- CAWI has three separately scored parts: Part A (165 questions/135 min), Part B (46 questions/120 min), Part C (55 questions/135 min).
- You must score at least 60% on each part individually - there is no averaging across the Exam line.
- 2026 initial fee is $1,255 for AWS members or $1,520 for nonmembers, including $120 in Part A/C seat fees.
- Sit Part B before Parts A and C, per AWS scheduling guidance.
What This Cheat Sheet Covers
This page is a condensed reference for the Certified Associate Welding Inspector (CAWI) credential administered by the American Welding Society (AWS). It is built to sit next to your notes during final review, not to replace deep study. If you haven't yet worked through the full mechanics of the exam, start with the CAWI Study Guide 2026 and the CAWI Exam Domains 2026 guide before circling back here for a quick-hit recap.
Everything below reflects the CAWI examination line specifically: Part A Fundamentals, Part B Practical, and Part C Code Book (using AWS D1.1 structural steel as the code endorsement, not a standalone CWI add-on). If a number looks unfamiliar compared to something you read elsewhere, it's likely a different credential sharing the same acronym - this page sticks strictly to AWS's Certified Associate Welding Inspector program.
Exam Structure at a Glance
The CAWI examination is not one sitting - it's an Exam line made of three parts, delivered through two different formats. Parts A and C are computer-based and administered through Prometric. Part B is paper-based and hands-on, administered at AWS-authorized sites using supplied specifications, weld replicas, and inspection tools.
| Part | Questions | Time | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A Fundamentals | 165 (150 scored + 15 pretest) | 135 minutes | Closed-book, computer-based (Prometric) |
| Part B Practical | 46 | 120 minutes | Hands-on, paper-based (AWS-authorized site) |
| Part C Code Book (D1.1) | 55 (50 scored + 5 pretest) | 135 minutes | Open-book, computer-based (Prometric) |
| Exam line total | 266 | 390 minutes | Three separate appointments |
For a deeper walk-through of why the format shifts so much between parts - and how that affects preparation time - see How Hard Is the CAWI Exam?
Registration and Fees Snapshot
The 2026 initial CAWI fee is $1,255 for AWS members or $1,520 for nonmembers. Both figures include $120 in Part A/C seat fees. The nonmember price also bundles 3 years of AWS Individual Membership, which is why the gap between member and nonmember pricing isn't a simple membership-discount calculation - you're getting membership value folded into the nonmember rate.
Key Takeaway
Before you register, run the member-vs-nonmember math against your own AWS membership status. A full cost breakdown, including how the seat fees and membership bundling interact, is covered in CAWI Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Domain Breakdown by Part
Each part of CAWI is scored on its own, and each part has its own internal subject weighting. These are minimum allocations within each part - not fixed shares of the combined 266-question exam line. Knowing where the weight concentrates tells you exactly where to spend review hours.
Domain 1: Part A Fundamentals
Part A is closed-book, so recall has to be automatic - there's no code book to lean on. The published minimum subject allocations are:
- Definition and Terminology - 12%
- Welding Processes - 12%
- Symbols (Welding and NDE) - 10%
- Weld Examination - 10%
- Welding Performance - 9%
- Test Methods (NDE) - 8%
- Heat Control & Metallurgy (carbon and low-alloy steel) - 6%
- Welding Related Calculations - 6%
- Duties and Responsibilities - 4%
- Destructive Tests - 3%
- Cutting - 2%
Domain 2: Part B Practical
Part B is the hands-on, tool-based portion, and its weighting is far more concentrated than Part A's:
- Welding Inspection and Flaws - 34%
- Procedure and Welder Qualifications - 28%
- Mechanical Test and Properties - 8%
- NDE - 8%
- Utilization of Specification and Drawings - 8%
Over 60% of Part B's minimum weighting sits in just two subjects - inspection/flaws and qualification records - which is where hands-on practice with weld replicas pays off most.
Domain 3: Part C Code Book (D1.1)
Part C is open-book code application against AWS D1.1. Weighting is evenly split across four of five subjects:
- Qualification - 25%
- Fabrication - 25%
- Inspection - 25%
- Reports and Records - 5%
- Materials and Design - 5%
Because it's open-book, the real skill being tested is code navigation speed, not memorization - you need to find the right clause in D1.1 fast, under a 135-minute clock.
Also worth knowing: AWS B5.1:2025 updates subject terminology and folds Part A's welding and cutting content together under "Joining and Cutting Processes," with a recommended minimum of 14%. This is a naming and grouping update rather than a new topic to learn. For a subject-by-subject study plan mapped to every one of these percentages, see the CAWI Exam Domains 2026 guide.
Eligibility Routes Cheat Sheet
CAWI eligibility runs on a sliding scale of education and welding-related experience. You need to satisfy one of these combinations:
- High school diploma (or equivalent) + 2 years of qualifying experience
- Eighth grade + 4 years of qualifying experience
- Less than eighth grade + 6 years of qualifying experience
- Eighth grade + 1 year of vocational welding training + 3 years of qualifying experience
- 2 years of qualifying postsecondary study + 6 months of qualifying experience
Whichever route applies, you'll need to document education, employment history, and a recent vision examination. Initial preparation training is not a mandatory prerequisite - it's recommended, but AWS does not require a course certificate to sit the exam. Full documentation checklists and edge cases live in CAWI Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Reference Materials and Code Editions
Part C is open-book, but "open-book" doesn't mean any copy of the code will do. The current site preparation content targets D1.1:2025, matching AWS's current D1.1 page, while the linked Exam References and Editions Guide also permits D1.1:2020 and makes both editions available digitally.
Scoring Rules You Must Know
CAWI scoring is unforgiving in one specific way: you must earn at least 60% on each individual part - Part A, Part B, and Part C separately. There is no averaging a strong Part C score against a weaker Part B score. A single failed part fails the exam line, even if your overall combined performance looks respectable.
Key Takeaway
Treat each part as its own pass/fail event during review. Don't let confidence in one part (say, Part A recall) mask a weak spot in another (say, Part B tool use). For the exact scoring mechanics and what "passing" actually requires part by part, see CAWI Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
If you're still deciding how realistic a first-attempt pass is given your background, the CAWI Pass Rate 2026 article and the CAWI difficulty guide both walk through what tends to separate strong candidates from weaker ones - without relying on invented statistics.
One-Week Review Schedule Tied to Domain Weights
In the final week before your appointments, allocate review time proportionally to each part's heaviest subjects rather than spreading effort evenly. This is the one place generic study methodology is worth borrowing - but only mapped to CAWI's actual weight distribution.
Part A Fundamentals
- Drill Definition and Terminology and Welding Processes - the two heaviest subjects at 12% each
- Run timed recall sets on Symbols and Weld Examination, both at 10%
Part B Practical
- Practice identifying flaws on weld replicas - Welding Inspection and Flaws carries 34%
- Rehearse reading procedure and welder qualification records, the 28% subject
Part C Code Book
- Time yourself locating D1.1 clauses under Qualification, Fabrication, and Inspection - each 25%
- Confirm your codebook edition (2025 or 2020) matches your appointment instructions
Full Review
- Take a full-length practice run across all three parts on the main practice test platform
- Re-check logistics: Part B booked before Parts A and C, per AWS scheduling guidance
For a longer-horizon plan that starts weeks or months out instead of the final week, the CAWI Study Guide 2026 lays out a full first-attempt strategy.
What Happens After You Pass
Passing CAWI doesn't grant a permanent credential. CAWI status lasts no more than 3 years, cannot be renewed or recertified, and requires ongoing CWI/SCWI supervision while it's active. It functions as a defined bridge period rather than an endpoint.
Moving up to full CWI status requires meeting the applicable experience and examination criteria at that time - simply waiting for your CAWI window to run out does not convert you to CWI. If you're mapping out how CAWI fits into a longer inspection career and where it can lead in terms of roles and pay, see the CAWI Salary Guide 2026, CAWI Jobs, and Is the CAWI Certification Worth It? for the fuller picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The CAWI examination is the complete initial exam line using AWS D1.1 structural steel as Part C - it is not a standalone endorsement added to an existing CWI credential.
No. Part B is administered separately from Parts A and C, and AWS guidance recommends taking Part B before sitting Parts A and C. Each part is scored on its own against the 60% threshold.
Current preparation content targets D1.1:2025, but D1.1:2020 is also permitted per the Exam References and Editions Guide. Confirm the exact edition required against your specific appointment's reference instructions before test day.
Yes. CAWI status lasts no more than 3 years and cannot be renewed or recertified. Upgrading to CWI requires meeting applicable experience and examination criteria separately.
No. Initial preparation training is not mandatory for CAWI eligibility, though you must still document qualifying education, employment, and a recent vision examination under one of the approved routes.
Keep this cheat sheet bookmarked alongside your part-specific notes, and run a full simulated attempt on the practice test platform before locking in your Prometric and Part B appointment dates.