AWS CWI 2026 EXAM
API 1104 The API standard, Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities. This standard is
often used in construction of cross country pipelines
ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASNT American Society of Nondestructive Testing
AWS American Welding Society. Has 9 codes and many standards.
AWS A3.0 The AWS Standard Welding Terms and Definitions
AWS B1.10 The AWS guide for the Nondestructive Examination of welds
AWS B1.11 The AWS guide for the Visual Examination of Welds
AWS B5.11 The AWS specification for the Qualification of Radiographic Interpreters
AWS D1.1 The AWS Structural Welding Code-Steel.
AWS D1.5 The AWS Bride Welding Code used in the U.S. for the construction of bridges
AWS D15.1 The AWS Railroad Welding Specification-Cars and Locomotives. This specification
covers welding of railroad cars and locomotives.
CAWI Certified Associate Welding Inspector
CWI Certified Welding Inspector
KASH An acronym for Knowledge, Attitude, Skills and Habits. The basic tools of a welding
inspector.
NDE Nondestructive examination.
, AWS CWI 2026 EXAM
NDI Nondestructive Inspection
NDT Nondestructive Testing
QC1 The AWS Standard for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors. Defines the
requirements and program for the AWS to certify welding inspectors.
SCWI Senior Certified Welding Inspector
SNT-TC-1A The ASNT Recommended Practice, Personnel Qualification and Certification in
Nondestructive Testing, outlines the certification program for NDT technicians.
Actual Throat The shortest distance between the weld root and the face of a fillet weld
Back Weld A weld made at the back of a single groove welded joint after the completion of the
groove weld.
Backing A material or device placed against the back side of the joint or at both sides of a
weld in ESW and electrogas welding, to support and retain molten weld metal. The
material may be partially fused or remain infused during welding and may be either
metal or nonmetal.
Backing Weld Backing in the form of a weld, made before the primary weld.
Backstep Sequence A longitudinal sequence in which weld passes are made in the direction opposite to
the progression of welding.
Bevel An angular edge shape.
Bevel Angle The angle between the bevel of a joint member and a plane perpendicular to the
surface of the member. This dimension equals one half of the groove or included
angle when the edges of both members are prepared at the same angle. When only
one member is prepared at an angle, this dimension is still indicated in the same
position on the welding symbol for groove angle, but equals the total degree of
preparation of the groove.
Bevel Groove Weld A type of groove weld in which the mating members of the joint have one single-
bevel or double-bevel edge and one square edge preparation.
Block Sequence A combined longitudinal and cross sectional sequence for a continuous multiple
pass weld in which separated increments are completely or partially welded before
intervening increments are welded.
, AWS CWI 2026 EXAM
Boxing The continuation of a fillet weld around a corner of a member as an extension of the
principle weld
Buildup A surfacing variation in which surfacing material is deposited to achieve the required
dimensions.
Butt Joint A joint between 2 members aligned approximately in the same plane.
Buttering A surfacing variation that deposits surfacing metal on one or more surfaces to
provide metallurgically compatible weld metal for the subsequent completion of the
weld.
Butting Member A joint member that is prevented, by the other member, from movement in one
direction perpendicular to its thickness dimension. For example, both members of a
butt joint, or one member or a T-joint or corner joint.
Cascade Sequence A combined longitudinal and cross sectional sequence in which weld passes are
made in overlapping layers.
Chain Intermittent Fillet Weld An intermittent weld on both sides of a joint in which the weld increments on one
side are approximately opposite those on the other side.
Cladding A surfacing variation that deposits or applies surfacing material usually to improve
corrosion or heat resistance.
Complete Joint Penetration A joint root condition in a groove weld in which weld metal extends completely
through the joint thickness.
Concave Fillet Weld A fillet weld having a concave face.
Concavity The maximum distance from the face of a concave fillet weld perpendicular to a line
joining the weld toes
Convex Fillet Weld A fillet weld having a convex face.
Convexity The maximum distance from the face of a convex fillet weld perpendicular to a line
joining the weld toes.
Corner Joint A joint between 2 members located approximately at right angles to each other in
the form of an 'L'.
Depth of Groove The perpendicular distance from the base metal surface to the root edge or the
beginning of the root face.
, AWS CWI 2026 EXAM
Depth of Fusion The distance that fusion extends into the base metal or previous bead from the
surface melted during welding.
Edge Joint A joint between the edges of 2 or more parallel or nearly parallel members.
Edge Preparation The preparation of the edges of the joint members, by cutting, cleaning, plating, or
other means.
Edge Shape The shape of the edge of the joint member.
Edge Weld A weld in an edge joint, a flanged butt joint, or a flanged corner joint in which the full
thickness of the members are fused.
Effective Throat The minimum distance, minus any convexity, between the weld root and the face of
a fillet weld.
Face Reinforcement Weld reinforcement on the side of the joint from which welding was done.
Faying Surface The mating surface of a member that is in contact with our in close proximity to
another member to which it is to be joined.
Fillet Weld A weld of approximately triangular cross section joining 2 surfaces approximately at
right angles to each other in a lap, T, or corner joint.
Fillet Weld Leg The distance from the joint root to the toe of the fillet weld
Flanged Butt Joint A form of a butt joint in which at least one of the members has a flanged edge
shape at the joint.
Flanged Corner Joint A form of a corner joint in which the butting member has a flanged edge shape at
the joint
Flanged Edge Joint A form of an edge joint in which at least one of the members has a flanged edge
shape at the joint
Flanged Joint A form of one of the 5 basic joint types in which at least one of the joint members
has a flanged edge shape at the weld joint.
Flanged Lap Joint A form of a lap joint in which at least one of the members has a flanged edge shape
at the joint and edge weld is not applicable.
API 1104 The API standard, Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities. This standard is
often used in construction of cross country pipelines
ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASNT American Society of Nondestructive Testing
AWS American Welding Society. Has 9 codes and many standards.
AWS A3.0 The AWS Standard Welding Terms and Definitions
AWS B1.10 The AWS guide for the Nondestructive Examination of welds
AWS B1.11 The AWS guide for the Visual Examination of Welds
AWS B5.11 The AWS specification for the Qualification of Radiographic Interpreters
AWS D1.1 The AWS Structural Welding Code-Steel.
AWS D1.5 The AWS Bride Welding Code used in the U.S. for the construction of bridges
AWS D15.1 The AWS Railroad Welding Specification-Cars and Locomotives. This specification
covers welding of railroad cars and locomotives.
CAWI Certified Associate Welding Inspector
CWI Certified Welding Inspector
KASH An acronym for Knowledge, Attitude, Skills and Habits. The basic tools of a welding
inspector.
NDE Nondestructive examination.
, AWS CWI 2026 EXAM
NDI Nondestructive Inspection
NDT Nondestructive Testing
QC1 The AWS Standard for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors. Defines the
requirements and program for the AWS to certify welding inspectors.
SCWI Senior Certified Welding Inspector
SNT-TC-1A The ASNT Recommended Practice, Personnel Qualification and Certification in
Nondestructive Testing, outlines the certification program for NDT technicians.
Actual Throat The shortest distance between the weld root and the face of a fillet weld
Back Weld A weld made at the back of a single groove welded joint after the completion of the
groove weld.
Backing A material or device placed against the back side of the joint or at both sides of a
weld in ESW and electrogas welding, to support and retain molten weld metal. The
material may be partially fused or remain infused during welding and may be either
metal or nonmetal.
Backing Weld Backing in the form of a weld, made before the primary weld.
Backstep Sequence A longitudinal sequence in which weld passes are made in the direction opposite to
the progression of welding.
Bevel An angular edge shape.
Bevel Angle The angle between the bevel of a joint member and a plane perpendicular to the
surface of the member. This dimension equals one half of the groove or included
angle when the edges of both members are prepared at the same angle. When only
one member is prepared at an angle, this dimension is still indicated in the same
position on the welding symbol for groove angle, but equals the total degree of
preparation of the groove.
Bevel Groove Weld A type of groove weld in which the mating members of the joint have one single-
bevel or double-bevel edge and one square edge preparation.
Block Sequence A combined longitudinal and cross sectional sequence for a continuous multiple
pass weld in which separated increments are completely or partially welded before
intervening increments are welded.
, AWS CWI 2026 EXAM
Boxing The continuation of a fillet weld around a corner of a member as an extension of the
principle weld
Buildup A surfacing variation in which surfacing material is deposited to achieve the required
dimensions.
Butt Joint A joint between 2 members aligned approximately in the same plane.
Buttering A surfacing variation that deposits surfacing metal on one or more surfaces to
provide metallurgically compatible weld metal for the subsequent completion of the
weld.
Butting Member A joint member that is prevented, by the other member, from movement in one
direction perpendicular to its thickness dimension. For example, both members of a
butt joint, or one member or a T-joint or corner joint.
Cascade Sequence A combined longitudinal and cross sectional sequence in which weld passes are
made in overlapping layers.
Chain Intermittent Fillet Weld An intermittent weld on both sides of a joint in which the weld increments on one
side are approximately opposite those on the other side.
Cladding A surfacing variation that deposits or applies surfacing material usually to improve
corrosion or heat resistance.
Complete Joint Penetration A joint root condition in a groove weld in which weld metal extends completely
through the joint thickness.
Concave Fillet Weld A fillet weld having a concave face.
Concavity The maximum distance from the face of a concave fillet weld perpendicular to a line
joining the weld toes
Convex Fillet Weld A fillet weld having a convex face.
Convexity The maximum distance from the face of a convex fillet weld perpendicular to a line
joining the weld toes.
Corner Joint A joint between 2 members located approximately at right angles to each other in
the form of an 'L'.
Depth of Groove The perpendicular distance from the base metal surface to the root edge or the
beginning of the root face.
, AWS CWI 2026 EXAM
Depth of Fusion The distance that fusion extends into the base metal or previous bead from the
surface melted during welding.
Edge Joint A joint between the edges of 2 or more parallel or nearly parallel members.
Edge Preparation The preparation of the edges of the joint members, by cutting, cleaning, plating, or
other means.
Edge Shape The shape of the edge of the joint member.
Edge Weld A weld in an edge joint, a flanged butt joint, or a flanged corner joint in which the full
thickness of the members are fused.
Effective Throat The minimum distance, minus any convexity, between the weld root and the face of
a fillet weld.
Face Reinforcement Weld reinforcement on the side of the joint from which welding was done.
Faying Surface The mating surface of a member that is in contact with our in close proximity to
another member to which it is to be joined.
Fillet Weld A weld of approximately triangular cross section joining 2 surfaces approximately at
right angles to each other in a lap, T, or corner joint.
Fillet Weld Leg The distance from the joint root to the toe of the fillet weld
Flanged Butt Joint A form of a butt joint in which at least one of the members has a flanged edge
shape at the joint.
Flanged Corner Joint A form of a corner joint in which the butting member has a flanged edge shape at
the joint
Flanged Edge Joint A form of an edge joint in which at least one of the members has a flanged edge
shape at the joint
Flanged Joint A form of one of the 5 basic joint types in which at least one of the joint members
has a flanged edge shape at the weld joint.
Flanged Lap Joint A form of a lap joint in which at least one of the members has a flanged edge shape
at the joint and edge weld is not applicable.
