Moe

If you have experience doing inspection for structural fabrication, you will have a leg - up.  Try to immerse yourself in the subject.  I recommend that you read 20 pages each day of the Welding Symbols Book, the Definitions Book, and the Welding Inspection Handbook and The CM 94.  When you are done with each book, start over, 20 pages each night.  If you can't manage 20 pages each night, try 10 pages.  The drgree of intensity of your immersion is up to you.

Read one chapter of the WIT book every day.  After you have read all the WIT Chapters several times, and If you can get the WIT-Workbook, take one  practice exam for one chapter at a time, and give yourself a time of 45 seconds for each question.  Each time you take the self timed exam, check the answer sheet for the right answer to each question. (Note - Some of the answer sheet answers are wrong!) Then look up the answer to each question in the WIT, and read a few paragraphs each side of the paragraph that gives you the answer.   It is important that you re-read the chapter after you take the first exam and have looked up the answers.   Don't be afraid to look up the information elsewhere, like in the AWS Welder's Handbook.

Do not use up all the workbook questions, until the week before you are going to sit for the exam! Save at least one practice exam for a last minute confidence builder.

As for Hands-On practice, do whatever you can on your Special Inspection job, and plan on taking the AWS, one day, Hands-On Training seminar.  Learn to use the inspection instruments, especially the 6 inch ruler and the Fillet Gauges.  When you practice with these instruments, get in the habit of making very careful evaluations.

This CWI examination is more detailed than the ICC Examination, and the Practical Examination is completely new to your experience.  Your ICC examination experience will not prepare you for the difficulty of the AWS CWI examinations.

Study, Study Study and good luck.

Joe Kane