AWS Certified Welder (CW)
American Welding Society
Practical uses
- 01
Perform code-quality welds on structural, pipe, or fabrication work.
- 02
Pass employer weld tests for fabrication shops and construction crews.
- 03
Take on independent repair and custom metal jobs.
How to get it
- 1.
Pick the welding procedure specification you want to be tested on — common options include SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, and GTAW in various positions and thicknesses.
- 2.
Locate an AWS Accredited Testing Facility near you and schedule a test date.
- 3.
Bring your own PPE and any required tools; the facility provides the base metal, filler metal, and equipment setup.
- 4.
Perform the weld under the eyes of a Certified Welding Inspector according to the procedure you selected.
- 5.
If your test coupons pass visual inspection and the required mechanical or radiographic tests, the facility submits the paperwork and AWS issues your Certified Welder card.
Study tips
- Practice the exact position and joint geometry before test day; undercut, lack of fusion, and porosity are the most common reject reasons.
- Read the WPS carefully during setup — a wrong electrode classification, polarity, or shielding gas invalidates the test before you strike an arc.