9 Best Welding Certifications of 2026

If you have around five years of welding work behind you, the AWS Certified Welding Inspector is the credential most tied to better-paid roles: AWS links it to higher income potential, publishes every fee, and lets you add code endorsements such as API 1104 and ASME Section IX for $445 each at member rates. Every working welder should also hold AWS Certified Welder tests, because they are performance-based, have no prerequisites and cost $70 to file with AWS plus the test facility's fee. Refinery and plant inspectors get strong value from API 577 at $380 for members, and future foremen can take the AWS Certified Welding Supervisor with three years of experience. Beginners who need training first can choose Hobart Institute's 24-week program, students usually meet NCCER in school, welders in Canada need CWB qualification, and automation specialists should look at AWS CRAW.

Top picks

Best overall

AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)

8.7 / 10

Experienced welders ready to move into inspection and quality roles

Read the review →

Runner-up

AWS Certified Welder (CW)

8.6 / 10

Welders at any level who want a portable credential

Read the review →

Also great

API 577 Welding Inspection and Metallurgy

8.1 / 10

Welding inspectors and metallurgists in refining and petrochemical plants

Read the review →

Comparison table

#	Tool	Best for	Pricing	Score
1	AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)	Experienced welders ready to move into inspection and quality roles	$1,255 for the initial exams for AWS members, $1,520 for non-members; seminar and exam packages from $3,070 for members	8.7
2	AWS Certified Welder (CW)	Welders at any level who want a portable credential	$70 AWS application fee; the weld test itself is priced by each Accredited Test Facility; $105 a year for maintenance	8.6
3	API 577 Welding Inspection and Metallurgy	Welding inspectors and metallurgists in refining and petrochemical plants	$380 for API members, $440 for non-members for initial certification; recertification $265 member, $320 non-member	8.1
4	AWS ASME Section IX and Piping Endorsement	CWIs working on power plant and process piping jobs	$445 for AWS members, $540 for non-members per endorsement exam	7.9
5	AWS Certified Welding Supervisor (CWS)	Lead hands and foremen moving into welding management	$665 for AWS members, $756 for non-members for the Prometric exams; seminar packages from $1,585	7.9
6	Hobart Institute Structural Welding Program	Career changers who need full training before certifying	$15,400 tuition; $18,080 projected total with equipment and training materials	7.6
7	CWB Welder Qualification	Welders working for certified fabricators in Canada	See vendor pricing (USD check pending); each accredited test centre sets its own fees	7.5
8	AWS Certified Robotic Arc Welding (CRAW)	Welders moving into robotic and automated welding cells	$480 for AWS members, $745 for non-members for the Technician or Operator exam	7.4
9	NCCER Welding	High school, college and apprenticeship students in construction trades	See vendor pricing (USD check pending); offered through NCCER-accredited training programs	7.4

The full ranking

1. 1.

   Rank 1 · Best overall

   AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)

   The American Welding Society's inspector credential, earned by passing a three-part exam on fundamentals, practical inspection and code application.

   aws.org

   8.7

   out of 10

   Best for: Experienced welders ready to move into inspection and quality roles

   The Certified Welding Inspector credential is the step most welders take when they want to move from the booth into inspection, quality control or supervision, and AWS says the certification brings recognition and higher income potential. Candidates must pass three exams: Part A on fundamentals, Part B on practical inspection with tools and weld replicas, and Part C on applying a code book, with at least 72% on each part. Parts A and C run on computers at more than 450 Prometric centers. The entry bar is real: with a high school diploma you need five years of welding-based work experience, and fewer years if you hold a welding or engineering degree. AWS publishes every fee. Initial exams cost $1,255 for members and $1,520 for non-members, and seminar plus exam packages start at $3,070 for members. Renewal at years three and six costs $650 for members who renew by work experience. Once certified, you can add code endorsements such as API 1104 or ASME Section IX for $445 each at member rates.

   Standout feature

   AWS CWI is the best choice for veteran welders moving into inspection because it adds code endorsements such as API 1104 and ASME Section IX for $445 each at member rates.

   Use cases

   • Pipeline welders with five or more years on the job

     Pass the CWI exam with an API 1104 focused seminar

     Outcome: An inspector credential that can carry an API 1104 endorsement

   • Shop leads in structural fabrication

     Take the D1.1 focused CWI seminar and exam package

     Outcome: Qualification to inspect work against the structural steel code

   Key features

   • Three exam parts: A (Fundamentals), B (Practical) and C (Code Book)
   • Minimum score of 72% on each part
   • Parts A and C taken by computer at more than 450 Prometric centers
   • Code endorsements available for D1.1, API 1104, ASME Section IX and more
   • Seminar options in person, online over 2 or 8 weeks, or self-paced

   Pros

   • +Published price list covering exams, seminars, renewals and retests
   • +Degrees and trade courses can substitute for part of the experience requirement
   • +Recognized by AWS as a route to inspection work across steel, pipeline and piping codes

   Cons

   • -Requires 5 years of welding-based work experience with a high school diploma
   • -A vision test and employment verification are part of the application
   • -Seminar and exam packages run $3,070 to $3,935 for members
2. 2.

   Rank 2 · Runner-up

   AWS Certified Welder (CW)

   A performance-based welder certification tested at AWS Accredited Test Facilities and recorded with the American Welding Society.

   aws.org

   8.6

   out of 10

   Best for: Welders at any level who want a portable credential

   The AWS Certified Welder program is the most direct way to turn welding skill into a credential that travels with you. AWS describes the test as strictly performance-based, so there are no prerequisite courses: you book an appointment at an AWS Accredited Test Facility, deposit a weld that an AWS Certified Welding Inspector evaluates, and the facility sends your application to AWS. Tests follow the QC47 specification and cover procedures used in structural steel, petroleum pipelines, sheet metal and chemical refineries, and you can earn several certifications to show a wider range of processes and positions. AWS charges a $70 application fee and $105 a year for a WeldCert Pro subscription that handles unlimited maintenance renewals, but the test itself is priced by each facility, so the real cost depends on where you test. If you fail, you can retest at any time. Hobart Institute, an ATF since 1989, notes that the certification is added to the AWS national registry that employers can check.

   Standout feature

   AWS Certified Welder is the best choice for welders who want a credential that moves with them because the test is performance-based and AWS charges $70 to apply.

   Use cases

   • New welders leaving a training program

     Take a performance test at a nearby Accredited Test Facility

     Outcome: A transferable AWS credential listed in the national registry

   • Traveling welders changing employers

     Keep certifications current through WeldCert Pro

     Outcome: Proof of skill that does not depend on one company's paperwork

   Key features

   • Performance-based weld test with no prerequisite courses
   • Tests at AWS Accredited Test Facilities worldwide under the QC47 specification
   • Covers procedures used in structural steel, petroleum pipeline, sheet metal and chemical refinery welding
   • Welds inspected by an AWS Certified Welding Inspector
   • Credentials managed in the AWS WeldCert Pro online portal

   Pros

   • +No prerequisites: if you can make the weld you are eligible
   • +You can retest at any time after a failed test
   • +Welders can stack multiple certifications for different processes and positions

   Cons

   • -Test fees are set by each test facility, not published by AWS
   • -Requires a $105 yearly WeldCert Pro subscription for maintenance
   • -Certification must be kept current by submitting maintenance before expiration
3. 3.

   Rank 3 · Also great

   API 577 Welding Inspection and Metallurgy

   An American Petroleum Institute certification that tests welding inspection and metallurgy knowledge for the petrochemical industry.

   api.org

   8.1

   out of 10

   Best for: Welding inspectors and metallurgists in refining and petrochemical plants

   API 577 is a knowledge certification from the American Petroleum Institute for people who inspect welds and judge metallurgy in refineries and petrochemical plants. The exam lasts 3.25 hours and has 110 questions, of which 100 are scored, and API does not allow paper or reference materials in the room. You can sit it at a test center or through remote proctoring. Eligibility depends on education and petrochemical industry experience gained within the last 10 years: three years with a high school diploma, one year with an engineering or technology degree, and five or more years with no formal education. Holders of a current API 510, 570 or 653 certification qualify automatically. API lists the initial fee at $380 for members and $440 for non-members, and recertification every three years at $265 for members, with no employment verification required at this time. This is not a welder performance test, so it suits inspectors and welding engineers more than welders on the tools.

   Standout feature

   API 577 is the best choice for refinery inspectors because the initial fee is $380 for members and current API 510, 570 or 653 holders qualify automatically.

   Use cases

   • API 510 or 570 inspectors

     Add API 577 without a separate experience review

     Outcome: A welding and metallurgy credential next to their inspector certification

   • Refinery welding engineers

     Sit the exam by remote proctoring

     Outcome: Documented welding metallurgy knowledge for plant work

   Key features

   • 3.25-hour exam with 110 questions, 100 of them scored
   • Taken at test centers or by remote proctoring
   • Certification valid for three years
   • Automatic eligibility for current API 510, 570 or 653 holders
   • No employment verification required to recertify

   Pros

   • +Initial fee of $380 for members is low for an inspector credential
   • +Remote proctoring option
   • +Recertification costs $265 for members

   Cons

   • -Requires documented petrochemical industry experience, 3 years with a high school diploma
   • -Paper and reference materials are not allowed in the exam
   • -Narrow focus on petrochemical work
4. 4.

   Rank 4

   AWS ASME Section IX and Piping Endorsement

   An add-on CWI endorsement covering ASME BPVC Section IX with B31.1 power and B31.3 process piping.

   aws.org

   7.9

   out of 10

   Best for: CWIs working on power plant and process piping jobs

   ASME Section IX is the code that governs welder and procedure qualification for boilers, pressure vessels and piping, and welders usually qualify to it through their employer. For inspectors, AWS turns that code knowledge into a credential with this CWI endorsement, which also covers B31.1 power piping and B31.3 process piping. AWS says the endorsement shows proficiency in welding power and process piping systems to employers in power generation and process piping. The exam stays open-book, but from July 1, 2025 it uses Section IX-2023 and the 2024 editions of B31.1 and B31.3, and Prometric centers no longer show PDF codebooks on screen, so you need bound printed copies. The fee is $445 for AWS members and $540 for non-members. The API 1104 Pipeline endorsement costs the same, which makes it the parallel choice for pipeline inspectors. Only current CWIs and SCWIs can earn it, so treat it as the second step after the CWI.

   Standout feature

   The ASME Section IX endorsement is the best choice for CWIs on piping work because one $445 member exam covers Section IX, B31.1 and B31.3.

   Use cases

   • CWIs at power plants

     Pass the open-book Section IX, B31.1 and B31.3 exam

     Outcome: A piping code endorsement on their CWI

   • Pipeline inspectors

     Choose the API 1104 Pipeline endorsement instead

     Outcome: A pipeline code endorsement at the same $445 member fee

   Key features

   • Covers ASME BPVC Section IX, B31.1 Power Piping and B31.3 Process Piping
   • Exam updated to Section IX-2023 and B31.1/B31.3-2024 editions from July 1, 2025
   • Open-book exam with your own bound hard-copy codebooks
   • Taken at Prometric computer-based testing centers
   • Sister endorsements include API 1104 Pipeline and D1.1 Structural Steel at the same price

   Pros

   • +Same $445 member price as other code endorsements such as API 1104
   • +Open-book format
   • +Adds a piping code specialty to an existing CWI

   Cons

   • -Only open to current CWIs and SCWIs
   • -Since July 2025 no on-screen PDF codebooks at Prometric centers, so you must buy printed codes
   • -Not a welder performance qualification
5. 5.

   Rank 5

   AWS Certified Welding Supervisor (CWS)

   An AWS credential for people who run welding operations, covering safety, quality, production cost and leadership.

   aws.org

   7.9

   out of 10

   Best for: Lead hands and foremen moving into welding management

   The Certified Welding Supervisor credential is aimed at the person who keeps a welding floor productive rather than the person who signs off welds. AWS training covers three parts: welding safety and quality, production and cost control with lean manufacturing, and supervisory and leadership skills including code compliance. The entry requirements are lighter than for the CWI. AWS asks for a high school diploma or GED and at least three years of welding experience, with two years of supervision experience preferred but not required. Exams run at Prometric centers and cost $665 for AWS members and $756 for non-members. If you want instruction first, the supervisor seminar costs $1,585 for members and the Supervisor Value Pak $2,120. Renewal costs $425 for members. The tradeoff is recognition: job postings for inspection ask for a CWI, so the CWS fits best if you are aiming at foreman, superintendent or shop manager roles.

   Standout feature

   AWS CWS is the best choice for welders heading into management because it asks for three years of welding experience and the exams cost $665 for AWS members.

   Use cases

   • Foremen at fabrication shops

     Take the supervisor seminar and exams

     Outcome: A credential that covers cost control and lean practices

   • Welders with three years on the job

     Pass the CWS exams at a Prometric center

     Outcome: A management credential before they qualify for CWI

   Key features

   • Three content areas: safety and quality, production and cost control, supervisory skills
   • Exams at Prometric centers
   • Covers welding economics, lean manufacturing and OSHA compliance
   • Supervisor seminar available on its own or in a Value Pak
   • Renewal and 9-year recertification by exam or professional development hours

   Pros

   • +Lower experience bar than CWI: 3 years of welding experience with a high school diploma
   • +Exam fee of $665 for members
   • +Focuses on cost and productivity, not only inspection

   Cons

   • -Less known than CWI for inspection roles
   • -Seminar adds $1,585 for members
   • -Supervision experience is preferred
6. 6.

   Rank 6

   Hobart Institute Structural Welding Program

   A 24-week, 840-hour welding training program in Troy, Ohio, with testing for four welder qualifications.

   welding.org

   7.6

   out of 10

   Best for: Career changers who need full training before certifying

   Hobart Institute of Welding Technology is a nonprofit school in Troy, Ohio, that says it has trained more than 100,000 welders over 95 years and has been an AWS Accredited Test Facility since 1989. Its Structural Welding Program is the shorter of two full programs: 24 weeks and 840 hours covering the major processes and all-position plate welding, with the chance to test four welder qualifications in shielded metal arc, flux cored, gas metal and gas tungsten arc welding. Tuition is $15,400 and the projected total, with $1,525 for equipment and $1,155 for training materials, is $18,080. The 40-week Pathways program costs $23,700 in tuition and adds a pipefitter or welder-fabricator track with up to six qualification tests. Hobart also runs a two-week, 80-hour CWI exam prep course with a 30-student cap for later in your career. This is the most expensive option here because it is training plus testing, not a single exam.

   Standout feature

   Hobart Institute is the best choice for beginners because its 24-week program includes the chance to test four welder qualifications, at a published $15,400 tuition.

   Use cases

   • Career changers with no welding background

     Complete 840 hours of structural training

     Outcome: Up to four welder qualification tests and entry-level readiness

   • Welders planning ahead for inspection

     Return for the two-week CWI exam prep course

     Outcome: Structured preparation for all three CWI exam parts

   Key features

   • 24 weeks and 840 hours of training
   • Opportunity to test four welder qualifications: SMAW, FCAW, GMAW and GTAW
   • 40-week Pathways program adds pipefitter or welder-fabricator tracks
   • AWS Accredited Test Facility since 1989
   • Two-week, 80-hour AWS CWI exam prep course with up to 30 students

   Pros

   • +Projected total cost published on the program page
   • +Nonprofit school accredited by ACCSC
   • +Six welder qualification tests available in the longer Pathways program

   Cons

   • -$18,080 projected total is far more than a single certification test
   • -Main campus is in Troy, Ohio, so most students relocate or commute
   • -Full-time program takes 24 weeks
7. 7.

   Rank 7

   CWB Welder Qualification

   The CWB Group's welder qualification under CSA standards, required for certain welding work in Canada.

   cwbgroup.org

   7.5

   out of 10

   Best for: Welders working for certified fabricators in Canada

   If you weld in Canada, the CWB Group qualification is often not optional. CWB says people welding on certain products, buildings and bridge structures must be qualified by the CWB and work for a company certified under CSA W47.1, W47.2, W55.3 or W186, and calls its personnel qualification the only nationally recognized welding credential in Canada. You test with a CWB Service Representative watching, either in house at your employer or at a CWB Accredited Test Centre, and the result is a transferable classification: FW for fillet and tack welds, S for full thickness welded from both sides or with backing, and T for full thickness from one side without backing, which also covers S and FW. Most qualifications last two years, with a 90-day window on either side of expiry for a check test, and a failed test can be retaken within 90 days. The limits matter: the qualification is valid only while you work for a CWB certified company, and each test centre sets its own fees.

   Standout feature

   CWB Welder Qualification is the best choice for welders in Canada because CWB requires it for certain CSA-governed work and a T classification also covers S and FW.

   Use cases

   • Structural welders in Canada

     Test to a T classification at a CWB Accredited Test Centre

     Outcome: A qualification that also covers S and FW work

   • Canadian fabricators' new hires

     Take the qualification test in house with a CWB representative

     Outcome: Eligibility to weld on CSA-governed jobs

   Key features

   • Qualification under CSA W47.1, W47.2, W55.3 and W186
   • Transferable classifications FW, S and T
   • Tested by a CWB representative at the company or an accredited test centre
   • Retest allowed within 90 days of a failed test
   • ASME IX welder and procedure testing available in British Columbia

   Pros

   • +CWB calls it the only nationally recognized welding credential in Canada
   • +Testing can be done in house at a certified employer
   • +90-day window before and after expiry to check test

   Cons

   • -Only valid while employed by a CWB certified or applicant company
   • -Most qualifications must be retested every two years
   • -Fees vary by test centre and are not published by CWB
8. 8.

   Rank 8

   AWS Certified Robotic Arc Welding (CRAW)

   An AWS certification for operators and technicians who program welding robots to produce acceptable welds.

   aws.org

   7.4

   out of 10

   Best for: Welders moving into robotic and automated welding cells

   The CRAW program certifies people who program welding robots to produce acceptable welds. AWS offers two levels: Operator and Technician. Both require a high school diploma or GED and at least six months of manual or semiautomatic arc welding experience. Operators also need 12 months as a welder, including robotic and automatic operation, and three years in a welding or robotics-related occupation such as inspection or quality control, while Technicians need 18 months and five years. A degree in welding, robotics, electrical or engineering can substitute for up to two years of experience, and Technicians must hold a current CWI. The exam costs $480 for AWS members and $745 for non-members, upgrading from Operator to Technician costs $140, and renewal through professional development hours costs $280 for members. Re-examination or proof of active practice is required every three years. Pick this if your shop is adding robotic cells.

   Standout feature

   AWS CRAW is the best choice for welders in automated shops because it certifies robot programming and the exam costs $480 for AWS members.

   Use cases

   • Production welders in shops with robotic cells

     Earn the Operator level after working in robotic cells

     Outcome: An AWS credential for robot welding work

   • CWIs overseeing automated lines

     Take the Technician level exam

     Outcome: Proof of skill in both inspection and robotic programming

   Key features

   • Two levels: Operator and Technician
   • Shows you can program a robot to deliver an acceptable weld
   • Re-examination or proof of active practice every three years
   • Degrees may substitute for up to two years of experience
   • Operator to Technician upgrade for $140

   Pros

   • +Targets automation, a different skill set from manual welding certifications
   • +Clear upgrade path from Operator to Technician
   • +Renewal by professional development hours costs $280 for members

   Cons

   • -Operators need 3 years of related occupational experience and Technicians 5
   • -Technicians must hold a current CWI
   • -Non-member exam fee is $745
9. 9.

   Rank 9

   NCCER Welding

   A four-level welding curriculum and credential from the construction industry's education foundation, delivered by accredited training programs.

   nccer.org

   7.4

   out of 10

   Best for: High school, college and apprenticeship students in construction trades

   NCCER is a nonprofit education foundation created in 1996 for the construction industry, and its Welding program is offered through accredited high schools, colleges, employers and other training organizations. The 6th Edition runs four levels and 1,150 recommended hours including Core, starting with welding safety, oxyfuel and plasma cutting and weld quality, and moving through shielded metal arc, gas metal arc, flux cored and gas tungsten arc welding into pipe techniques. NCCER says Levels 1 and 2 support the AWS SENSE Entry Welder program and that the curriculum complies with Department of Labor standards for apprenticeship programs. Content is available in English and Spanish. You cannot buy it as an individual course: you earn NCCER credentials through an accredited school or employer, and the cost depends on that program. Treat it as the classroom record that sits alongside an AWS welder test rather than as a code qualification on its own.

   Standout feature

   NCCER Welding is the best choice for students because its four-level, 1,150-hour curriculum supports the AWS SENSE Entry Welder program.

   Use cases

   • High school and community college welding students

     Complete Levels 1 and 2 in an accredited program

     Outcome: NCCER credentials that support the AWS SENSE Entry Welder program

   • Construction apprentices

     Work through all four levels with an employer program

     Outcome: Training aligned with Department of Labor apprenticeship standards

   Key features

   • Four levels totaling 1,150 recommended hours, including Core
   • Covers SMAW, GMAW, FCAW and GTAW plus pipe welding
   • Levels 1 and 2 support the AWS SENSE Entry Welder program
   • Complies with U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship standards
   • Available in English and Spanish

   Pros

   • +Lines up with AWS SENSE, so school training can lead toward AWS credentials
   • +Credentials can be checked through NCCER's verification service
   • +Structured four-level path from safety to pipe welding

   Cons

   • -Only available through NCCER-accredited organizations
   • -Prices are set by each training program
   • -A curriculum credential, not a code welder qualification