A Step-by-Step Guideline on How to Become a CSWIP 3.1 Certified Welding Inspector

CSWIP is an international scheme accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). CSWIP scheme certifies and assures personnel competence to ISO/IEC 17024. For instance, personnel engaged in welding, joining, materials integrity and inspection in manufacturing, construction, operation or repair of high integrity structures, plant or machinery.

A certified CSWIP 3.1 welding inspector is simply a welding inspector with certain experience and criteria which is approved by CSWIP through a specific requirement to enter the exam in accordance to BS EN ISO 17637:2016. The requirement can be found in the TWI website or download through this link.

Here are the step by step guideline to become a certified CSWIP 3.1 Welding Inspector;

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Step 1 – Gain Experience

To be certified, you should have experience in the related area. If you don’t have any experience, find yourself a job related to welding or welding inspection. It is easier if you have an educational background in mechanical engineering but not necessarily.

There are 3 criteria of jobs experience and its period that are accepted by CSWIP to qualified for the CSWIP 3.1 exam. Either one is acceptable;

1. A minimum of 3 years welding inspection experiences related to the duties and responsibilities in the area such as;
   1.1 Post weld visual inspection, welding process, parent metal identification, welding consumable identification, pre-weld inspection, preheating process, in-process welding surveillance.
   1.2 The experience should also include supervision of the above activities, welding procedures, witnessing of welder and procedure approval test, welder approval, Post weld heat treatment and preparation of reports.
2. If you hold a CSWIP 3.0 Visual Welding Inspector Certification, then only a minimum of 2 years of experience is necessary with job responsibilities in the area mention in 1.1 above.
3. If you hold a CSWIP Welding Instructor or Welding Foreman / Supervisor with experience related to all of the above, then only a minimum of one year experience is needed.

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Step 2 – Choose Your Preferred Training and Examination Center

Now that you have the necessary experience needed, it is time to proceed to the next step.

CSWIP 3.1 training and examination are provided either by International institutions such as The Welding Institute (TWI) or local institutions. You can locate these institution with a simple Google search set to your locality.

For TWI, the fee for CSWIP 3.1 training and examination is approximately USD2,000 depends on which country you’re in. Other local institution might offer a slightly different fee and some even offered free training and examination because the local government sponsored it. Nonetheless TWI is the most popular choice because of it’s great facilities and recognition worldwide.

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Step 3 – Register for the Course and Exam

If you decided to register with TWI, here’s what you need to do;

1. Visit the TWI website to check the available date for the course, exam, and fees. Fill in your country and date of training. After that click the ‘more info‘ link of your preferred date and location.
   
2. On the ‘more info’ link, you can see the course detail and pricing. Click the ‘Course Enrollment Form’ on the bottom left to download your registration form.
   
3. Fill in the form and attach your resume with it. Your resume should have the detail of your experience verified by either your previous or present employer.
4. Make payment to TWI as per instruction in the form.
5. The completed form should be post or email to the address provided in the Form.
6. Take note that the CSWIP 3.1 training course is mandatory prior to the examination, however, enrollment on this course does not constitute the reservation of an examination. You must choose a date of the exam.

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Step 4 – Attend the Course 

To be able to sit for the exam, it is mandatory for you to attend the course first. TWI will confirm the date with you through e-mail or phone call upon successful registration and payment.

Up until the year 2018, the course content is as presented below:

• The course will teach you about the duties and responsibilities of a welding inspector including fusion welding processes, typical weld defects, types of, the hardening of steels, weldability, heat treatment and parent metal defects.
• The program also includes visual inspection, the testing of parent metals and welds, and destructive and non-destructive test techniques.
• You will also learn welder and procedure approval, codes and standards, and an outline of safe working practices.
• There will also be the opportunity to practice examination questions while undergoing continuous and end-of-course assessment.

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Step 5 – Attend the Examination

The format for the examination is in Multiple Choice Question.
They are as follow;

• 30 General Multiple-Choice Questions to be answered in 45 Minutes.
• 60 Technology Questions to be answered in 90 Minutes
• 24 Macroscopic Questions to be answered in 45 Minutes
• 20 Plate Butt Questions to be answered in 75 Minutes
• 20 Pipe Butt Questions to be answered in 105 Minutes

To pass the exam you will need a 70% pass mark on every section.

Take note that before attempting the examination, you MUST provide the following:

• Two passport size photographs, with your name and signature on the reverse side of both.
• Eye test certificate, the certificate must show near vision and color tests (N4.5 or Times Roman numerals standard) and verified enrollment.
• You can print from the complete examination form TWI website.

It is your sole responsibility to provide the above. Results and certification will be delayed if you failed to do so.

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Step 5 – Passing the Exam

 If you pass the exam, TWI will send 2 copies of certificates and an identity card to you or your sponsor.

The certification is valid for 10 years and after that, you will have to renew the license with another exam.

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There you have it, a step by step guide on How to Become a CSWIP 3.1 Certified Welding Inspector.

If you have anything to add or ask, please leave a comment below.

And please share if you liked this article.

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Reference;

1. TWI
2. CSWIP
3. CSWIP 3.1 course note