GN12

GUIDANCE NOTE ON COMPARISON OF

WELDING INSPECTOR QUALIFICATIONS
AND CERTIFICATIONS
1. Scope
This note provides guidance for those specifying or seeking competent welding inspectors.

2. Background
2.1 There are a number of different types of personnel who are competent to conduct welding
inspection including welders, welding supervisors, welding engineers/technologists etc. This
document only applies to those with welding inspector qualification or certification.
2.2 During 2012, WTIA has been receiving enquiries from people in Australian industry regarding their
concerns on a number of situations whereby WTIA and IIW welding inspector qualifications or
certifications are being omitted from purchaser or project specifications or job advertisements
particularly related to the projects taking place in Queensland and Western Australia.
2.3 Such actions unfairly prevent those with the above qualifications or certifications from being
employed on projects and jobs in Australia as well as jobs overseas.
2.4 Obviously it is a customer’s or employer’s prerogative to decide on the levels of qualifications or
certifications of welding inspection personnel including experience to be used on their work.
2.5 All competent people should however, be given a level playing field by having Australian and other
recognised qualifications or certifications given equal opportunity in specifications and job
advertisements. This increases the opportunity of selection of high quality welding inspectors and
benefits projects and all.
2.6 On a similar basis we are receiving requests regarding how other national welding inspection
programmes such as those in South Africa, New Zealand, USA and UK complement each other.

3. Solutions to assist industry

3.1 We have therefore compiled Table 1 which we believe will give guidance to people on the relative
equivalence of the different qualifications or certifications.
3.2 This Table shows various national welding inspection programs held by people currently working in
Australia e.g. AWS, CBIP, CSWIP and SAIW.
3.3 We believe that Table 1 is a fair comparison that will assist specifiers, employers and individual
personnel.

Table 1—Comparison of Welding Inspection Personnel Qualification and Certification (see 4.2)

1. IIW 2. Australia 3. Australia 4. South Africa 5. USA 6. UK 7. NZ

International (prior to 2008) (Current)
Institute of Welding WTIA WTIA SAIW AWS CSWIP CBIP
Qualification Certification Certification Qualification Certification Certification Certification
4 International No equivalent WTIA Certified SAIW Level 3 No AWS No UK equivalent No NZ
Welding Inspector existed at this Comprehensive Welding equivalent exists exists at this higher equivalent
Comprehensive level Welding Inspector Fabrication at this higher level exists at this
(IWI C) (CCWI) Inspector level higher level
Based on IWI C
3 International WTIA Certified WTIA Certified Senior SAIW Level 2 Certified Senior CSWIP 3.2 Senior CBIP Senior
Welding Inspector Welding Welding Inspector Welding Welding Welding Inspector Welding
Standard Inspector (CSWI) Fabrication Inspector (CSWI) Level 3 Inspector
(IWI S) Based on IWI S Inspector
2 International No equivalent WTIA Certified SAIW Level 1 Certified Welding CSWIP 3.1 Welding CBIP Welding
Welding Inspector existed at this Welding Inspector Welding Inspector Inspector Inspector
Basic level (CWI) Fabrication (CWI) Level 2
(IWI B) Based on IWI B Inspector
1 No qualification at No equivalent No equivalent exists No equivalent Certified CSWIP 3.0 Visual No equivalent
this lowest level existed at this at this level exists at this Associate Welding Inspector exists at this
level level Welding Level 1 level
Inspector (CAWI)

4. Basis of Table 1
4.1 Column 1. The IIW has introduced a document entitled “IIW Scheme for Certification of Welding
Inspectors: Rules for Implementation of IIW Scheme for Certification of Welding Inspectors”. The
basis of this document is that amongst other requirements, a person with an IWI C, IWI S or IWI B
Qualification listed above and a minimum of two years’ experience in the three-year period prior to
certification will be able to obtain his/her national Certification in a particular country adopting these
IIW rules.

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 4.2 Terms. The following terms are defined
a) Qualification. Evidence of education, training, and knowledge gained. A Qualification is valid
for life and cannot be withdrawn if earned correctly e.g. a degree or IIW Diploma or some
certificates.
b) Certification. The procedure by which a Certification Body gives written assurance that a
person is competent for a specified class of work. The document issued is a Certificate of
Competency.
Continued ongoing certification is valid for a set period of time, and proof of continued on-going
competence is required for regular re-certification and continued registration. Certification can
be withdrawn if it has been proven that the person has dropped below the competency level
required.
c) Competency. Having the training, qualification, and skill to apply knowledge and experience to
satisfactorily perform the required level of welding inspection.
d) Benefits. Certification gives both the person and the industry in which they work, increased
confidence that the person can carry out their work professionally, in line with current
regulations, standards and requirements, and that they continue to enhance their knowledge
and skills.
e) Equivalence. The four rows in Table 1 show four levels of qualification and certification from
different countries and their approximate equivalence.

5. Other inspection qualifications and certifications adopted in Australian/New Zealand standards

for welding and fabrication
5.1 In a number of Australian/New Zealand standards, besides the WTIA, IIW and CBIP welding
inspector qualifications or certifications being specified, welding supervisors qualified to AS
1796:2001 Certificate Number 10 and AS 2214:2003 are also specified. Three typical examples
are shown below.
5.2 AS/NZS 1554.1:2011 Structural Steel Welding Code, Section 7 Inspection, Clause 7.2 states
“7.2 QUALIFICATIONS OF INSPECTORS
The inspector shall have had suitable training and experience in the fabrication and inspection of
welded structures. The holding of one of the following shall be accepted as evidence of these
qualifications:
(a) International Institute of Welding diploma as an IIW Welding Inspector, at the appropriate
level.
(b) A Welding Technology Institute of Australia Certificate as a Welding Inspector, at the
appropriate level.
(c) A Certification Board of Inspection Personnel (CBIP) New Zealand Welding Inspector.
(d A certificate as a structural welding supervisor in accordance with AS 2214.
NOTES:
1 The inspector should have at least the qualifications required for a welding supervisor.
2 The inspector should be certified as competent to inspect at the level required by the Principal or Inspecting Authority.
3 The inspector should not be involved in the supervision of the welded fabrication. ”

5.3 AS/NZS ISO 3834.5:2008 Page 7 Annex A Guidelines on qualification/education scheme for
personnel dealing with welding coordination and inspection shows the IIW International Welding
Inspection Personnel (IWIP) qualifications listed in Table 1.
5.4 Boilers, pressure vessels and pressure plant in Australia are usually subject to independent
fabrication inspectors in accordance with AS 3920.1-1993 Assurance of product quality: Part 1
Pressure equipment manufacture either by regulatory inspectors or the above AS 1796 Certificate
10 or WTIA Welding Inspectors Certificate. Revision of AS 3920.1 and amendments by Standards
Australia is now well advanced and is expected to be published in 2013.

6. WTIA Experience in Certification of Welding Personnel

6.1 Certification in welding commenced in Australia in the early 1930s by Industry (via WTIA
predecessor), and later by Regulators to ensure consistency across Australia and between States
and Territories.
6.2 WTIA has been involved in welding inspector qualification/certification since 1978 and is recognised
in Australian Standards.
6.3 Prior to 2009, WTIA had only one level of “welding inspector”. This and CSWIP 3.2 and AWS
Certified Senior Welding Inspector were treated as equivalent.

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 6.4 With the introduction worldwide of the International Institute of Welding (IIW) International Welding
Inspection Personnel (IWIP) programs, during 2008 WTIA adopted the IIW three tier International
Welding Inspector qualification programme to underpin its new three-tier WTIA welding inspector
certification programme and replaced its existing WTIA Welding Inspector with WTIA Certified
st
Senior Welding Inspector (CSWI). [Reference, Australasian Welding Journal (AWJ) 1 Quarter
2008].

7. Conclusions and Recommendations

7.1 WTIA hopes this note helps resolve many welding inspection concerns by explaining the above to
the specifiers or employers and others involved. It is based on past and recent practices which
have worked very well.
7.2 It is recommended that:
a) Various bodies and parties use this guidance note.
b) Industry advice of any improvements will be welcome at any time.
c) To assist Australian industry, WTIA will develop a Guidance Note on the relationship of
welding inspector qualifications or certifications with other welding qualifications.
d) Multi-national and other overseas organisations will be advised of this Note and, for those not
utilising IIW, WTIA, CBIP, SAIW and equivalent welding inspector qualification or certification,
it will be recommended for them to include them in their specifications for welding plant and
structures.

DISCLAIMER: While every effort has been made and all reasonable care taken to ensure the accuracy of the material contained herein, the authors, editors and publishers of this publication shall not be held to be liable or responsible in any
way whatsoever and expressly disclaim any liability or responsibility for any injury or loss of life, any loss or damage costs or expenses, howsoever incurred by any person whether the reader of this work or otherwise including but without in
any way limiting any loss or damage costs or expenses incurred as a result of or in connection with the reliance whether whole or partial by any person as aforesaid upon any part of the contents of this publication. Should expert assistance be
required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

ABN: 69 003 696 526

PO Box 6165, Silverwater NSW 1811
Unit 50, 8 The Avenue of the Americas, Newington NSW 2127
Ph: +61 (0) 2 8748 0100 Fx: +61 (0) 2 8748 0181 Email: info@wtia.com.au Webpage: www.wtia.com.au

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