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Instructors do not certify their own students in AWS Accredited Test Facilities (ATF's). But other institutions do not have the luxary of having multiple CWI/CWE's.
However as far as AWS D1.1 Structural Code and certification doccuments for CWI's and CWE's are conserned, "in my opinion" there is nothing at all that would limit an instructor from evaluating a students weld sample by whatever means are available (visual or destructive, rt, UT, whatever) and preparing a report that states what the student has completed. This does not qualify the student to do production welding. But it does state that the student was compliant on the process/material/thickness/positions noted in the test report. In fact in the D1.1 code there is no language that stipulates that a CWI must inspect anything.
I would ask your "someone" to show you exactly how this would be a conflict of interest and what specific code/specification they are using to back their assertion. Maybe there is something in writing that I've missed.
I think if a student has done code compliant work in class that they should have something to show for it!
AWS QC1 2007
http://files.aws.org/certification/docs/qc1-07.pdfHere is an excerpt from AWS QC5 AWS Standard for Certification of Welding Educators
http://files.aws.org/certification/CWE/QC5-91.pdf"4.6 Evaluation of Welder Training. The Welding
Educator evaluates the performance of welding students
to verify that they are properly trained and qualified
in accordance with the applicable welding procedures.
The Welding Educator reviews and verifies that the work
being performed follows the instructions.
4.7 Inspection. The Welding Educator performs
visual inspections of the "in-process" and completed
weldments to confirm that they comply with the
documents.
4.8 Reports. The Welding Educator prepares clear
and concise reports of the reviews, inspection results,
and performance data."
As you see here.. Making reports is part of the CWE's responsibilities.