of Welding Educators
- AWS B5.5:2000, Specification for the Qualification of Welding Educators
- AWS CWI Part A Fundamentals Exam Info (Rev. 03.01.2024)
- AWS CWI Part B Practical Exam Info Guide (Rev. 03.01.2024)
- AWS Certified Welding Educator (CWE) Program page