Weld Wednesday w/ AWS | CWI 2.0 Explained: What's Changing and What's Not | Weld Wednesday with AWS

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Show Notes

CWI 2.0 is coming, but how much is actually changing?

There's been a lot of speculation surrounding the upcoming changes to the AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) program. From rumors about mandatory ISO examinations and changes to recertification requirements to questions about how the new testing process will work, there's plenty of confusion out there.

In this episode of Weld Wednesday with AWS, recorded live at FABTECH 2026 in Las Vegas, I'm joined by Richard Arn, Blake Craft, and Chip Eskridge to get some answers directly from the people involved in these programs.

As AWS celebrates the 50th anniversary of the CWI program, we're discussing the transition to CWI 2.0, including the combination of Parts B and C into a single certification examination, the introduction of a standalone Fundamentals exam, and how these changes support AWS's pursuit of ISO/IEC 17024 accreditation.

We also get into the new Welding Inspector in Training (WIT) pathway, which will introduce an apprenticeship-style approach to developing future inspectors. With documented experience under a CWI, qualified candidates may be able to shorten their path toward certification.

Chip also shares details about the upcoming AWS B31 Piping Owner's Inspector certification, designed to address inspection needs in the power piping and process piping industries.

In this episode, we cover:

  • What CWI 2.0 actually changes and what stays the same

  • Why AWS is pursuing ISO/IEC 17024 accreditation

  • How Parts B and C will become one certification exam

  • The new Fundamentals examination and its expanded applications

  • What happens to existing CWIs and SCWIs

  • The Welding Inspector in Training (WIT) program

  • Moving from calendar years to documented experience hours

  • Expected rollout dates and transition periods

  • Nine-year recertification and endorsement requirements

  • The new B31 Piping Owner's Inspector certification

  • What these changes mean for welding educators, employers, and future inspectors

Whether you're preparing to take your CWI exam, already hold your certification, or are looking to develop the next generation of welding inspectors, this conversation will help you understand what's coming and how to prepare.

Stay safe out there, and until next time… make every weld better than your last.

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