FABTECH AWS Certification C17000 The American Welding Society develops and administers a variety of certification programs to help welding professionals identify qualified personnel and provide individuals with meaningful career objectives. The AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) program currently lists more than 45,000 inspectors designated as Senior CWI (SCWI), CWI, or Certified Associate Welding Inspector (CAWI). The AWS CWI program has become the gold standard for welding inspector credentials enhancing the careers of thousands of welding professionals. In 1989, the AWS Certified Welder program was launched to document the qualifications of welders nationwide. Certified Welder certifications are maintained by AWS in a National Registry. The testing facilities that conduct the qualification procedures are accredited by AWS and published in a list of Accredited Test Facilities (ATFs). In 1991, the AWS Certified Welding Educator (CWE) program was introduced, allowing welding instructors to earn this important credential. The Society also offers several endorsements designed to enhance an individual’s credentials and/or satisfy the nine-year recertification for CWIs and SCWIs. Other AWS certification programs include Certified Welding Supervisor (CWS), Certified Radiographic Interpreter (CRI), Certified Welding Fabricator (CWF), Certified Robotic Arc Welding Operator and Technician (CRAW-O and CRAW-T), Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng), and Certified Welding Sales Representative (CWSR). All of these programs are offered domestically and many are offered worldwide. The certification requirements are developed by committees of volunteer industry leaders. Visit the booth to learn more about serving on one of these committees and how obtaining AWS certifications can benefit you and your company. AWS Foundation C17000 Ten years ago, the American Welding Society Foundation inaugurated the Welding for the Strength of America Capital Campaign to add financial support to assist with the critical shortage of welders in the United States workforce. The effort has dual goals: establish additional scholarships to support entry-level students and those already involved in the welding profession; and build funding to support the AWS Welder Workforce Development Program. According to Weld Ed’s “State of the Welding Industry” report, an analysis of projected data that was gathered through the efforts of the National Skill Panel, shows that, by 2026, there will be a need for 370,000 new and replacement welding professionals. Also, since the start of the AWS Foundation scholarship program in 1991 we have awarded more than $7 million for welding training to more than 5500 individuals. The diversity of the awards is varied but the major emphasis is welder workforce development. For the 2015–2016 school term, awards were made to more than 500 students for more than For info, go to aws.org/adindex See us at FABTECH booth N5005 88 WELDING JOURNAL / NOVEMBER 2016
Welding Journal | November 2016
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