CWI exam prep for Parts A, B and C, free to start

Why Part B feels fine until it isn't

Part B practice can feel easy and the real thing can still surprise you, because you only see a score and not what you got wrong. Our Part B questions send you into the Book of Specifications for a clause, a table or a replica check, then explain every answer and every wrong option. You learn what you missed while you can still fix it, before you pay for a retest, travel and time off for another fixed Part B date.

A seminar or course is worth your money when it covers Part B, not around it. Look at what yours drills before you buy. Ours drills Part B directly.

What each part asks of you

• Part A, Fundamentals: 165 questions in 135 minutes, closed book. It runs from definitions and welding processes to symbols, NDE, metallurgy and welding calculations. Read the Part A guide, or work the math with the CWI math calculator.
• Part B, Practical: you measure weld replicas and check documents against the Book of Specifications, so living in that book is the whole game. You take it first, at an AWS exam site. Read the Part B guide.
• Part C, Code Application: open book, but the code is an on-screen PDF with word search switched off. For D1.1 that's 55 questions in 135 minutes. AWS recommends practicing with the PDF's bookmarks. Know where to find it by clause number and you move fast. Try the free CWI Part C practice test drill.

• Part C on D1.5 (bridges): 50 questions in 120 minutes, with D1.5 (2020 edition) on screen and word search off. You can sit it as your Part C or later as an endorsement. Take the free D1.5 check.
• Part C on API 1104 (pipelines): 135 minutes with API 1104 (22nd edition) on screen, as your Part C or as an endorsement. Take the free API 1104 check.
• WPQ2 endorsement: for current CWIs and SCWIs. 180 minutes to plan, qualify and finalize welding procedures against D1.1 and B2.1, both on screen. Take the free WPQ2 check.
• ICC S1 Structural Steel and Bolting Special Inspector: ICC's special inspector exam for steel framing and high-strength bolting, sold as three modules. The S1C codes module is 60 questions in 2 hours. Take the free S1 check or read the S1 guide.

For the whole CWI exam on one page, with each part's question count, time limit and book, read the AWS CWI exam guide. Want to try all three first? The free CWI practice test gives you one explained question per part. Mapping out what to study and in what order? Follow the CWI study guide.

What it costs (2026)

The initial exam fee for all three parts is $1,255 for AWS members and $1,520 for non-members. Retesting one part (A or C) costs $445. You get at most three retests in the three years from your original test date. The first retest needs no extra paperwork. The second and third need documented additional training, as set out in AWS's QC1 standard. See every fee and the retest rules.

Recertifying?

A CWI certificate is renewed at years 3 and 6 and recertified at year 9. One exam route for the 9-year recertification is the Part B Practical. Read the AWS CWI renewal and recertification guide for the routes, the application window and the 2026 fees. To see where you stand on Part B, take the free 10-question Part B check.

How to get ready with Fillet Gauge

1. Start with the free 10-question check below for Part A (fundamentals), Part B (practical) or Part C (D1.1 code) to see where you're losing points.
2. Read the explanation on every miss, then the guide sections for your weakest domains.
3. For Part B, keep the free Book of Specifications open and get quick at finding each clause. For Part C, practice finding clauses in your own licensed D1.1 without word search, using PDF bookmarks and clause numbers.
4. Take the 25-question timed practice test before your exam date.

Every question is original and written to the published AWS outline, and no code text is copied.

Start with the free 10-question check

Pick your part and take the free 10-question check now: Part A, Part B or Part C (D1.1). On another code or adding an endorsement? There are free checks for Part C on D1.5, Part C on API 1104 and the WPQ2 endorsement too. When you want the full prep, the Fillet Gauge course gives you a lesson for every exam subject, two full-length timed practice exams per part, a worked explanation with every answer, and drills that train you to find answers fast in the Part B Book of Specifications and in D1.1. See the Terms and refunds.

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