Computer Based Testing

CBT is an acronym for Computer Based Testing. It is a method of proctored, in-person exam delivery using a computer at an Exam Center.

You should be familiar with the use of a mouse and keyboard. A 15-minute tutorial will be available to you prior to taking your exam. It is strongly recommended that you take advantage of the tutorial before you start the exam. The tutorial is instructional in nature and does not count towards your exam answers nor impact the time permitted to take the exam.

You can review a computer-based demo available here.

Prometric uses PCs running a Windows-based operating system. The system is intuitive and easy-to-use, regardless of your computer preference.

CBT exam questions are standard multiple-choice, similar in appearance to paper-and-pencil exam questions. With CBT, typically one question will appear on the screen at a time.

All certification exams, whether they are computer-based or paper-and-pencil, involve up to two (2) hours of exam time (time permitted to answer the exam questions). Example

The total seat time (the total time spent at the computer terminal (15-minute tutorial, two hours of exam time, and a 15-minute post exam survey) is two and one-half (2.5) hours.

If you are taking an exam with multiple parts (for example, CWI, Parts A and C), each part is two (2) hours of exam time and seat time is two and one-half (2.5) hours.

Most exam-takers find that it takes less time to complete a CBT exam because the process of answering questions is more efficient.

Please arrive at the exam center 30 minutes prior to your scheduled exam start time as additional time is needed for security procedures, identification confirmation and check-in completion.

At this time, Prometric’s computer-based AWS Certification exams are only offered in secure and proctored exam centers, ensuring a professional and consistent exam environment.

It is permitted to wear glasses to the Prometric Exam Center, but eyewear will be examined by Exam Center Staff and Test Administrator for security purposes prior to your exam.

More information can be found here: prometric.com/test-center-security.

You can skip questions and go back to them when you are ready.

You can skip questions and move on to other questions you’re more confident with; then you can come back when you have time left over and review the questions you have skipped.

Practice using the computer-based demo.

The Exam Proctor (Test Administrator) at the Prometric Exam Center will provide you with pencil and paper. When you finish the exam, you will need to turn in the paper containing notes and calculations to the proctor who will then shred the paper. (This is for exam security purposes.) You will also be provided with a basic, four-function calculator where appropriate.

The exam experience may be different, but the passing standards and percentages remain the same. The specialists who design and study the operation of certification exams have demonstrated over many decades there are no meaningful differences in scores between paper-based and computer-based exams.

The passing score is determined by the certification's corresponding AWS standard that governs it; as an example for CWI, the standards is QC1:2016-AMD1 - Specification for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors.

Please reference the Certification Program and the related program exam and CBT information page which provides specific detail on exam content, exam scoring and references to the AWS standards.

Before you leave the Prometric Exam Center, you will be given a preliminary score Notice of Completion via email within two (2) hours of exam completion. Your official score report will come directly from AWS in approximately 2-4 weeks once the AWS Certification Department validates your exam scores.

Please reference the Certification Program and the related program exam and CBT information page which provides specific detail on exam content, exam scoring and exam pricing.

Additionally, you can review pricing information for all certification programs on the AWS Certification Department Price List.

Candidates may use the online self-service tools found on the right column of AWS Certification program webpages. A variety of self-service options are available. Alternatively, you may contact AWS by phone at 800-443-9353, Option 3, or use the online chat during business hours for fastest service. You may also email certification@aws.org.

Note that a candidate must receive a Confirmation Letter from AWS before being permitted to schedule exams with Prometric.

The Confirmation Letter will be sent via email after initial, renewal or recertification applications and all required documentation are reviewed, processed and approved by the AWS Certification Department.

Prometric Exam Administrators can only address issues related to the exam environment. They cannot answer questions regarding the structure or content of the exams.

If you have any comments or feedback regarding the exam content, please notify AWS directly via AWS' online Certification Exam Feedback Form.

For your review and information, Prometric has provided a video which provides valuable information on the check-in and testing process and test center security.

Prometric Review Video

You will have up to the specified exam time to complete each exam part (answer the actual exam questions). Please refer to the exam information for the specific certification programs for more information.

Most certification exams, whether they are computer-based or paper-and-pencil, involve up to two (2) hours of exam time (time to answer the exam questions). Some exceptions apply.

Please refer to the specific Certification Program webpage of which you have submitted an application. All exam detail, including links to the AWS applicable standards are provided.

Example

The total seat time (the total time spent at the computer terminal (15-minute tutorial, two hours of exam time, and a 15-minute post exam survey) is two and one−half (2.5) hours.

If you are taking an exam with multiple parts (for example, CWI, Parts A (Fundamentals) and C (Codebook), each part is two (2) hours of exam time and the seat time is two and one−half (2.5) hours.

Most exam-takers find that it takes less time to complete a CBT exam because the process of answering questions is more efficient. However, expect to be at the exam center for approximately three hours (per part) as additional time is needed for check-in/check-out, and to review the pre-exam tutorial.

NOTE: please be sure to arrive to the Exam Center approximately 30 minutes before your exam time.

Please bring a current government issued form of identification (e.g. photo ID or Driver’s License, Official Passport) that exactly matches the information that Prometric has in its records.

You will be allowed to bring an AWS pre-approved scientific, construction, or four-function calculator or Prometric can provide you with a four-function calculator.

For open book exams, you will be allowed to bring in references that are specifically detailed on the program webpages.

Please review the exam documentation and equipment permitted for your selected certification program and related exams and exam type.

You may bring in a hard copy of the reference bound in a three-ring binder, or in the original printed binding.

You will not have access to your personal belongings except for medical comforts.

Candidates are permitted to bring scientific, construction, or four-function calculators, or Prometric can provide you with a four-function calculator.

More specific information is provided in the applicant instructions you will receive prior to your exams.

Many Prometric Exam Centers offer free parking.

Candidates can call their Prometric Exam Center to check nearby parking and costs. Alternatively, please visit the AWS page on Prometric’s website for more information.

There should be enough room at the computer carrell for the computer, the computer monitor, the keyboard, a mouse and mousepad, your codebook, and scratch paper.

In this unlikely event, please notify the Prometric Exam Administrator right away.

Prometric Exam Administrators are required to examine codebooks to ensure that they meet AWS’ requirements for the exam.

Please be sure that your codebooks are free from loose-leaf papers or sticky-notes before presenting to the Prometric Test Administrator, or you may not be permitted to bring it into the exam with you.

For more information, please review the Applicant Instructions contained in your Confirmation Letter sent by AWS for additional information.

If you believe you are unfairly being denied use of your codebook during your exam, please log the issue with the Prometric Exam Administrator.

In some cases, it may be possible for the Prometric Exam Administrator to contact AWS for clarification on the rules while you’re still there.

If you’re not able to resolve the issue at the Prometric Exam Center, please contact AWS at 800-443-9353, Option 3 or email AWS at certification@aws.org so that AWS can investigate the situation.

There are no scheduled breaks during the two-hour exam. If you need to leave the room during the exam, you may do so with the Prometric Exam Administrator’s guidance.

However, the exam clock will continue to run while you leave the room and you will not be compensated for the time you were out of the room after the exam ends.

Breaks will be allowed during an exam but the time you are out of the room will be counted against your allotted time.

If you need to leave the room, please notify the Prometric Exam Administrator.

You will need to sign out and then sign back in when you return.

Note: If you have scheduled two exams on the same day, there will likely be a large time gap between the two exams.

There is a clock on the computer screen (toward the top) that reflects the time remaining for each section of the exam. Note that personal watches must be removed and stored prior to entering the exam room.

The computer software at Prometric has an option called flagging which allows candidates to flag questions and come back to them later.

However, AWS suggests candidates complete all questions before time expires.

Candidates will not be given time after the exam time expires to review questions that were flagged.

Noise-isolating headphones are available, but optional, at the Prometric Exam Center.

Earplugs are provided to examinees for AWS paper based exams.

Personal belongings are not permitted in the exam room. You will be provided a locker to store these items. You will be asked to store any jackets or hats, as well as electronic devices such as mobile phones, or tablets or smart watches.

If you fail to appear for the exam, you will forfeit the entire exam fee from both Prometric and AWS. Please review AWS’ Policies and Fees

AWS will consider waiving the fee forfeiture in the case of a medical or other emergency.

Your request for such a waiver must be made in writing, supported by verifying documentation from a third party and sent to certification@aws.org. For example, in the case of a medical emergency, a written statement from your physician which clearly states that you were physically unable to appear for the exam due to personal or immediate family medical issues is required and date the emergency happened.

If you have another type of emergency, then you must provide third party verification for your late withdrawal notice or the reason you were unable to sit for the scheduled exam. Your request sent to certification@aws.org must be received within ten (10) business days after the scheduled exam date.

Requests received after the ten (10) business-day timeframe, or that are not supported by verifying documentation, will not be reviewed. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis after ten-business-day timeframe.

Candidates who require ADA accommodations must complete an ADA Accommodation Request Form within 6-8 weeks prior to exam day.

Approved ADA candidates will receive appropriate accommodations.

Prometric Exam Centers are fully accessible. For more information, please see the Prometric security policy found on the AWS page of Prometric’s website. All accommodations must be requested via the online Certification Application Portal. For instructions on how to apply, please call our customer care line at 800-443-9353.

For the safety and security of all exam-takers and test administrators, as well as to ensure that no electronic devices enter the exam area, Prometric requires that all participants are scanned via a metal detection wand upon every entry to the exam room.

For more information, please see the Prometric security policy found on the AWS page of Prometric’s website.

Prometric administers all AWS certification exams except for CWI Exam Part B, CRI exams and the Structural Drawing Endorsement exam at Prometric Exam Centers.

Prometric offers over 450 Exam Centers across the globe and has over 100 Exams Centers across the United States. For more information, please visit the AWS page on Prometric’s website.

AWS administers many exams at locations across the United States where AWS educational seminars are scheduled including the CWI Part B, the Structural Drawing Endorsement, and the Certified Radiographic Interpreter (CRI) exams.

Prometric is a leading provider of technology-enabled testing and assessment solutions to many of the world’s most recognized licensing and certification organizations, academic institutions, and government agencies.

Exams are administered by Prometric at more than 450 Exam Centers around the world. Locations can be viewed at prometric.com/aws.

In the unlikely event that some unforeseen circumstance at a Prometric Exam Center negatively impacts your exam experience, be sure to report your issue to the Prometric Exam Administrator. The feedback candidates give to Prometric Exam Administrators is recorded in the irregularity report and reported back to AWS staff, so that the incident can be investigated.

Candidates must also complete the Feedback form on the AWS Website.

Candidates are now strongly encouraged to use the online Certification Application Portal. All needed links are provided in the right column of all AWS Certification program webpages.

The Portal provides candidates the opportunity to apply for an initial certification; apply for a renewal/recertification, and register for an exam.

International Candidates should work with their local Agent representatives to determine appropriate methods for applying for certification programs and for registering for exams.

The online Certification Application Portal currently does not save incomplete applications. A candidate would need to start the process from the beginning if a current/previous submission was not completed through payment.

The name on your current government-issued ID needs to exactly match the name you provide on your application.

The Prometric Exam Center staff require the name on the current government ID that candidates present at the Exam Center exactly match the name on the application.

Candidates may use the online self-service tools found on the right column of AWS Certification web pages. A variety of self-service options are available via the MyAWS service on the AWS website (requires log-in).

Alternatively, you may contact AWS by phone at 800-443-9353, Option 3, email at certification@aws.org or use the online chat when available.

Note that a candidate must receive a Confirmation Letter from AWS, once all pertinent documentation has been qualified and approved, before scheduling exams with Prometric.

AWS reviews applications on a continual basis. A candidate must submit all required documentation in order for an application to be processed and a Confirmation Letter can be sent.

CWS, CWSR, CWRT, SCWI, CWI (Exam Parts A and C) and Endorsement CBT Exams

Prometric schedules exams in windows, typically a morning window and an afternoon window, and you may select one or the other depending on availability.

You will not be able to choose a specific start time (e.g. 10:30am), but you will be able to select an available time slot in either the morning or the afternoon.

CWI Part B Exam, CRI Exams and Structural Drawing Endorsement Exam

AWS administers the CWI Part B, CRI exams, and Structural Drawing Endorsement exams at locations across the United States where AWS educational seminars are scheduled.

Please review the schedule here.

Exam dates and times are not flexible.

A candidate must receive a Confirmation Letter from AWS before scheduling exams online with Prometric.

A Confirmation Letter is sent via email after initial, renewal or recertification applications and all required documentation are reviewed, processed and approved by the AWS Certification Department.

A candidate will require the eligibility code(s) contained in the Confirmation Letter sent by AWS before being permitted to schedule exams with Prometric.

An eligibility code is provided in a candidate’s Confirmation Letter for use in registering and scheduling exams with Prometric. These codes indicate to Prometric that the exam candidate has been authorized by the AWS Certification Department to sit for the exam.

Candidates may use the online self-service tools found on the right column of AWS Certification webpages. A variety of self-service options are available via the online Certification Application Portal and the MyAWS service on the AWS website (requires log-in).

AWS is committed to ensuring that each candidate has a fair opportunity to take exams.

If you experience any problems or are having difficulty finding a seat, you may contact AWS by phone at 800-443-9353, Option 3, email at certification@aws.org or use the online chat when available.

Your exam date is tied to your eligibility code. If you cancel thirty (30) days or more in advance of your exam, you will not be subject to Prometric's cancellation and rescheduling policies and fees.

For specific Prometric cancellation and rescheduling policies and fees, please visit the AWS page on Prometric's website.

You can reschedule or cancel an exam up to two (2) business days prior to your appointment by contacting Prometric directly. If you are scheduled for a Monday exam, you must reschedule or cancel on the past Friday (which is the previous business day).

There is no charge for changing an appointment if the change is made 30 or more days prior to the exam date.

If rescheduling or canceling the appointment 2-29 days prior to the test date, candidates will be charged a $35 fee by Prometric.

CBT Exams are offered in languages other than English.

Languages currently offered are Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Chinese and Korean.

Please contact your local AWS International Agent for more information.

On average and barring extenuating circumstances, international applications are processed in approximately four (4) to six (6) weeks prior to the exam or seminar date.

Once an application is processed, eligibility codes for CWI Parts A (Fundamentals) and C (Codebook) are created and emailed directly to the candidate in their Confirmation Letter and the agency managing a candidate’s application.

For your review and information, Prometric has provided a video which provides valuable information on the check-in and testing process and test center security.

Prometric Review Video

You will have up to the specified exam time to complete each exam part (answer the actual exam questions). Please refer to the exam information for the specific certification programs for more information.

Most certification exams, whether they are computer-based or paper-and-pencil, involve up to two (2) hours of exam time (time to answer the exam questions). Some exceptions apply.

Please refer to the specific Certification Program webpage of which you have submitted an application. All exam detail, including links to the AWS applicable standards are provided.

Example

The total seat time (the total time spent at the computer terminal (15-minute tutorial, two hours of exam time, and a 15-minute post exam survey) is two and one−half (2.5) hours.

If you are taking an exam with multiple parts (for example, CWI, Parts A (Fundamentals) and C (Codebook), each part is two (2) hours of exam time and the seat time is two and one−half (2.5) hours.

Most exam-takers find that it takes less time to complete a CBT exam because the process of answering questions is more efficient. However, expect to be at the exam center for approximately three hours (per part) as additional time is needed for check-in/check-out, and to review the pre-exam tutorial.

NOTE: please be sure to arrive to the Exam Center approximately 30 minutes before your exam time.

Please bring a current government issued form of identification (e.g. photo ID or Driver’s License, Official Passport) that exactly matches the information that Prometric has in its records.

You will be allowed to bring an AWS pre-approved scientific, construction, or four-function calculator or Prometric can provide you with a four-function calculator.

For open book exams, you will be allowed to bring in references that are specifically detailed on the program webpages.

Please review the exam documentation and equipment permitted for your selected certification program and related exams and exam type.

You may bring in a hard copy of the reference bound in a three-ring binder, or in the original printed binding.

You will not have access to your personal belongings except for medical comforts.

Candidates are permitted to bring scientific, construction, or four-function calculators, or Prometric can provide you with a four-function calculator.

More specific information is provided in the applicant instructions you will receive prior to your exams.

Many Prometric Exam Centers offer free parking.

Candidates can call their Prometric Exam Center to check nearby parking and costs. Alternatively, please visit the AWS page on Prometric’s website for more information.

There should be enough room at the computer carrell for the computer, the computer monitor, the keyboard, a mouse and mousepad, your codebook, and scratch paper.

In this unlikely event, please notify the Prometric Exam Administrator right away.

Prometric Exam Administrators are required to examine codebooks to ensure that they meet AWS’ requirements for the exam.

Please be sure that your codebooks are free from loose-leaf papers or sticky-notes before presenting to the Prometric Test Administrator, or you may not be permitted to bring it into the exam with you.

For more information, please review the Applicant Instructions contained in your Confirmation Letter sent by AWS for additional information.

If you believe you are unfairly being denied use of your codebook during your exam, please log the issue with the Prometric Exam Administrator.

In some cases, it may be possible for the Prometric Exam Administrator to contact AWS for clarification on the rules while you’re still there.

If you’re not able to resolve the issue at the Prometric Exam Center, please contact AWS at 800-443-9353, Option 3 or email AWS at certification@aws.org so that AWS can investigate the situation.

There are no scheduled breaks during the two-hour exam. If you need to leave the room during the exam, you may do so with the Prometric Exam Administrator’s guidance.

However, the exam clock will continue to run while you leave the room and you will not be compensated for the time you were out of the room after the exam ends.

Breaks will be allowed during an exam but the time you are out of the room will be counted against your allotted time.

If you need to leave the room, please notify the Prometric Exam Administrator.

You will need to sign out and then sign back in when you return.

Note: If you have scheduled two exams on the same day, there will likely be a large time gap between the two exams.

There is a clock on the computer screen (toward the top) that reflects the time remaining for each section of the exam. Note that personal watches must be removed and stored prior to entering the exam room.

The computer software at Prometric has an option called flagging which allows candidates to flag questions and come back to them later.

However, AWS suggests candidates complete all questions before time expires.

Candidates will not be given time after the exam time expires to review questions that were flagged.

Noise-isolating headphones are available, but optional, at the Prometric Exam Center.

Earplugs are provided to examinees for AWS paper based exams.

Personal belongings are not permitted in the exam room. You will be provided a locker to store these items. You will be asked to store any jackets or hats, as well as electronic devices such as mobile phones, or tablets or smart watches.

If you fail to appear for the exam, you will forfeit the entire exam fee from both Prometric and AWS. Please review AWS’ Policies and Fees

AWS will consider waiving the fee forfeiture in the case of a medical or other emergency.

Your request for such a waiver must be made in writing, supported by verifying documentation from a third party and sent to certification@aws.org. For example, in the case of a medical emergency, a written statement from your physician which clearly states that you were physically unable to appear for the exam due to personal or immediate family medical issues is required and date the emergency happened.

If you have another type of emergency, then you must provide third party verification for your late withdrawal notice or the reason you were unable to sit for the scheduled exam. Your request sent to certification@aws.org must be received within ten (10) business days after the scheduled exam date.

Requests received after the ten (10) business-day timeframe, or that are not supported by verifying documentation, will not be reviewed. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis after ten-business-day timeframe.