certified welding inspector

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can somebody shed some light on  this profession. how much can it pay, is it hard to find work, who offers the classes, is it expensive to pursue, is it worth it, is it a full time job or just something to do on the side. thanks in advance
Reply:Originally Posted by scubaholiccan somebody shed some light on  this profession. how much can it pay, is it hard to find work, who offers the classes, is it expensive to pursue, is it worth it, is it a full time job or just something to do on the side. thanks in advance
Reply:Try checking the AWS site, all the info there you need to get your planning underway.Anything worth doing is worth doing RIGHT
Reply:https://www.inspectionjobs.com/AWS CWI Hypertherm 850 plasmaLincoln LN-25Lincoln SAE 400Miller Big 40D28' X 36' X 14' Shop_____________________________________Tools are not the the skill but simply tools!
Reply:http://www.asnt.org/certification/certification.htmAWS CWI Hypertherm 850 plasmaLincoln LN-25Lincoln SAE 400Miller Big 40D28' X 36' X 14' Shop_____________________________________Tools are not the the skill but simply tools!
Reply:If you want to make more money you'll need to get other certs besides welding inspector.AWS CWI Hypertherm 850 plasmaLincoln LN-25Lincoln SAE 400Miller Big 40D28' X 36' X 14' Shop_____________________________________Tools are not the the skill but simply tools!
Reply:The American Welding Society has taken on the task of testing welders and others (engineers etc.,), to qualify to be a CWI. kind of a clearing house if you will.They have not been officially recognized but it is the only game in town.What i am saying is that if you have the experience and knowledge you may already qualify but having a nice piece of paper looks good.The AWS is located in florida. They can give you a list of where the test is being given. Their membership and monthly magazine are one of the best deals. The magazine tells you about what is going on around the world with welding and shows new equipment and up to date information. Some jobs too.The exam takes six  hours and is extensive. It costs $1300.00  and what you get is a set of very nice books and the structural welding code book. You go to a class for a week and study to take the test. I cannot imagine trying to pass the test WITHOUT taking the class. (Warning Will Robinson!) Even if you are retesting it would not hurt.When the test was given in my geographic area it was San Francisco.I did not have to pay for a hotel for a week for the class given in the hotel because i lived just 10 miles away.But all of this does NOt mean that someone who has been welding for years does not have the same knowledge.My biggest complaint is that if you are a welder and looking for a job as a CWIengineers may get the job simply because it looks better to have a degree in engineering and a CWI, EVEN THOUGH that engineer may have not done any welding at all. I think there needs to be a distinction for the benefit of welders.There is getting to be more organization in the welding world and more jobs ask for certified welders and CWI's. Most of all this stuff is oriented towards structural welding for iron structures etc.,.Being a good TIG (GTAW) welder requires a completely seperate path.Last edited by Donald Branscom; 12-23-2007 at 01:07 AM.
Reply:I just have to say one more thing. Even though it may be unpopular.If I had a son i would tell NOT to be a welder because it does not pay very well. And when you get over 50 no one wants an old guy.I would tell my son to be a doctor,lawyer ,dentist anything that would allow him or her to keep working and not be thrown away when they start to get old. Sorry
Reply:ive already been welding for a while right now im welding sanitary stainless in a plant that bottles juice. i went to tech school to learn welding i have just always wandered about being a weld inspector when i get older. welding has been real good to me personally but i have witnessed the trade not taking care of its elders. i really dont plan on welding but for another 5-10 years myself but i guess ill have to wait and see what happens. the job im working on now has two welding inspectors over our crew it is also 100% x ray. both inspectors are bigtime a** holes but seem to be doing really well for thereselves, it got me to wandering about the profession but it was too hard for me to swallow my pride and ask them. i guess if they were friendly it would be a conflict of interest
Reply:i would ask them
Reply:Originally Posted by scubaholicboth inspectors are bigtime a** holes..... seem to be doing really well for thereselves
Reply:as an inspector, it is not a good idea to be friendly with who you are inspecting. when you make friends, and then you make a call on your buddies weld and your buddy is saying "come on this will be fine for what it is built for". welders are a proud trade, for the most part, people do not like to hear "not good enough". i've been an inspector for over 15 years, and i would not want another job. i have been able to travel all over the world, all 50 states by the time i was 21. i can perform this job into my 60's, how many trades can you do this in? there is always room for advancing. i have over 18 certs, and many more i want to get. the aws cwi would probably be the best way for you to start. that cert with some ndt will keep you busy.also, do you have access to penetrant testing equipment? it only uses 3 different aerosol cans. this might be a ndt method you could start getting acquainted with at your current job. start reviewing your qc manual, wps', and applicable codes. ask as many questions you need to get a good understanding of how everything works together, and what the intent is. you will probably take a small pay cut for the first 1 to 3 years. the average pay for an inspector depends on a lot of things like area, experience, trade (pipeline, aerospace,...), contract, travel, and a few others. imo it will be an average of 50k after 3 to 5 years, with a range of 30k to 75k. with some work and a few more years in the trade you can make well over 100k
Reply:On construction sites we use a testing engineering company to come out and look at the welds. They also test soil compaction, paint thickness and concrete slump (same guy).Miller 252 Mig WelderMiller Spoolmatic 15AMiller Econotig TIG/ARC WelderMiller Spectrum 375 Extreme Plasma Cutter
Reply:thinks guys
Reply:Wow!  B.S. line of the day: I would tell my son to be a doctor,lawyer ,dentist anything that would allow him or her to keep working and not be thrown away when they start to get old.Instead of being on the work floor all your live, you ever think that you can move up in rank?  There are tons of kids walking though the door more that willing to take your position and help you up the ladder to bigger and better job titles that utilize your experience rather than kick you out on the street.   Work is honorable.  Do well because people are watching.I’m not sorry, but that is horrible advice.Last edited by Brainfarth; 12-30-2007 at 09:45 PM.Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:Originally Posted by Donald BranscomIf I had a son i would tell NOT to be a welder because it does not pay very well..