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Up Topic American Welding Society Services / Certifications / Thoughts on the CWI 9 year renewal course. (locked)
- - By Kix (****) Date 01-06-2016 20:07
So I'm up for recertification in June and I know there are 3 ways to go about doing this, but wanted to see what your thoughts are on the course and how beneficial it was. I could gain renewal through my teaching credit hours and or just taking the Part B again, but I know there is always good stuff to be learned out there with these courses. Hoping to learn some good stuff. Thoughts?? Is it worth the money??

Thanks,

Kix
Parent - By Cactusthewelder (*****) Date 01-07-2016 02:28
Personally, I would go about it any way I could without taking part B again. It has changed DRAMATICALLY as of this month.
Parent - By pipewelder_1999 (****) Date 01-07-2016 11:14
I like the test option but went with credit for teaching hours due to sheduling and $..

I have always enjoyed the tests.
Parent - - By KBNY (**) Date 01-07-2016 12:55
I took an endorsement exam in D1.2. If you've already passed the code exam in D1.1, then testing in another code that's smaller is easier to navigate. If  I had the hours to submit for the 9 year, I would have taken that route.
Parent - - By Kix (****) Date 01-07-2016 14:23
That's the sweet part, If I do the one week 9 year renewal course, I do not have to take the part B exam or turn in hours. I just have to show up for the week and learn some things. There's no test at the end so it's not a pass or fail deal I don't think. Or is it?
Parent - - By 803056 (*****) Date 01-07-2016 18:07
I think you should go for the new Part B exam! I have no doubt you will pass, but fair warning, it isn't the old Part B you might have remembered. I believe you will find it challenging.

I would recommend taking the two day preparation just so you will be familiar with the new samples. As one with 9 years of experience working with different codes, you should be fine with bouncing from one acceptance criteria to another. As was the case with the old Book of Specifications, one must read the new Book of Specifications carefully before responding to a question. An added complication is the "Exhibits" that include WPSs and PQRs. So, one must work with both the BOS and the exhibits to answer those questions.

It is a "harder" examination, but I believe it represents the tasks a CWI is required to perform in the field. The samples are much better than the old samples used for training and for the examination. Personal opinion: I liked the new Beta examination. I can only suspect the actual test will be very similar to the Beta. I found it challenging, but reasonable, with new types of problems to solve. I found it interesting that "strip charts" for PWHT are included. That isn't something a structural steel inspector would encounter on a regular basis.

If you want to play it safe, use PDHs earned from teaching a course offered to the general public, but remember, you can only collect credit for a particular course once even when it is taught once a year.

Best regards - Al
Parent - By mwmw (**) Date 01-07-2016 23:35
When i took the Beta in Oct there were no strip charts for PWHT but it was definitely more challenging. The instructor for the class told us that anyone who chose to take the new Part B for 9yr renewal would be a fool.  Ha
Parent - - By welderbrent (*****) Date 01-07-2016 18:16
Kix,

I too am contemplating which route to go but I may have a little longer to plan.

Everyone I know, and there are several, who have gone to the 'Boot Camp' say it was exceptional and they highly recommend it.

Taking an endorsement exam has advantages as it requires less time, money, can be done closer to home when an exam is near you and it gives you proof as to knowledge of a different code than your original exam.

Going by PDH's is a great way to go if one has been working on it the whole time as it increases your overall job resume and then you don't have to go anywhere later or spend that money that may or may not contribute to your exact needs.  And, it isn't that difficult to keep all the required records to prove you have the PDH's. 

Taking the Part 'B' is the most unnecessary, worthless, and also risky as the exam has changed so much in the past 5 years going through it's 2nd or 3rd major change now beginning this January (2016).  But, it does have the advantage of being available in multiple locations at multiple times and being one of the cheaper and fastest ways to accomplish the needed proof of qualified. 

My choice is the PDH route though I may still go and take the Boot Camp for the experience and because with all the things I do with our section and it's Certification Committee I want a first hand knowledge of as many of AWS's programs as possible to be able to give my whole hearted support or cautions about them when asked.

Good luck on your choice of routes.

He Is In Control, Have a Great Day,  Brent
Parent - - By KBNY (**) Date 01-07-2016 18:50
That is exactly why I took the endorsement exam... not too far from home and I was done with the exam in an hour. I love all the extra learning, but I couldn't afford the time when my renewal was up.
Parent - - By Duke (***) Date 01-08-2016 03:57
I would have loved to do Boot Camp, but didn't want to spend a butt ton of cash ,week off work, travel, hotel... Took the structural plan reading endorsement and was out the door $275 later, with an endorsement that enhanced my marketability. (Special Inspector)
There are a buttload of CWI's out there that can't read structural drawings, and this endorsment makes clients, building officials, etc. more comfortable.
And the best part? Didn't study for one minute.
Parent - By welderbrent (*****) Date 01-08-2016 05:00
Very true Duke,

That's a good one to take for any of us who have any amount of plan reading to do.  And gets you in and out fast and cheap.

He Is In Control, Have a Great Day,  Brent
- - By 803056 (*****) Date 01-08-2016 23:27
Come guys, how hard can the new Part B be? If I passed, anyone can.

Al
Parent - - By welderbrent (*****) Date 01-09-2016 00:58
AAAWWW  HHHAAA HHHAAAA  HHHHAAAA!! 

:lol:  Yeah right  :eek: 

Now if that isn't trying to set someone up for failure.  We all know the qualification resume you have.  There is no way you can convince me of that.

Besides, I believe it was the great Al Moore himself what said 'why would you WANT to take a test you already passed when you can add to your resume and learn new things?' 

And, truth be told, because so many CWI's are not using everything that is covered in the Part B, especially the new one, everyday and they don't take the refresher course there are a good many who fail.  I've proctored enough exams and heard the stories and complaints from them.

And now, you want us to take this new exam?  I don't think so, not when my certs hang in the balance anyway.  Maybe sometime just to see if I could but they won't let me do that.  I'll stick with either PDH's, an endorsement exam, or the Boot Camp.  I am pretty sure I have well over enough PDH's already with more in the works.  And I still would like to take the Boot Camp just to see what it is like.  Endorsements, there are some I would like and may start with the Blueprint Reading.  Already have Bolting but that doesn't get me all the way, only 20 PDH's if I remember correctly.  Also thought about taking a couple of the on line classes, Metallurgy in particular. 

Nice try though Al. 

He Is In Control, Have a Great Day,  Brent
Parent - - By 803056 (*****) Date 01-09-2016 01:16
Can't complain about a fella stirring the pot on occasion.

Al:yell:
Parent - By hvymax (**) Date 01-14-2016 19:43
Starting year 7 myself. Planning on getting UT this year and either RT or the Seminar next year. I thought part B was easy enough but why take chances.
Parent - - By Kix (****) Date 01-19-2016 14:18
Now your a comedian on top of being at weld phenom status. :grin:
Parent - By 803056 (*****) Date 01-20-2016 01:42
You have to bring some humor to the party once in a while.

Al
Parent - By TheNumber8 (*) Date 02-16-2016 01:12
Personally, I don't think the old Part-B nor the new Part-B is any harder than other examinations commonly found in the NDT world.  I think the biggest issue is people do not have enough training on the Part-B. Additionally, I have always heard stories about people applying other specifications "from memory" towards the Part-B which is almost a death sentence.

r/
David
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- - By welderbrent (*****) Date 02-28-2016 01:12
Talking about a thread that has totally gone to the dogs.  No, what a disservice to dogs.  This person rates even lower than a bottom sucker and needs to be eliminated from the gene pool. 

There is no reason to waste leaving opportunity open to such non-sense and total spam. 

There are easy ways to totally block this person and put them on a spammer list. 

Totally ridiculous and irresponsible.

BB
Parent - By electrode (***) Date 02-28-2016 09:03
"This person rates even lower than a bottom sucker and needs to be eliminated from the gene pool."

Brent, I wholeheartedly shall want to second that.
Excuse my French but ... like a parasitic disease.
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Up Topic American Welding Society Services / Certifications / Thoughts on the CWI 9 year renewal course. (locked)

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