Certified Welding Supervisor (CWS) Program

Why Pursue the Certified Welding Supervisor Certification?

The CWS program is designed to recognize individuals who possess the knowledge and skills to effectively manage welding activities. Achieving this certification allows you to:

• Enhance Operational Efficiency: Implement best practices to improve welders' environments, boost productivity, and ensure high-quality outputs
• Optimize Welding Economics: Gain insights into cost-effective welding practices, enabling better resource management and reduced operational costs
• Elevate Safety Standards: Understand and enforce stringent safety protocols to maintain a secure working environment
• Advance Career Opportunities: Stand out in the industry with a credential that highlights your supervisory capabilities and commitment to excellence

What the Certified Welding Supervisor Course Covers

AWS CWS training consists of three essential parts designed to enhance your welding supervisory skills:

Welding Safety & Quality

• OSHA compliance and workplace safety
• Defect prevention and quality control
• Inspection and testing procedures

Production & Cost Control

• Welding economics and cost-reduction strategies
• Lean manufacturing principles in welding
• Productivity improvement techniques

Supervisory & Leadership Skills

• Managing welding teams effectively
• Communication and problem-solving for supervisors
• Ensuring compliance with welding codes and standards

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements

To qualify for the Certified Welding Supervisor program, candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

Education Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent (GED)
• Welding-related training or coursework preferred but not required

Experience Requirements:

• A minimum of 3 years of welding experience with a high school diploma
• A minimum of 2 years of welding supervision experience preferred
• Practical knowledge of welding processes, quality control, and industry codes

Who Should Apply?

The Certified Welding Supervisor training is ideal for:

• Welding professionals looking to advance their careers into supervisory roles
• Experienced welders who want to enhance their knowledge of efficiency, quality control, and safety standards
• Manufacturing and construction industry professionals responsible for overseeing welding operations
• Welding educators and trainers seeking to broaden their expertise and certification credentials
• Business owners or managers aiming to improve their company’s welding quality and compliance

CWS Standards

A CWS certification ensures the certificate holder meets all of the specification and certification requirements found in:

• AWS QC13 - Specification for the Certification of Welding Supervisors (English)
• AWS B5.9 - Specification for the Qualification of Welding Supervisors (English)

Technical and Reference Documents are provided when registered and attending an AWS Seminar.

If an applicant/candidate is not attending an AWS Seminar prior to testing and is planning to self-study, please review the Self-Study page for more information.

Technical and Specification Documents and Reference Materials
(AWS CWS Body of Knowledge)

• AWS A2.4:2012 Standard Symbols for Welding, Brazing, and Nondestructive Examination
• AWS A3.0:2010 Standard Welding Terms and Definitions
• AWS B5.9:2006 Specification for the Qualification of Welding Supervisors
• AWS WHB 1.12 Economics of Welding and Cutting
• AWS WHB- ALL AWS Welding Handbook Series
• VT6K1- IPUYC CWSM Certified Welding Supervisor Manual for Quality and Productivity Improvement
• AWS QC13, Specification for the Certification of Welding Supervisors
• ANSI Z49.1:2012 - Safety in Welding Cutting, and Allied Processes
• NSRP Study - Welding Supervisor Training and Certification

To purchase any of the AWS publications, visit the AWS Bookstore

Review the AWS CWS Examination User Guide (PDF)

Review the Exam References and Editions Guide (PDF)

Other forms and documents:

• ADA Disability Accommodations
• Change of Site/Cancellation Form
• Candidate Attestation Agreement
• Policies and Fees
• Certification Duplicate Order Form
• Training Hours Upload Requirement Waiver
• Photo Upload Requirement Waiver
• Visual Acuity Upload Requirement Waiver
• Education or Other Upload Requirement Waiver

Exam Preparation Training and Seminar Options

The Certification Welding Supervisor seminar was developed to teach knowledge, skills, and abilities that welding supervisors must be capable of demonstrating.

This 5-day course focuses on the knowledge a supervisor needs to support the improvement of the welders’ environment, productivity, throughput, weld quality, and safety.

Participants will learn the science rather than the art of welding to control variables in the welding process better.

Seminar and Exam Schedule

Find upcoming in-person seminars and exam dates on AWS by visiting the Seminar and Exam Schedule.

Computer-Based Testing/Prometric Exam Centers

AWS conducts the CWS Part A (Fundamentals of Supervision) and Part B (Welding Practices & Economics) exams via computer-based testing (CBT) at more than 450 Prometric Exam Centers across the globe.

Learn more about Prometric CBT and Exam Centers:

• Understand Prometric’s security process when checking in at an exam center. 
• Review a tutorial on how to navigate the screen during your CBT. 
• Familiarize yourself with the look and feel of the computer-based testing environment by exploring one of two types of Test Drives before Exam Day
• Learn more about your Prometric test day experience on our FAQ for CBT page.
• Access Prometric’s various other resources, by visiting prometric.com/aws. 
• Prometric Exam Center COVID Policy 
• Prometric Exam Center Cleaning Practices

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The CWS credential is valid for three (3) years. A CWS can renew their CWS credential twice: once at year three (3) and once at year six (6).

This renewal is necessary to maintain the CWS credential.

Each of the two renewals require written documentation to support evidence of continued activity in the occupational position of welding supervisor.

The renewal application can be completed at MyAWS Portal. Here you may also check your CWS credentials, application, or exam registration status.

After two (2) consecutive renewals, a total of nine (9) years of continuous certification, the certificate holder is required to recertify to maintain CWS credentials by meeting the following requirements:

• Completed and submitted documentation to support evidence of continued activity in the occupational position of welding supervisor.
• The certificate holder shall successfully pass the CWS Part A and Part B exams or be exempt from the exams by demonstrating continued education equivalent to 80 professional development hours (PDH) over the nine (9) year period of certification with 20 PDH being completed in the immediate three (3) year period preceding the nine-year (9) recertification.

The recertification application and exam registration can be completed via the online Certification Application Portal.

Use the MyAWS Portal to check your CWS credentials, application or exam registration status.

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The CWS credential is valid for three (3) years. A CWS can renew their CWS credential twice: once at year three (3) and once at year six (6).

This renewal is necessary to maintain the CWS credential.

Each of the two renewals require written documentation to support evidence of continued activity in the occupational position of welding supervisor.

The renewal application can be completed at MyAWS Portal. Here you may also check your CWS credentials, application, or exam registration status.

After two (2) consecutive renewals, a total of nine (9) years of continuous certification, the certificate holder is required to recertify to maintain CWS credentials by meeting the following requirements:

• Completed and submitted documentation to support evidence of continued activity in the occupational position of welding supervisor.
• The certificate holder shall successfully pass the CWS Part A and Part B exams or be exempt from the exams by demonstrating continued education equivalent to 80 professional development hours (PDH) over the nine (9) year period of certification with 20 PDH being completed in the immediate three (3) year period preceding the nine-year (9) recertification.

The recertification application and exam registration can be completed via the online Certification Application Portal.

Use the MyAWS Portal to check your CWS credentials, application or exam registration status.

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