CSWIP Examinations

Examination booking:
Northern Tst centre staff can provide details regarding examination bookings, telephone: 01709 550999.

Exams Available:
* Visual Welding Inspector
* Welding Inspector
* Senior Welding Inspector

General:
An historic scheme still available via one provider, CSWIP (Certification Scheme for Welding and Inspection Personnel) is administered by The Welding Institute.
The CSWIP certification process can involve mandatory approved training, a period of relevant work experience and examination at a CSWIP test centre.

CSWIP certification provides a mark of current competence as certificates are renewable only on proof of continuing satisfactory performance and capability, often requiring a renewal examination.
The CSWIP Welding Inspector certification scheme provides an excellent career profression route for qualified welders and for those involved in NDT.

Levels of qualification

Visual Welding Inspector
Duties include:
* Application of the requirements of codes and standards covering correctness of parent material,
welding consumables, dimensions, fit-up and weld preparations, including any pre-heat.
* Visual inspection and dimensional check of completed weldment against specification requirements and drawings.
* Surveillance during welding to verify compliance with specified procedure.
Welding Inspector
Duties as above plus:
* Supervision of assistant welding inspectors.
* Establish that a welding procedure is available, has been approved as required by the appropriate authority and is being employed in production.
* Witnessing the preparation of test pieces and destructive tests,and verifying compliance with appropriate standards and specifications, for welder and procedure approval tests.
* Verification that post weld heat treatment has been conducted in accordance with specification requirements.
* The study and understanding of NDT results on any welding work for which the welding inspector is responsible and preparation of welding inspection reports.
Senior Welding Inspector
Duties as above plus:
* Supervision of welding inspectors and assistant welding inspectors.
* Final acceptance and certification that the requirements of the specification have been met.
* Interpretation of weld drawings.
* Interpretation of weld radiographs is often the responsibility of the senior welding inspector although interpretation itself may be undertaken by other suitably qualified personnel.
* Maintenance of comprehensive inspection records.
* Appreciation of the factors influencing the formation of weld defects.
* Assessment of NDT reports on welding work for which the senior welding inspector is responsible.

Pre-examination requirements
There are mandatory minimum pre-approval training and experience requirements which are given in the CSWIP documentation.
The training course for examination preparation has to be CSWIP approved unless candidates are applying via the mature candidate route for Welding Inspector.

Examinations
The examinations will consist of theory, practical and oral sections.
Senior Welding Inspector candidates who hold CSWIP or PCN radiographic interpretation certification covering ferritic steels will be exempt from that part.
A results notice is issued by CSWIP following the examination.
Successful candidates will receive a certificate valid for 5 years.
Unsuccessful candidates will be allowed one retest.

Applicable courses

The following courses offer ideal preparation for CSWIP certification routes.
* Welding Inspection Level 2**
RTO/QA7
* Welding Inspection Revision
RTO/QA9

** This course can be used if candidates choose the mature candidate route.