CWI retest rules: which parts, how many times, and what AWS asks for

The AWS CWI exam guide explains the three exam parts. This guide covers retesting for initial CWI certification.

Which parts do you retake?

You need 72% on each part and a 72% composite average across all three. With a composite of at least 72%, you retest only the failed parts (QC1 6.2.3). If your composite is lower, your AWS score letter sets out your route. Plan from the letter, not from a remembered score.

AWS publishes no pass rate for any part; the CWI pass rate page explains what it does publish.

How many retests do you get?

Three, within three years of your original test date. Keep a dated record of your original test and each retest: the parts taken and the result. Don't rush the next booking just because attempts remain. Use the time to fix what cost you the last one.

What changes after the first retest?

• First retest: no extra training evidence needed.
• Second or third retest covering one or two parts: documented further instruction in the failed AWS B5.1 subjects, with minimum contact hours set in QC1 6.2.5.2.
• Second or third retest covering all three parts: documented further instruction in welding inspection subjects from AWS B5.1, with a larger minimum set in QC1 6.2.5.1.

You complete that training before applying for the retest.

What documentation does AWS ask for?

QC1 6.2.5 asks for a detailed training description, contact hours per course or session, and a completion certificate or letter. Each contact hour means at least 50 minutes of instruction. Missing evidence can delay your results.

Before you buy instruction for this, get a sample of the paperwork the provider issues and check it covers the parts you're repeating. Fillet Gauge's free check and practice don't serve as this documented training.

Can you change the Part C code?

No. You keep the same Part C code for the whole retest period. If D1.1 was your code, the Part C D1.1 guide covers how to prepare: study from your own licensed copy, and practice finding clauses fast instead of memorizing answers.

Plan the paperwork and the prep together

Confirm the parts you need and the records that go with them, then check the current retest fees. Leave time for any required training and its paperwork before you apply. Put the numbers in the CWI exam cost calculator to see what each retest adds to your total, and print the estimate if your employer pays for the retest. For study, read the Part A guide or the Part C guide.

Find out what cost you the last attempt

Take the free 10-question check for Part A, Part B or Part C (D1.1). It's scored by domain and takes no signup, so you see which domains dragged your score down. The Fillet Gauge course then gives you a lesson for every exam subject, two full-length timed practice exams per part and a worked explanation with every answer, so you can see you're over 72% in practice before you pay for another sitting.

FAQ

What score do you need to pass each CWI part?

You need 72% on each part and a 72% composite average across all three parts.

Do I retake every part if I fail one?

No. With a composite of at least 72%, you retest only the parts you failed. If your composite is lower, your AWS score letter sets out your route.

How many times can you retake the CWI exam?

You get three retests within three years of your original test date.

Do I need extra training before a CWI retest?

Not for the first retest. Before a second or third retest you need documented further instruction in the failed subjects, completed before you apply, with contact hours set in QC1 6.2.5.

Can I switch my Part C code for a retest?

No. You keep the same Part C code for the whole retest period.

Sources

Show the list

• AWS QC1:2016-AMD1: Specification for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors, American Welding Society, clauses 6.2.3 and 6.2.5 through 6.2.5.3. Retrieved 17 Oct 2026, checked 7 Nov 2026.
• CWI Examination User Guide, American Welding Society, revision 09.04.2026, pages 14, 17 and 18. Retrieved 17 Oct 2026.