IWC CS1.1 :2016 IWC CS1.

1: 2016 (E)
Certification schemes

IWE - International Welding

Experts Certification
Schemes.

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IWC CS1.1: 2016

Certification Schemes

Approved by the
International Welding Center Board of Director
April 18, 2016

IWE - International Welding Experts

Certification Schemes

1st Edition

Prepared by the
International Welding Center (IWC) Certification department

Under the Direction of the

International Experts Committee

Approved by the
IWC Certification Committee

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Abstract
This specification defines the certification requirements to certify IWE - International Welding Expert. The certification
requirement for International Welding Expert includes education, experience and satisfactory completion of an
examination, which includes demonstrated capabilities.
The examination tests the International Expert’s knowledge of Safety practice, metal joining and process, weld joint
geometry and welding symbols, welding metallurgy and microstructural, metal properties, heat treatment, welding
visual inspection, nondestructive examination, types and purpose of tests and examination and a good control of the
requirement of ASME IX standards with the best practice of welding qualification under requirements of some
construction code.
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Management System Document Number: 222-4-2016001-1

International Welding Center
BLOC A - A4, GREMDA ROAD, KM1.2, SFAX 3000
© 2016 by International Welding Center
All rights reserved
Printed in SFAX TUNISIA

Photocopy Rights. No portion of this standard may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form, including mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright
owner.

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Personnel

IWC Certification department

B. TAREK IWC PRESIDENT AND SENIOR INSTRUCTOR

A. DHOUHA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
D. FATHI HEAD OF TRAINING DEPRTMENT
AK. KHALIL HEAD OF CERTIFICATION DEPARTMENTA

IWC Main Certification committee

BA. FOUED President of IWC Main Certification Committee

B. TAREK Vice-President of IWC Main Certification Committee
A. DHOUHA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
K. GEORGE PROFFESOR IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
G. SAEV PROFFESOR IN MECHANICAL & WELDING ENGINEERING
M. WALID UNIVERSITY TEACHER IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
T. AHMED BUSINESS MANAGER IN AIRLIQUIDE
E. SLIM DIRECTOR OF ACOSERV COMPANY

International Experts Committee

B. TAREK IWC PRESIDENT AND WELDING ENGINEER
T. AHMED BUSINESS MANAGER IN AIRLIQUIDE AND INTERNATIONAL WELDING EXPERT
H.S MOSAAB PROJECT MANAGER AND INTERNATIONAL WELDING EXPERT
Z. SABRINE OILFIELD ENGINEER
J. SAMI LEVEL III FROSIO INSPECTOR
A. WALID III FROSIO INSPECTOR
BS. BREAK III FROSIO INSPECTOR
G. MAIK III FROSIO INSPECTOR
T. JOAO III FROSIO INSPECTOR
B. NAIM DIRECTOR OF OSHA NORTH AFRICA
H. SONDA QHSE MANAGER ACOSERV
J. MOHAMED QHSE DIRECTOR TPS
K. MALLEK QHSE MANGER SEREPT
BS. FATHI QHSE MANAGER SNDP
K. BASSEM NDE ENGINEER LEVEL II ZODIAC
J. FETHI NDE ENGINEER LEVEL II OMV
BHH. FAOUZI NDE LEVEL III SAYBOLT
N. SAMI GENERAL MANGER SOLB26 AND NDE LEVEL III
CS. OUSSEMA TECHNICAL MANAGER SOLB 26 MIDDLE EAST
M. ISSAM SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER FRIJNS STRUCTURAL STEEL MIDDLE EAST
C. HAMID QHSE MANAGER SOLB26 MIDDLE EAST

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Foreword
In today's world there is increasing emphasis placed on the need for quality, and weld quality
is an important part of the overall quality effort. This concern for product quality is due to
several factors, including economics, safety, government regulations, global competition, and
the use of less conservative designs.

While the welding qualification plays a large role in any successful welding quality control. In
reality, many people participate in the creation of a quality welded product.

This specification establishes certification requirements for IWE - International Welding

Expert. It describes how certification is determined, and the practice by which certification
may be attained and maintained.

The user of this Specification will evaluate the certification of each individual, and provide
examinations to test the individual’s knowledge in engineering skills and knowledge as well
as their ability to apply the principles of welding qualification.

To do this job effectively, the IWE must have a wide range of knowledge and skills, because
it involves more than simply looking at welds. Consequently, this certification is specifically
designed to provide both experienced and novice IWE a basic background in the more critical
job aspects.

Therefore the IWE shall have the same combined quality of the welding inspector and the
welding engineer.

An individual employed in this position is considered to possess a prerequisite amount of

knowledge, attitude, skills, and habits required to perform tasks autonomously, including the
selection, preparation and use of appropriate techniques and equipment, and to apply
theoretical knowledge and motor skills with minimum supervision.

The IWE is the person with the demonstrated education, experience, and knowledge in
accordance with the requirement of this specification and who successfully passes the
required examinations, shall be considered certified as an IWE - International Welding
Expert.

The IWE’s activities begin before production welding, continue through the production
process and end when the production process is complete.

Each employer shall be responsible for defining the specific duties of an IWE - International
Welding Expert in the place of employment. The IWE shall be able to demonstrate that he/she
can perform the activities defined in this standard.

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Disclaimer
The International Welding Center, assumes no responsibility for the information contained in this
publication. An independent, substantiating investigation should be made prior to reliance on or
use of such information.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Personnel Page 4
Foreword Page 5
Disclaimer Page 6
SECTION 1 GENERAL REQUIREMENT Page 8
1. Scope Page 8
2. Normative referenced documents Page 8
3. Terms and definitions Page 9
4. Functions of International Welding expert Page 10
4.1 Safety Page 10
4.2 Project Management: as project manager Page 10
4.3 Standards Page 10
4.4 Inspection Page 11
4.5 Welding qualification Page 11
4.6 Welding expertise Page 11
SECTION 2 TRAINING PROCESS REQUIREMENTS Page 12
1- Application process Page 12
1.1 Requirement Page 12
1.2 Applicant required documents Page 13
2- Body of knowledge Page 13
2.1 Welding technology Page 13
2.1.1 Safety practice in welding area Page 13
2.1.2 Metal joining and process Page 13
2.1.3 Weld joint geometry and welding symbols Page 13
2.1.4 Welding metallurgy and microstructural Page 13
2.1.5 Metal properties Page 13
2.1.6 Heat treatment Page 13
2.1.7 Welding visual inspection Page 13
2.1.8 Nondestructive examination Page 13
2.1.9 Test methods for evaluating welded joints Page 14
2.2 Welding qualification and ASME IX Page 14
2.2.1 Fundamental of welding qualification Page 14
2.2.2 Standard welding procedure specifications (SWPSS) Page 14
2.2.3 Procedure qualification record (PQR) Page 14
2.2.4 Types and purposes of tests and examinations Page 14
2.2.5 Welding performance qualifications (WPQ) Page 14
2.2.6 Practice of ASME VIII DIV 1 Pressure Vessel qualifications UCS – UHA - UHT Page 14
2.2.7 Practice of ASME B31.3 Process piping qualifications Fluid cat. D-M-HP-NFS Page 14
2.2.8 API 650 Welded Tank for Oil Storage qualifications Page 14
3- Training method Page 15
SECTION 3 Examination Process Requirements Page 16
1- Examination Requirements Page 16
2- Fundamental examination Page 16
3- Open book examination Page 17
4- Practical examination Page 17
5- Passing Requirements Page 17
6- Maintenance of Qualification Page 18
APPENDIX Page 19
Appendix 1 – Candidate application Page 20
Appendix 2 – Certificate model Page 22

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Section 1 General Requirements

1- Scope
1.1 This standard establishes qualification requirements for International Welding Center
(IWC) certification of Welding Expert Personnel. It describes how personnel are
certified, and the principles of conduct and practice by which certification may be
maintained.
1.2 IWE certification contains only one level.
1.3 In the certification process, IWC conducts an examination to determine a person’s
general knowledge of welding technology & qualifications and related technical areas.
No determination is made of an individual’s capabilities in applying that knowledge
within a specific work environment or under actual working conditions.
1.4 It shall be the responsibility of the employer to determine that the IWE is capable of
performing the duties involved in his or her particular welding expertise assignment.
1.5 This specification is intended to supplement the requirements of an employer, code, or
other documents and shall not be construed as a preemption of the employer’s
responsibility for the work or for the performance of the work.

2- Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this standard, the terms and definitions given in ISO 17000 and the
following apply.

The welding terms used in this specification are defined in AWS A3.0, Standard Welding
Terms and Definitions.

2.1 IWC Certification Department: The department that administers the certification
activities of the IWC and has the full responsibility to prepare any certification schemes
under the direction of International Expert Committees.
2.2 International Expert Committee: Persons that are participate in the preparation of
certification schemes and having appropriate skills in the desired certification topics.
2.3 International Expert Committee: Persons that are participate in the preparation of
certification schemes and having appropriate skills in the desired certification topics.
2.4 Committee: The certification Committee of the International Welding Center.
2.5 Competence: ability to apply knowledge and skills to achieve intended results.
2.6 Qualification: demonstrated education, training and work experience, where applicable.
2.7 Certification scheme: competence and other requirements related to specific
occupational or skilled categories of persons.
2.8 Certification requirements: set of specified requirements, including requirements of the
scheme to be fulfilled in order to establish or maintain certification.

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2.9 Certificate: Document issued by a certification body under the provisions of this
International Standard, indicating that the named person has fulfilled the certification
requirements.
2.10 Certification process: Activities by which a certification body determines that a person
fulfills certification requirements, including application, assessment, decision on
certification, recertification and use of certificates and logos/marks.
2.11 Assessment: process that evaluates a person's fulfillment of the requirements of the
certification scheme.
2.12 Examination: mechanism that is part of the assessment which measures a candidate's
competence by one or more means, such as written, oral, practical and observational, as
defined in the certification scheme.
2.13 Applicant: Person who has submitted an application to be admitted into the certification
process.
2.14 Candidate: Applicant who has fulfilled specified prerequisites and has been admitted to
the certification process.
2.15 Examiner: Person competent to conduct and score an examination, where the
examination requires professional judgment.

3- Normative referenced documents

 ISO 17024: General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons.
 Welding Technology Hand book Second Edition.
 ASME IX Guide Book Second Edition
 NEBOSH: IGC in occupational Safety and Health.
 IEC 31010: Risk assessment techniques
 IEC 61882 HAZOP studies.
 ANSI Z49.1: Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes
 ANSI Z87.1: Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices.
 AWS A3.0: Standard Welding Terms and Definitions.
 AWS A2.4: Standard Symbols for Welding, Brazing, and Nondestructive
Examination.
 ASME IX: Qualification standard for welding, brazing, and fusing procedures.
 ASME V: Nondestructive examination.
 ASME VIII DIV1: Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessels.
 ASME II: Material.
 ASME B31.3: Process piping.
 API 650: Welded Tanks for Oil Storage.

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4- Job and task description of IWE - International Welding expert

After certification, the IWE – International Welding Expert can perform the entire following
job in welding area:

- Project Manager
- Project Engineer
- Welding Engineer
- Welding Inspector
- Welding Supervisor
- Specialist in welding failure analysis
- Welding instructor
- Specialist in welding qualification
The IWE activities begin before production welding, continue through the production process
and end when the production process is complete.

The IWE – International Welding Expert shall be able to directing those operations associated
with weldments and other types of applied joints that are completed in accordance with the
appropriate contract documents, codes, and other standards to produce a satisfactory product.

IWE – International Welding Expert duties

Safety
Analyze safety culture in welding area.
Participate in Risk assessment process.
Participate in HAZOP meeting.
Determine the safety requirement according to AWS Z49.1 and AWS Z87.1.
Revue safety procedure and plan.
Project Management:
Review contract requirements
Review vendor proposal
Prepare weld inspection bid specifications
Prepare purchase specifications
Assist project team
Train supervisor and inspector
Prepare and review of related procedure
Capable of applying generally accepted engineering principles to the design of welded structures or structures
manufactured using other related processes.
Develop and maintain Quality Plan (PQP), Quality Control (PQC) … that assure engineering and customer
requirements are met throughout the production process
Develop, evaluate, and improves manufacturing methods utilizing knowledge of product design, materials and
parts, tooling and production equipment capabilities, fabrication/machining methods, and quality control
standards
Standards and code interpretation
Verify of base material compliance.
Verify filler metal compliance
Verify filler metal storage/handling compliance
Verify inspection records compliance
Verify proper documentation compliance
Verify base material and filler metal compatibility
Verify documented results compliance
Verify NDE procedures compliance
Inspection
Perform visual examinations
Verify examination procedure compliance
Review examination results compliance
Develop visual inspection procedures (before, during, and after welding)
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Provide NDE inspection planning and scheduling (before, during, and after a project)
Review welding inspection reports
Verify implementation of nondestructive and destructive evaluation methods
Prepare visual inspection requirements
Prepare NDE requirements
Report investigation results of quality inspection disputes
Prepare destructive testing requirements
Welding qualification
Prepare and review of Preliminary Welding procedure
Identify the code requirements concerning Heat treatment
Identify the code requirements concerning toughness requirement
Identify the required test to perform for Welding and Welder qualifications
Prepare and review of Welding MAP
Prepare and review of Welding procedure and specification
Certify Welding procedure and specification
Certify Welder Performance
Able to analyze of construction code for welding qualification
Welding expertise
Lead root cause analysis for all welding quality defects and/or findings
Supervise for implementation of corrective action and preventative action for welding quality issues; Analyze
failure, provide corrective and preventive action to respond to customer complaints
Provide clear welding technical requirements to supplier and follow up with Supplier Quality Engineer to
have suppliers provide root cause, corrective and preventive actions for all quality defects
Review & approve for a welding rework plan. Act as single contact to work with Design Engineer for welding
technical clarification and get approval for a repair plan
Provide welding technical instruction to operators and other to ensure that products and processes comply
with the relevant requirements of the welding quality of the products
Develop & provide necessary training to employee to build welding quality awareness to drive continuous
improvement

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Section 2 Code of Conduct

In order to safeguard the health and well-being of the public and to maintain integrity and
high standards of skills, practice, and conduct in the occupation of welding expertise; the IWE
shall be cognizant of the following principles and the scope to which they apply, with the
understanding that any unauthorized practice is subject to the Committee’s review and may
result in suspension, reprimand, or revocation of certification.

1 INTEGRITY.
The IWE shall act with complete integrity in professional matters and be forthright and candid
to their employer, the regulator or employer’s customer, and with the Committee or its
representatives, on matters pertaining to this specification.

2 RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PUBLIC.

The IWE shall act to preserve the health and well-being of the public by performing duties
required of welding expertise or others activities in a conscientious and impartial manner to
the full extent of the IWE (s) moral and civil responsibility and qualification. Accordingly, the
IWE shall:
2.1 Undertake and perform assignments only when qualified by training, experience, and
capability.
2.2 Present credentials upon request to persons authorized to examine them.
2.3 Will not falsely represent current status nor seek to misrepresent the IWE certification
by modification of certification documents or false verbal or written testimony of current
status, or utilize the certification stamp or number connected to a lapsed or terminated IWE
status.
2.4 Be completely objective, thorough, and factual in any written report, statement, or
testimony of the work and include all relevant or pertinent testimony in such communiqués or
testimonials.
2.5 Sign only for work that the IWE has evaluated, or for work over which the IWE has
personal knowledge through active supervision as defined in this specification.
2.6 Neither IWE with nor knowingly participate in a fraudulent or dishonest venture or
activity.

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3 PUBLIC STATEMENTS
3.1 The IWE shall issue no statements, criticisms, or arguments on weld expertise matters
connected with public policy which were inspired or paid for by an interested party, or parties,
without first identifying the party, the speaker, and disclosing any possible financial interest.
3.2 IWE shall publicly express no opinion on welding expertise subjects unless it is founded
upon knowledge of the facts in issue, upon a background of technical competence pertinent to
the subject, and upon honest conviction of the accuracy and propriety of the statement.

4 CONFLICT OF INTEREST
4.1 The IWE shall avoid a conflict of interest with the employer or client and shall disclose
any business association, or circumstance that might be so considered.
4.2 The IWE shall not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one
party for services on the same project, or for services pertaining to the same project, unless
the circumstances are fully disclosed to all interested parties or their authorized agents.
4.3 The IWE shall not solicit or accept gratuities, directly or indirectly, from any party, or
parties, dealing with the client or employer in connection with its work.
4.4 The IWE shall, while serving in the capacity of an elected, retained, or employed public
official, neither inspect, review, nor approve work in the capacity of IWE on projects also
subject to the Expert’s administrative jurisdiction as a public official, unless this practice is
expressly dictated by a job description or specification and all affected parties are notified.

5 SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYMENT
5.1 The IWE shall neither pay, solicit, nor offer, directly or indirectly, any bribe or
commission for professional employment with the exception of the usual commission
required from licensed employment agencies.
5.2 The IWE shall neither falsify, exaggerate, nor indulge in the misinterpretation of
personal academic and professional qualifications, past assignments, accomplishments and
responsibilities. Misrepresentation of current IWE certification status at the time of, or
subsequent to, submission of requested employment information, or in the solicitation of
business contracts wherein current certification is either required or inherently beneficial
(advertisements for training courses, consulting services, etc.) shall be a violation of this
section.
5.3 The IWE shall not claim that their credentials are suitable for anything outside of the
field of welding Expertise or for tasks outside of their endorsements.

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5.4 The IWE shall not disclose proprietary information, (i.e., commercially valuable
information not generally known) concerning business affairs or technical processes of a
present or former client or employer, without their written consent, except as necessary to
perform the duties of an IWE.

6 UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE.
Any violation of any part of the standard of conduct prescribed by this specification if related
to an IWE’s occupation, including any violation of the Code of Ethics contained in this
specification, shall constitute an unauthorized practice subject to the imposition of sanctions.

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Section 3 Required competence, abilities and prerequisites

1- Required competences: Education and experience requirements

Applicants seeking IWC - IWE certification shall meet the applicable education and experience
requirements as stated below:

Education requirement Experience requirement

Engineer - Master (Min 5 university
2 years’ work experience in welding functions.
education in mechanical Engineering)
Bachelors – License (Min 3 university
3 years’ work experience in welding functions.
education in mechanical Engineering)
2 years university in science 5 years’ work experience in welding functions.
Professional education in welding, 5 years’ work experience in welding functions.
10 years’ work experience in welding
Baccalaureate in science
functions.
CWI – CSWIP - CWeng 3 years’ work experience in welding functions.

Candidates shall submit verifiable documentation of experience in an occupational function

with a direct relationship to weldments fabricated to national or international standards and
directly involved in at least three of the following:
 Experience in welding inspection.
 Experience in welding supervision.
 Experience in welding qualification.
 Experience in teaching of welder and welding operator.
 Experience in steel construction design.
 Experience in gas, energy and oil industry
 Experience in Primary metal industries
 Experience in Machinery except elect.
 Experience in Welding distributors & retail trade

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2- Prerequisite:

In addition of the above requirements all candidates shall earned of:

 Minimum of 63 hours in welding technology according to Welding Technology
Handbook Ref. IWE T1.1 Last edition.
 Minimum of 42 hours in ASME IX code according to ASME IX Guide Book Ref.
IWE C1.1 Last Edition included practical applications.

2.1. Basic Sciences

In addition candidates shall have knowledge in the following topics:

Mathematics: The candidate shall have a working knowledge of algebra, trigonometry, solid
and plane geometry and calculus.

Physics: The candidate shall have a working knowledge of mechanics, heat, electricity,
electronic systems, magnetism, the dynamics of heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.

Chemistry: The candidate shall have a working knowledge of physical, organic and inorganic
Chemistry.

2.2. Welding technology

M1. Safety practice in welding area

Health and safety culture, Health and safety risk assessment, HAZOP - hazard and operability studies,
Safety in welding, cutting, and allied processes and Eye and face protection.

M2. Metal joining and process

Metal joining and cutting processes, Arc welding power sources, Shielded metal arc welding SMAW,
Gas tungsten arc welding GTAW, Gas metal arc welding GMAW, Flux cored arc welding FCAW and
submerged arc welding SAW.

M3. Weld joint geometry and welding symbols

Weld joint geometry, Welding position and Welding symbol.

M4. Welding metallurgy and microstructural

Physics of arc welding, Physical metallurgy and Metallurgy of welding.

M5. Metal properties

Properties of metals, Mechanical properties, Physical properties and Chemical properties of metals.

M6. Heat treatment

Heat treatment, Annealing, Normalizing of steel, Stress-relief heat treating of steel and Tempering of
steel

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M7. Welding visual inspection

Fundamentals of visual examination and Weld surface conditions

M8. Nondestructive examination

Radiographic examination, Ultrasonic examination, Magnetic particle examination and Liquid
penetrant examination

M9. Test methods for evaluating welded joints

Testing for strength, Hardness tests, Bend tests and Fracture toughness testing.

2.3. Welding qualification and ASME IX

M1. Fundamental of welding qualification

Welding qualification standards, ASME IX welding terminology and definition and Organizational
responsibility.

M2. Standard welding procedure specifications (SWPSS)

Standard Welding Procedure Specification History, Adoption of SWPSS, Use of SWPSS without
discrete demonstration, Forms, Production use of SWPSS and Permitted SWPSS mandatory appendix
E

M3. Procedure qualification record (PQR)

Welding variables, Contents of the PQR, Changes to the PQR, Format of the PQR and Organizational
responsibility.

M4. Types and purposes of tests and examinations

Base metals used for procedure qualification, Thickness limits and test, Tension tests, Guided-bend
tests, Notch-toughness tests — Charpy V-notch, Radiographic Examination, Visual examination —
performance.

M5. Welding performance qualifications (WPQ)

Welding variables for welder, Welding variables for welding operator, Welders qualification
Welding operator’s qualification, Expiration and renewal of qualification, Organizational
responsibility and Qualification test coupons

M6. Practice of ASME VIII DIV 1 Pressure Vessel qualifications UCS – UHA - UHT
Welding MAP, Toughness requirement, Heat treatment requirement, Determination of required WPS,
Determination of required PQR, Test specimen, PQR preparation, PQR preparation

M7. Practice of ASME B31.3 Process piping qualifications Fluid cat. D-M-HP-NFS
Welding MAP, Toughness requirement, Heat treatment requirement, Determination of required WPS,
Determination of required PQR, Test specimen, PQR preparation, PQR preparation

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M8. API 650 Welded Tank for Oil Storage qualifications

Welding MAP, Toughness requirement, Heat treatment requirement, Determination of required WPS,
Determination of required PQR, Test specimen, PQR preparation, PQR preparation

3- Abilities

3.1. Professional attitude

Professional attitude is often the key factor for the IWE success. IWE attitude often
determines the degree of respect and cooperation received from others during the performance
of expertise duties. Included in this category is the ability of the IWE to make decisions based
on facts so that Expertise are fair, impartial and consistent. If decisions are unfair or show
partiality or inconsistency, they greatly affect the IWE's credibility. IWE must be completely
familiar with the job requirements so that decisions are neither too critical nor too lax. It is a
mistake for the IWE to have preconceived ideas as to a component's acceptability.

Maintaining a professional attitude helps overcome obstacles to successful job performance.

3.2. Physical condition

Next, the IWE should be in good physical condition. Since the primary job involves visual
Expertise, obviously the IWE should have good vision, whether natural or corrected.
Another aspect of physical condition involves the size of some welded structures. Welds can
be located anywhere on very large structures, and IWE must often go to those areas and make
evaluations.
IWE should be in good enough physical condition to go to any location where the welder has
been. This does not imply that IWE must violate safety regulations just to do their duties.
Expertise can often be hampered if not done immediately after welding, because access aids
for the welder such as ladders and scaffolding may be removed, making expertise impossible
or dangerous.
Within safety guidelines, IWE should not let their physical condition prevent him from doing
the expertise properly.

3.3. Technical ability

Another quality the IWE should develop is an ability to understand and apply the various
documents describing weld requirements.
These can include drawings, codes, standards and specifications. Documents provide most of
the information regarding what, when, where and how the welding and subsequent expertise
are to be done.

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4- Documentation of Required competence, abilities and prerequisites

Only Education and experience requirements shall be documented.

Candidates shall submit verifiable documentation as below:

 Application as specified in form ref. 222-8-2017003-4

 Two Photo 5 cm x 5 cm with white background
 Employment certificate indicate the numbers of experience years
 Educational diplomas
 Copy of passport or national identification card

Note: Abilities and prerequisites requirement shall be mentioned conform to the present
specification in application ref. 222-8-2017003-4.

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Section 4 Certification process requirements

1- Initial certification
1.1. Criteria for initial certification

The IWC shall issue to each IWE applicant who complies with the applicable requirements of
section 3 of the present specification - Required competence, abilities and prerequisites -
certificate and a wallet card stating that the applicant has met the IWC certification
requirements.
Certification becomes effective on the first day of the 15 days following the date of
examination. Certification shall be valid for five years unless revoked for reasons defined in
Section 2 - Code of Conduct – or § 1.4. of this section – Criteria for suspending and
withdrawing certification -
The certificate shall indicate the date of certification.
The wallet card shall include the IWE photo; indicate the expiration date of certification.
The IWC shall release certification test results only to the applicant IWE, or to a person or
agency designated by the applicant IWE upon written request, and with notarized and
witnessed release.
The exceptions to this requirement are members of the IWC staff and members and officers of
the Committee, who may request and receive access to all information relating to program
participants in the necessary pursuit of their duties on behalf of the program. Extra copies of
test results, in addition to those provided at the time of certification may require payment of a
nominal administrative fee.
Requests for verification of status and certification number of IWE shall be provided to
requestors without charge. Only the certification number, date certified, expiration date, photo
and current status (current, revoked, etc.) shall be provided by the IWC staff members without
the express written approval of the applicant and IWE.

1.2. Assessment methods for initial certification

1.2.1 Written Test Requirements
Candidate shall pass each part of the applicable IWE examination. The examination includes
the following parts:
 A test on fundamental principles including all welding technology indicated in § 2.2 -
Prerequisite / Welding technology - of section 3 – Required competence, abilities and
prerequisites -
 A test on the requirements of a code, standard, or specification. – ASME IX / ASME
VIII or ASME B31.3 or API 650.
 A test on practical application of welding qualification knowledge including, but not
limited to, welding procedure qualification, welder qualification and welding
procedure specification.

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1.2.2 Examination Structure

Recommended examination subjects and recommended subject weights are given below.

Exam 1: Fundamental examination: Closed book.

The individual shall pass an examination without references consisting of questions from each
of the sixteen fundamental topics:

Examination Minimum number of questions

Safety in welding area 10
Welding Power sources 20
Welding process - SMAW 5
Welding process - GMAW 5
Welding process - FMAW 5
Welding process - GTAW 5
Welding process - SAW 5
Welding joint geometry 5
Welding symbol 5
Welding metallurgy 30
Metal property 10
Heat treatment 10
Visual inspection 5
Radiographic Film Interpretation 10
NDE: RT-UT-PT-MT 10
Destructive Test 10
Total 150

Exam duration: 3 hours

Exam 2: Open book examination: Only ASME IX is authorized

The individual shall pass an examination with references consisting of questions from each of
the five code topics:
Examination Minimum number of questions
General Requirements 3
Standards Welding Procedure Specification SWPS 3
Welding Procedure Specification WPS 10
Procedure Qualification Record PQR 20
Welder Performance Qualification WPQ 10
Total 46

Exam duration: 3 hours

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Exam 3: Practical examination: Only ASME IX & ASME IX Guide book is authorized

The individual shall pass an examination with references consisting of questions from each of
the three practical topics:

Examination Minimum number of questions

Welding Procedure Specification WPS 15
Procedure Qualification Record PQR 15
Welder Performance Qualification WPQ 16
Total 46

Exam duration: 3 hours

1.2.3 Assessment method

Each of the three examinations shall not have an individual score less than sixty percent
(60%) as follow:

Fundamental examination: 60 % (90 correct answers)

Open Book examination: 60 % (28 correct answers)

Practical examination: 60 % (28 correct answers)

Candidate who achieve a 60% overall composite score and that meet the requirement of section 2 &
3 of this specification will be certified as International Welding Expert IWE.

1.2.4 Retest:
Candidate who fails to pass one or two examination part and having individual part score more than
50% is required to retest only the failed part.
If one or more part score is less than 50% the candidate is required to retest all part.

Applicant may not exceed 4 exam attempts. If candidate has not passed examination within 4
attempts, he or she must submit a new initial application to IWC with updated work, training,
education and experience.

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2- Criteria and assessment methods for recertification

The IWE shall be responsible for:

 Maintaining a current address with the IWC Certification Department. Please notify the
IWC Certification Department at IWC directly of all address changes. Failure to maintain a
current address with the IWC Certification Department may jeopardize certification status.
 Maintaining certification by submitting an approved renewal application to the IWC
Certification Department by the expiration date of the current certification and no earlier
than 11 months prior to the expiration date of that certification.
 IWC may send a renewal notice, but if not received, it remains the responsibility of the IWE
to renew on time.
 Certification becomes effective on the first day of the month following the date of
examination. On that same month and day, expiration occurs five years later. A 60-day
administrative extension period is allowed. During this time, certification will be considered
as expired. If the paperwork is received on time and all renewal or recertification
requirements have been met, certification will be reactivated. For example,
Certification granted: May 1, 2015
Certification expires: May 1, 2020
Administrative extension period: May 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020
After June 30, 2020, applicant must meet the requirements of § 1.2.2 and § 1.2.3, as
applicable, to gain certification.
 Renewals submitted after the administrative 60-day grace period but within one year of
expiration may be accepted for renewal; however, administrative late fees may be applied.
 The IWE requesting renewal of certification shall attest to having no period of continuous
work inactivity greater than two years in activities.
 The IWE not meeting the above requirements may renew by taking the IWE Part C and
meet the scoring requirements.

Candidate shall document the evidence of its continuous works in activities indicated in § 1 of
Section 3.
Employer letter or others similar documents shall be submitted to IWC certification department.

3- Surveillance methods and criteria:

For the IWE certification there are no special surveillance methods for the period of certificate
validity.

Only the recertification criteria and appeals (see § 4) received from public for IWE is applicable.

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4- Criteria for suspending and withdrawing certification

The Committee shall have the power to suspend, refuse renewal, revoke, place on probation, or
reprimand the IWE’s certification for misrepresentation of facts regarding personal qualifications,
status, assignments, etc., relating to IWE’s certifications whether such misrepresentation was made
at the time of application or on subsequent applications (renewal, etc.).
The Committee may suspend, refuse renewal, revoke, place on probation, or reprimand a certificate
holder, if found guilty of any unauthorized practice.
The Committee may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for further enforcement of its
administrative decisions and rulings.
Reinstatement of a revoked certificate shall be allowed with no penalty or prejudice to the
individual provided the reason for such revocation has been rectified to the Committee’s
satisfaction.

5- Criteria for changing the scope of or level of certification

Any change in the scope or the level of certification will be communicated to the candidate and do
not affect certification status in the period of validity.
New requirement that affect § 1.2.2 will be considered in the time of recertification and the
requirement for old IWE certificate will be mentioned in the new edition of the present
specification.

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IWC CS1.1 :2016

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IWC CS1.1 :2016

ANNEX A (Informative Annex)

Guidelines for Preparation of Inquiries for IWC Certification
Committees
.

A1. INTRODUCTION
The IWC Board of Directors has adopted a policy whereby all official interpretations of IWC
specifications are handled in a formal manner. Under this policy, all interpretations are made by the
committee that is responsible for the specification.
Official communication concerning an interpretation is directed through the IWC staff member who
works with that committee. The policy requires that all requests for an interpretation be submitted
in writing. Such requests will be handled as expeditiously as possible, but due to the complexity of
the work and the procedures that must be followed, some interpretations may require considerable
time.

A2. Procedure
All inquiries shall be directed to:

Director, Certification Programs

Certification Department
International Welding Center
RD GREMADA KM1.5
IMM DREAL A4 SFAX
3000 SFAX TUNISIA

All inquiries shall contain the name, address, and affiliation of the inquirer, and they shall provide
enough information for the committee to understand the point of concern in the inquiry. When the
point is not clearly defined, the inquiry will be returned for clarification. For efficient handling, all
inquiries should be typewritten and in the format specified below.

A2.1 Scope
Each inquiry shall address one single provision of the specification, unless the point of the inquiry
involves two or more interrelated provisions. The provision(s) shall be identified in the scope of the
inquiry, along with the edition of the specification that contains the provision(s) the inquirer is
addressing.

A2.2 Purpose of the Inquiry

The purpose of the inquiry shall be stated in this portion of the inquiry. The purpose can be either to
obtain an interpretation of a specification’s requirement, or to request the revision of a particular
provision in the specification.

A2.3 Content of the Inquiry

The inquiry should be concise, yet complete, to enable the committee to quickly and fully
understand the point of the inquiry. Sketches should be used when appropriate and all paragraphs,
figures, and tables (or the Annex), which bear on the inquiry shall be cited. If the point of the
inquiry is to obtain a revision of the specification, the inquiry must provide technical justification
for that revision.

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IWC CS1.1 :2016

A2.4 Proposed Reply.

The inquirer should, as a proposed reply, state an interpretation of the provision that is the point of
the inquiry, or the wording for a proposed revision, if that is what inquirer seeks.

A3. Interpretation of Provisions

Interpretations of specification provisions are made by the Certification Committee. The committee
reviews the inquiry and the proposed reply to determine what the response to the inquiry should be.
Upon approval by the committee, the interpretation is an official interpretation, and the secretary
transmits the response to the inquirer and to the Website for publication.

A4. Publication of Interpretations

All official interpretations shall appear and posted on the IWC web site.

A5. Telephone Inquiries

Telephone inquiries to IWC Headquarters concerning the present specification should be limited to
matters directly related to the use of the specification. The IWC Board of Directors’ policy requires
that all IWC staff members respond to a telephone request for an official interpretation of any IWC
specification with the information that such an interpretation can be obtained only through a written
request.

A6. The Certification Committee

The activities of the Certification Committee regarding interpretations are limited strictly to the
interpretation of specification provisions or to consideration of revisions to existing provisions.
Neither IWC staff nor the committees are in a position to offer interpretive or consulting services
on:
(1) Specific engineering problems or
(2) Requirements that apply to topics outside the scope of the specification or points not
specifically covered by the specification. In such cases, the inquirer should seek assistance from a
competent engineer or consultant experienced in the particular field of interest.

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IWC CS1.1 :2016

ANNEX B (Mandatory Annex)

Candidate application

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IWC CS1.1 :2016

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IWC CS1.1 :2016

ANNEX C (Mandatory Annex)

Certificate model

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IWC CS1.1 :2016

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IWC CS1.1 :2016

ANNEX D (Mandatory Annex)

WALLET CARD

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IWC CS1.1 :2016

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IWC CS1.1 :2016

ANNEX E (Informative Annex)

EXAMPLE OF EXAM QUESTION

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IWC CS1.1 :2016

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 IWC CS1.1 :2016

IWC
RD GREMADA KM1.5
IMM DREAL A4 SFAX
3000 SFAX TUNISIA

2016 IWC - IWE

IWE International Welding Expert
An International Certification program

For details call 00216 74 463 593 or 00216 20 158 492

Or make your comment in www.iwc-group.com.tn/reclamation.php?idm=10
47
Or by mail to training@iwc-group.com.tn – sale@iwc-group.com.tn