AWS B5.

2:201 8
An American National Standard

Specifcation for the

Training,
Qualifcation,
and Company
Certifcation of
Welding Inspector
Specialists and
Welding Inspector
Assistants
 AWS B5.2:201 8
An American National Standard
Approved by the
American National Standards Institute
May 1 1 , 201 7

Specifcation for the

Training, Qualifcation, and Company
Certifcation of Welding Inspector
Specialists and Welding Inspector
Assistants
2nd Edition

Supersedes AWS B5.2:2001

Prepared by the
AWS Personnel & Facility Qualifcation Committee

Under the Direction of the

AWS Standards Council

Approved by the
AWS Board of Directors

Abstract
This specifcation defnes the requirements and program for an employer (company) to train, qualify, and company certify
Welding Inspector Specialists and Welding Inspector Assistants to contract or industry-specifc inspector standards. The
program is developed as a written practice and controlled by an employer. The qualifcation requires documentation of
experience, training, and satis factory completion of an examination. The examination tests knowledge of welding processes,
welding procedures, welder qualifcation, destructive testing, nondestructive testing, terms, defnitions, symbols, reports,
records, safety, and responsibility as specifcally applied by the contract or industry standards applicable to the employer.
AWS B5.2:201 8

ISBN: 978-0-87171-925-6
©2018 by American Welding Society
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
Photocopy Rights. No portion o f this standard may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form,

including mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
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www.copyright.com.

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 AWS B5.2:201 8

Statement on the Use of American Welding Society Standards

All standards (codes, specifcations, recommended practices, methods, classifcations, and guides) of the American
Welding Society (AWS) are voluntary consensus standards that have been developed in accordance with the rules of the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI). When AWS American National Standards are either incorporated in, or
made part of, documents that are included in federal or state laws and regulations, or the regulations of other governmental
bodies, their provisions carry the full legal authority of the statute. In such cases, any changes in those AWS standards must
be approved by the governmental body having statutory jurisdiction before they can become a part of those laws and
regulations. In all cases, these standards carry the full legal authority of the contract or other document that invokes the
AWS standards. Where this contractual relationship exists, changes in or deviations from requirements of an AWS standard
must be by agreement between the contracting parties.
AWS American National Standards are developed through a consensus standards development process that brings together
volunteers representing varied viewpoints and interests to achieve consensus. While AWS administers the process and
establishes rules to promote fairness in the development of consensus, it does not independently test, evaluate, or verify the
accuracy of any information or the soundness of any judgments contained in its standards.
AWS disclaims liability for any injury to persons or to property, or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether
special, indirect, consequential, or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the publication, use of, or reliance
on this standard. AWS also makes no guarantee or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information
published herein.
In issuing and making this standard available, AWS is neither undertaking to render professional or other services for or on
behalf of any person or entity, nor is AWS undertaking to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to someone else.
Anyone using these documents should rely on his or her own independent judgment or, as appropriate, seek the advice of a
competent professional in determining the exercise of reasonable care in any given circumstances. It is assumed that the
use of this standard and its provisions is entrusted to appropriately qualifed and competent personnel.
This standard may be superseded by new editions. This standard may also be corrected through publication of amendments
or errata, or supplemented by publication of addenda. Information on the latest editions of AWS standards including
amendments, errata, and addenda is posted on the AWS web page (www.aws.org). Users should ensure that they have the
latest edition, amendments, errata, and addenda.
Publication of this standard does not authorize infringement of any patent or trade name. Users of this standard accept any and
all liabilities for infringement of any patent or trade name items. AWS disclaims liability for the infringement of any patent or
product trade name resulting from the use of this standard.
AWS does not monitor, police, or enforce compliance with this standard, nor does it have the power to do so.
Offcial interpretations of any of the technical requirements of this standard may only be obtained by sending a request, in
writing, to the appropriate technical committee. Such requests should be addressed to the American Welding Society,
Attention: Managing Director, Certifcation Department, (see Annex D). With regard to technical inquiries made concerning
AWS standards, oral opinions on AWS standards may be rendered. These opinions are offered solely as a convenience to users
of this standard, and they do not constitute professional advice. Such opinions represent only the personal opinions of the
particular individuals giving them. These individuals do not speak on behalf of AWS, nor do these oral opinions constitute
offcial or unoffcial opinions or interpretations of AWS. In addition, oral opinions are informal and should not be used as a
substitute for an offcial interpretation.
This standard is subject to revision at any time by the AWS Qualifcation and Certifcation Committee. It must be reviewed
every fve years, and if not revised, it must be either reaffrmed or withdrawn. Comments (recommendations, additions, or
deletions) and any pertinent data that may be of use in improving this standard are requested and should be addressed to
AWS Headquarters. Such comments will receive careful consideration by the AWS Qualifcation and Certifcation
Committee and the author of the comments will be informed of the Committee’s response to the comments. Guests are
invited to attend all meetings of the AWS QCIS Subcommittee on Welding Inspector Specialists to express their comments
verbally. Procedures for appeal of an adverse decision concerning all such comments are provided in the Rules of Operation
of the Qualifcation and Certifcation Committee. A copy of these Rules can be obtained from the American Welding
Society, 8669 NW 36 St, # 130, Miami, FL 33166.

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Personnel
Personnel and Facilities Qualifcation Committee
P. A. Grimm, Chair Modern Welding Company
R. E. Dines, Vice Chair United Technical Inc.
S. P. Hedrick, Secretary American Welding Society
I. A. Cross Valiant TMS
F. J. Fascenda Consultant
K. M. Gilgenbach Airgas
R. L. Holdren ARC Specialties/Welding Consultants, LLC
V. Kuruvilla Lexicon/Genesis Quality Systems
D. Logan Alloy Engineering
B. W. Phillips Consultant
J. R. Reid Reid Consulting
D. L. Twitty Dona Ana Community College ofNew Mexico State University
AWS B5B Subcommittee on Welding Inspector Specialists
J. R. Reid Reid Consulting
S. P. Hedrick, Secretary American Welding Society
K. W. Coryell Consultant
P. A. Grimm Modern Welding Company

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Foreword
This foreword is not part of this standard but is included for informational purposes only.

This is the second edition of AWS B5.2. The frst edition was published in 2001. Revisions in this edition were made to
Clauses 1 (Scope), 7 (Written Practice), 8 (Physical Requirements), 9 (Training), 10 (Examination Requirements), and 11
(Certifcation). The title of the standard has been revised to better ref ect its scope. The changes are widespread enough that
clear markup of the changes is diffcult. The frst edition of AWS B5.2 superseded QC2-93, Recommended Practice for the
Training, Qualifcation, and Certifcation, of Welding Inspector Specialist and Welding Inspector Assistant.
AWS B5.2 provides the framework for an in-house certifcation program and written practice for welding inspectors. To
differentiate it from the central certifcation program of AWS supported by the AWS B5.1 and QC1 standards, B5.2 uses
the nomenclature welding inspector ‘specialist’ .
This specifcation for the qualifcation of welding inspector specialists and welding inspector assistants was developed
to provide a qualifcation basis which defnes minimum requirements for a welding inspector specialist to demonstrate
competence through a combination of education, experience, and examination.
Comments and suggestions for the improvement of this standard are welcome. They should be sent to the Secretary, AWS
Qualifcation and Certifcation Committee, American Welding Society, 8669 N.W. 36 Street, Miami, FL 33166.

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Tabl e o f Con ten ts

Pag e N o.

Personnel ....................................................................................................................................................................... v
Foreword .................................................................................................................................................................... vii
1. Scope .................................................................................................................................................................... 1
2. References ............................................................................................................................................................ 2
2.1 Normative References ................................................................................................................................. 2
2.2 Informative References ............................................................................................................................... 2
3. Terms and Defnitions ......................................................................................................................................... 2
4. Levels of Qualifcation ........................................................................................................................................ 2
4.1 Welding Inspector Specialist ....................................................................................................................... 2
4.2 Welding Inspector Assistant ........................................................................................................................ 2
5. Functions ............................................................................................................................................................. 3
6. Education and Experience .................................................................................................................................. 3
7. Written Practice .................................................................................................................................................. 4
8. Physical Requirements ....................................................................................................................................... 4
9. Training................................................................................................................................................................ 4
10. Examination Requirements ................................................................................................................................ 4
10.1 Profciency Examination ............................................................................................................................. 4
10.2 Welding Inspector Specialist Examination .................................................................................................. 4
10.3 Welding Inspector Assistant Examination ................................................................................................... 5
11. Third Party Agencies .......................................................................................................................................... 5
12. Certifcation ......................................................................................................................................................... 5
13. Company Responsibilities .................................................................................................................................. 5
Annex A (Normative)—Body of Knowledge ................................................................................................................. 7
Annex B (Informative)—Sample Outline for Written Practice .................................................................................... 11
Annex C (Informative)—Visual Acuity Record ........................................................................................................... 13
Annex D (Informative)—Requesting an Offcial Interpretation on an AWS Standard................................................. 15
Annex E (Informative)—List of AWS Documents on Qualifcation and Certifcation ................................................. 17

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Specifcation for the Training, Qualifcation,

and Company Certifcation of Welding Inspector
Specialists and Welding Inspector Assistants
1. Scope
1.1 This specifcation establishes the minimum requirements for an employer’s (company’s) internal written practice
for the training, qualifcation, and that company’s certifcation o f Welding Inspector Specialists and Welding Inspector
Assistants. The employer is responsible for the testing, examination and qualifcation o f their inspectors.
1.2 This specifcation is to aid employers in identi fying the basic factors in quali fying personnel performing welding
inspection for a specifc company or proj ect.

1.3 In developing the written practice (see Clause 7), the employer shall review the detailed recommendations presented
herein and incorporate them into the practice, as applicable.

1.4 Examination and certifcation by the American Welding S ociety (AWS ) shall not be a requirement for the Welding
Inspector Specialist nor is there reciprocity between a Welding Inspector Specialist or Welding Inspector Assistant and
AWS Certifed Welding Inspector (CWI) or Certifed Associate Welding Inspector (CAWI) in accordance with AWS QC1 ,
Specifcation for AWS Certifcation of Welding Inspectors.
1.5 Safety and health issues and concerns are beyond the scope o f this standard and therefore are not addressed herein.
Safety and health information is available from the following sources:

American Welding Society:

(1 ) ANSI Z49. 1 , Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes

(2) AWS Safety and Health Fact Sheets

(3 ) Other safety and health information on the AWS website

Material or Equipment Manu facturers:

(1 ) Safety Data S heets supplied by materials manu facturers

(2) Operating Manuals supplied by equipment manu facturers

(3 ) Applicable Regulatory Agencies

Work performed in accordance with this standard may involve the use o f materials that have been deemed hazardous,
and may involve operations or equipment that may cause inj ury or death. This standard does not purport to address all
safety and health risks that may be encountered. The user o f this standard should establish an appropriate safety program
to address such risks as well as to meet applicable regulatory requirements. ANS I Z49. 1 should be considered when
developing the safety program.

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2. References
2.1 Normative References. The following documents are referenced within this publication and are mandatory to
the extent specifed herein. For undated re ferences, the latest edition o f the re ferenced standard shall apply. For dated
re ferences, subsequent amendments to, or revisions o f, any o f these publications do not apply.

(1 ) ANSI Z49. 1 , Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes

(2) AWS A3. 0M/A3 . 0, Standard Welding Terms and De fnitions, Including Terms for Adhesive Bonding, Brazing,
Soldering, Thermal Cutting, and Thermal Spraying
(3 ) AWS A2. 4, Standard Symbols for Welding, Brazing, and Nondestructive Examination
(4) AWS B 5.1 , Specifcation for the Qualifcation of Welding Inspectors
2.2 Informative References
(1 ) AWS QC1 , Specifcation for AWS Certifcation of Welding Inspectors
(2) Brazing Handbook, AWS

(3 ) Welding Handbooks, Volumes 1 –4, AWS

(4) Welding Inspection Handbook, AWS

3. Terms and Defnitions

For the purposes o f this document, the following terms and defnitions apply:

certifcation. The act o f determining, veri fying, and attesting in writing to the qualifcation o f personnel or organizations
in accordance with specifed requirements.

certifying offcial. The employee o f the company who is designated to certify inspectors and revoke certifcation.
employer (company). The corporate, private, or public entity which employs personnel for wages, salary, fees, or other
considerations.

qualifcation. Demonstrated training, skill, knowledge and experience required for personnel to perform the duties o f a
specifc j ob or function, typically demonstrated by passing a performance test.

specifcation. Document stating requirements.

training. An organized program developed to impart the knowledge and skills necessary for qualifcation.
written practice. A document to speci fy methods, requirements, examination, records, certi fying o ffcial, etc. , for a
company’s welding inspection personnel certifcation program.

4. Levels of Qualifcation
There are two levels o f welding inspector qualifcation defned in this document. These are Welding Inspector Specialist
and Welding Inspector Assistant.
4.1 Welding Inspector Specialist. A Welding Inspector Specialist is an individual who has been qualifed by the employer
as meeting the requirements o f the employer’s welding inspector qualifcation program.

4.2 Welding Inspector Assistant. A Welding Inspector Assistant is an individual who has been qualifed by the employer
as meeting the requirements o f the employer’s program to assist the Welding Inspector S pecialist in performing the defned
duties. The Welding Inspector Assistant shall perform inspection duties under the supervision o f a Welding Inspector
Specialist.

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5. Functions
In establishing a program, the employer shall state in the written practice the specifc functions to be carried out by the
inspectors. As a minimum, the items in Annex A that are applicable to the company’s operations shall be incorporated into
the written practice. The company methods for accomplishing each duty shall be defned. The specifc functions of the
Welding Inspector Specialist and the Welding Inspector Assistant shall be defned in the written practice.

6. Education and Experience

6.1 The following are minimum requirements for each candidate for Welding Inspector Specialist.
6.1.1 The candidate shall be a high school graduate or hold an approved general equivalency diploma.
6.1.1.1 As an alternative to the requirements in 6.1.1, the employer may accept additional years o f experience in lieu
of the education requirements.
6.1.2 The candidate shall have no fewer than fve years’ experience in an occupational function that has direct
relationship to weldments being fabricated to a specifed code, other standard, or contract and shall be directly involved in
one or more of the following functions:
(1) Design. Preparation of plans and drawings for weldment construction.
(2) Production. Planning and control of welding operations such as procedures, equipment, materials, or personnel
involved in weldment fabrication.
(3) Construction. Performance as a welder, ftter, or other function in the fabrication or erection of weldments.
(4) Inspection. Detection and measurement of weld discontinuities or verifcation of fabrication requirements.
(5) Repair. Repair of weldments.
6.1.2.1 As an alternative to the requirements in 6.1.2, the employer may substitute an equal number o f years o f post-
high school education for required years of experience, provided the studies are directly related to the functions defned in
6.1.2.
Post high school education is defned as any of the following:
(1) Associate or higher degree in engineering, engineering technology, physics, or sciences.
(2) Engineering/technical school courses success fully completed in a curriculum that can be applied to (1) above.
(3) Trade/vocational school courses in a curriculum related to welding.
6.1.3 The candidate shall submit written documentation that he/she meets the requirements o f 6.1.1 and 6.1.2 or the
alternatives listed in 6.1.2.1.
6.2 The following are minimum requirements for each candidate for Welding Inspector Assistant:
6.2.1 The candidate shall be a high school graduate, or hold a state or military approved high school equivalency
diploma (e.g., GED).
6.2.1.1 As an alternative to the requirements in 6.2.1, the employer may accept additional years o f experience in lieu
of the education requirements.
6.2.2 The candidate shall have at least six month’s experience in an occupational function that has a direct relationship
to weldments fabricated to a code or other standard (see 6.1.2).

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7. Written Practice
7.1 The employer shall establish a written practice that details the job functions for welding inspectors, or the employer
may use more than one written practice based on specifc inspection duties or products. The written practice shall also
describe the education, experience, and training required for company certifcation. A sample outline for recommended
practice is included as Annex B.
7.2 The written practice shall include topics, subjects, and training related to the inspection o f weldments fabricated to a
code, specifcation, or other standard as applied by the employer.
7.3 The written practice shall defne the company o ffcial who is authorized to certify inspectors and revoke certifcation.

8. Physical Requirements
8.1 Candidates must be physically able to safely perform the activities as required or specifed by the employer. The
functions to be performed by an inspector are defned in the employer’s written practice.
8.2 Vision
8.2.1 Near Vision Acuity: The Welding Inspector Specialist and Welding Inspector Assistant shall be tested for near
vision acuity. The Welding Inspector Specialist and Welding Inspector Assistant shall have the ability to read Jaeger
Number 2 letters or smaller at a minimum distance of 12 inches (or equivalent test) with at least one eye with or without
correction. The Welding Inspector Specialist and Welding Inspector Assistant shall be retested for visual acuity every three
years.
8.2.2 Color Perception: The Welding Inspector Specialist and Welding Inspector Assistant should take a color
perception test.
Note: Near vision acuity is considered essential to the proper performance of welding examination. Failure to meet the
above level of visual acuity shall be a failure to meet the requirements of this specifcation. Color perception is desirable in
some specifc applications, but is not considered essential for all examinations. It shall be the employer’s responsibility to
establish and enforce visual requirements for its Welding Inspector Specialists and Welding Inspector Assistants.

9. Training
Candidates to be considered for qualifcation and certifcation shall have received suffcient training to become thoroughly
familiar with the principles of welding inspection applicable to the practice to be used and the products to be inspected.
Training shall include the specifcations, standards, or contract requirements applicable to the inspections being performed.
It is the employer’s responsibility to determine the extent of the content and minimum number of hours of training required
for a Welding Inspector Specialist and Welding Inspector Assistant. Training requirements shall be written into the
company’s written practice. Training shall also address safety considerations and the proper care and use of tools and
equipment when used. A recommended body of knowledge is provided in Annex A.

10. Examination Requirements

10.1 Profciency Examination. The employer shall conduct initial examinations for new candidates and periodic updates
for previously qualifed inspectors. The examinations shall incorporate checkpoints or profciency demonstration to verify
that the individuals possess the ability to perform specifc inspection and interpret results. Verifcation that the candidate
met the minimum requirements of this standard shall be a permanent part of the employee’s records.
10.2 Welding Inspector Specialist Examination
10.2.1 The employer shall structure a test consisting o f three parts as defned below. Candidates shall achieve a minimum
passing score, as determined by the employer, for each of the three parts. A minimum passing score of 70% or higher for
each of the three parts is required.

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10.2.2 The recommended examination shall consist o f an open-book test on industry standards or contracts applicable to
the employer, closed-book test on welding fundamentals (including safety), and a test on practical applications o f welding
inspection. See Annex A for recommended body o f knowledge.

10.3 Welding Inspector Assistant Examination

10.3.1 The employer shall structure a test consisting o f three parts as defned below. Candidates shall achieve a minimum
passing score, as determined by the employer, for each o f the three tests. A minimum passing score o f 70% or higher for
each o f the three parts is required.

10.3.2 The recommended examination shall consist o f an open-book test on industry standards or contracts applicable to
the employer, closed-book test on welding fundamentals (including safety), and a test on practical applications o f welding
inspection. See Annex A for recommended body o f knowledge.

11. Third Party Agencies

At the option o f the employer, an outside agency may be engaged to provide assistance in training, qualifcation and
examination services. In such instances, the employer is responsible to assure that training, qualifcation, and examination
requirements are in accordance with this document.

12. Certifcation
12.1 It is the employer’s responsibility to certi fy that the Welding Inspector Specialist and Welding Inspector Assistant
meet the requirements o f the company’s written practice.

12.2 Course outlines and certifcation records shall be maintained on fle by the employer and shall contain records o f the
certifed individual and copies o f written practices as required by Clause 7. These records shall be maintained during the
time the inspectors are certifed and for three years after the termination o f the employee. These records shall contain as a
minimum the following:

(1 ) Name o f certifed individual

(2) Statement indicating experience and completion o f training in accordance with employer’s written practice.

(3 ) Verifcation that individual met the requirements prescribed in Clauses 8, 9, and 1 0, including copies o f applicable:
Education and Experience certifcates, Visual Acuity Records, and Test records.

(4) Signature o f certi fying o ffcial

(5) Date(s) o f certifcation

13. Company Responsibilities

Code o f ethics, responsibility to the public, conf ict o f interest, unauthorized practice, revocation o f certifcation,
reinstatement, recertifcation, and termination shall be in accordance with the employer’s written practice.

Note: While the Welding Inspector Specialist and Welding Inspector Assistant have established credentials, company
certifcation alone may not legally qualify the inspector to provide inspection service to the public. Building codes and
regulations contract documents and other project specifcations may require that inspections to be performed by or under
the direction of others, such as a qualifed third party agency, a qualifed professional engineer, or a welding inspector
qualifed to AWS B5. 1 and certifed in accordance with AWS QC1.

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Annex A (Normative)
Body of Knowledge
This annex is part of this standard and includes mandatory elements for use with this standard.

A1. Introduction
A1.1 Capabilities
(1) Judges quality
(2) Interprets specifcation limitations and intent
(3) Communicate results and makes reports to supervisor
A1.2 Qualifcations
(1) Physical condition
(2) Vision
(3) Knowledge of welding
(4) Knowledge of drawings, specifcations, specifc codes, and procedures used by the employer
(5) Knowledge of testing methods
(6) Experience
(7) Education and training
A1.3 Responsibilities
(1) General
(2) Specifc company responsibilities
(3) Personal and company safety practices

A2. Welding, Cutting, and Brazing Processes

(1) Processes used in fabricating the product being inspected
(2) Overview of each process
(3) Discontinuities that may be encountered with each process

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A3. Material Fundamentals

(1) Weldability
(2) Metallurgy
(3) Chemistry
(4) Mechanical
(a) Tensile strength
(b) Hardness
(c) Toughness
(5) Testing for mechanical properties
(6) Metallographic tests

A4. Fabrication
(1) Joint preparation
(2) Joint ft up
(3) Welding procedure specifcation
(4) Welder qualifcation
(5) Other fabrication documents

A5. Heat Treatment

(1) Preheat
(2) Interpass temperature
(3) Postweld heat treatment

A6. Nondestructive Examination

(1) Visual inspection
(a) Application and acceptance standards
(b) Tools and their use
(2) Liquid penetrant testing
(a) Procedures
(b) Acceptance standards
(3) Magnetic particle testing
(a) Acceptance standards
(b) Procedures

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(4) Other testing and inspection

(a) 100% sampling
(b) Random sampling
(c) Radiographic
(d) Ultrasonic
(5) Specifc company procedures

A7. Inspection Documentation

(1) Verify dimensions
(2) Verify written welding procedures
(3) Verify welder qualifcation papers
(4) Review NDE reports
(5) Prepare narrative reports

A8. References
(1) ANSI Z49.1, Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes
(2) Brazing Handbook, AWS
(3) Welding Handbooks, Volumes 1–4, AWS
(4) Welding Inspection, AWS
(5) AWS A3.0M/A3.0, Standard Welding Terms and Defnitions, Including Terms for Adhesive Bonding, Brazing,
Soldering, Thermal Cutting, and Thermal Spraying
(6) AWS A2.4, Standard Symbols for Welding, Brazing, and Nondestructive Examination

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Annex B (In formative)

Sample Outline for Written Practice
This annex is not part of this standard but is included for informational purposes only.

JOB FUNCTIONS
A Welding Inspector Specialist (or assistant) employed by the Company is responsible for
performing the following Functions:
(1)
(2)
(3) etc.

WRITTEN PRACTICE
A Welding Inspector Specialist (or assistant) is responsible for complying with the following written practices:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

QUALIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION

Company Certifcation as a Welding Inspection Specialist (or assistant) is based on the
individual presenting evidence of years of relevant experience combined with level of
Education and meeting specifed Physical requirements.

PERSONNEL TRAINING
Success fully completing training in the following:
(1) consisting of hours classroom combined with
hours practical. (see course outline)
(2) consisting of hours classroom combined with
hours practical. (see course outline)
(3) consisting of hours classroom combined with
hours practical. (see course outline) etc.

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EXAMINATION
Attaining a minimum passing score o f on each o f the three parts o f the
Company Welding Inspection S pecialist Test.

CERTIFICATION RESPONSIBILITY
is Responsible for Certi fying Welding Inspection Specialists ( or assistants) for the
Company and maintains applicable Records for each individual certifed. The Records are
maintained for a minimum period o f and are available for review upon request. Certifcation records shall be
audited for completeness and compliance with this standard on a basis.

CERTIFICATION MAINTENANCE
The performance o f Certifed Welding Inspector Specialists ( or assistants ) is monitored on a
basis to veri fy continued profciency o f the individual.

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Annex C (In formative)

Visual Acuity Record
This annex is not part of this standard but is included for informational purposes only.

Your Company Name

VISUAL ACUITY RECORD

The applicant is required to pass an eye examination, with or without correction, to prove: near vision acuity on Jaeger
J2, or equivalent, at 12 inches. In addition, they shall also take a color perception test for red/green and blue/yellow
differentiation.

Applicant’s Name S.S. or ID number Date of examination

Examination: Meets Without Meets With

Eye Correction Eye Correction Does Not Meet

Near Vision
Jaeger J2 (or Equivalent) ❑ OR ❑ OR ❑
Distance of 12 inches (check only one)

Color Perception Meets Does not meet

Red/Green Differentiation ❑ OR ❑
Blue/Yellow Differentiation ❑ OR ❑

I certify that the above named applicant demonstrated the vision capabilities indicated above.

Printed Name of Examiner Signature Date

Printed Name of Administrator Signature Date

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Annex D (In formative)

Requesting an O ffcial Interpretation
on an AWS Standard
This annex is not part o f this standard but is included for informational purposes only.

D1. Introduction
The following procedures are here to assist standard users in submitting success ful requests for o ffcial interpretations to
AWS standards. Requests from the general public submitted to AWS staff or committee members that do not follow these
rules may be returned to the sender unanswered. AWS reserves the right to decline answering specifc requests; i f AWS
declines a request, AWS will provide the reason to the individual why the request was declined.

D2. Limitations
The activities o f AWS technical committees regarding interpretations are limited strictly to the interpretation o f provisions
o f standards prepared by the committees. Neither AWS staff nor the committees are in a position to o ffer interpretive or
consulting services on (1 ) specifc engineering problems, (2) requirements o f standards applied to fabrications outside
the scope o f the document, or (3 ) points not specifcally covered by the standard. In such cases, the inquirer should seek
assistance from a competent engineer experienced in the particular feld o f interest.

D3. General Procedure for all Requests

D3.1 Submission. All requests shall be sent to the Managing Director, AWS Certifcation Department. For e ffcient
handling, it is preferred that all requests should be submitted electronically through certifcation@ aws. org. Alternatively,
requests may be mailed to:

Managing Director
Certifcation Department
American Welding Society
8669 NW 3 6 St, # 1 3 0
Miami, FL 3 3 1 66

D3.2 Contact Information. All inquiries shall contain the name, address, email, phone number, and employer o f the
inquirer.

D3.3 Scope. Each inquiry shall address one single provision o f the standard unless the issue in question involves two or
more interrelated provisions. The provision(s) shall be identifed in the scope o f the request along with the edition o f the
standard (e. g. , D1 . 1 : 2006) that contains the provision(s) the inquirer is addressing.

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D3.4 Question(s). All requests shall be stated in the form of a question that can be answered ‘ yes’ or ‘ no’ . The request shall
be concise, yet complete enough to enable the committee to understand the point o f the issue in question. When the point
is not clearly defned, the request will be returned for clarifcation. Sketches should be used whenever appropriate, and all
paragraphs, fgures, and tables (or annexes) that bear on the issue in question shall be cited.

D3.5 Proposed Answer(s). The inquirer shall provide proposed answer(s) to their own question(s).
D3.6 Background. Additional information on the topic may be provided but is not necessary. The question(s) and proposed
answer(s) above shall stand on their own without the need for additional background information.

D4. AWS Policy on Interpretations

The American Welding S ociety (AWS) B oard o f Directors has adopted a policy whereby all o ffcial interpretations o f
AWS standards are handled in a formal manner. Under this policy, all o ffcial interpretations are approved by the technical
committee that is responsible for the standard. Communication concerning an o ffcial interpretation is directed through
the AWS staff member who works with that technical committee. The policy requires that all requests for an o ffcial
interpretation be submitted in writing. Such requests will be handled as expeditiously as possible, but due to the procedures
that must be followed, some requests for an o ffcial interpretation may take considerable time to complete.

D5. AWS Response to Requests

Upon approval by the committee, the interpretation is an o ffcial interpretation o f the S ociety, and AWS shall transmit the
response to the inquirer, publish it in the Welding Journal
, and post it on the AWS website.

D6. Telephone Inquiries

Telephone inquiries to AWS Headquarters concerning AWS standards should be limited to questions o f a general
nature or to matters directly related to the use o f the standard. The AWS Board Policy Manual requires that all AWS staff
members respond to a telephone request for an o ffcial interpretation o f any AWS standard with the information that such
an interpretation can be obtained only through a written request. Headquarters staff cannot provide consulting services.
However, the staff can refer a caller to any o f those consultants whose names are on fle at AWS Headquarters.

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Annex E (In formative)

List of AWS Documents on Qualifcation and
Certifcation
This annex is not part o f this standard but is included for informational purposes only.

Qualifcation
Designation Title
B 5. 1 Specifcation for the Qualifcation of Welding Inspectors

B 5. 2 Specifcation for the Training, Qualifcation, and Company Certifcation of Welding Inspector
Specialists and Welding Inspector Assistants

B 5. 4 Specifcation for the Qualifcation of Welder Test Facilities

B 5. 5 Specifcation for the Qualifcation of Welding Educators

B 5. 9 Specifcation for the Qualifcation of Welding Supervisors

B 5. 1 4 Specifcation for the Qualifcation of Welding Sales Representatives

B 5. 1 5 Specifcation for the Qualifcation of Radiographic Interpreters

B 5. 1 6 Specifcation for the Qualifcation of Welding Engineers

B 5. 1 7 Specifcation for the Qualifcation of Welding Fabricators

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Certifcation
Designation Title
QC1 Specifcation for AWS Certifcation of Welding Inspectors

QC5 AWS Standard for Certifcation of Welding Educators

QC9 Administrative Procedures for Alleged Violations of AWS Certifcation Programs

QC13 Specifcation for the Certifcation of Welding Supervisors

QC14 Specifcation for the Certifcation of Welding Sales Representatives

QC15 Specifcation for AWS Certifcation of Radiographic Interpreters

QC17 Specifcation for AWS Accreditation of Certifed Welding Fabricators

QC19 Specifcation for AWS Certifcation of Robotic Arc Welding Personnel

QC20 Specifcation for AWS Certifcation of Resistance Welding Technicians

QC47 Specifcation for AWS Certifcation of Welders and Accreditation of Test Facilities

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