What Makes a Good CWI?
It’s More Than Just Knowing the Code
When people think about becoming a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), the focus usually falls on the technical side: code books, weld profiles, destructive testing, metallurgy. And yeah—that stuff matters.
But being a great CWI? That’s a different skill set entirely.
It’s not just about knowing the code. It’s about how you carry yourself. How you communicate. How you lead. And how you treat people doing some of the hardest, most underappreciated work out there.
Jason Becker mentioned "the rising demand for soft skills like communication, teamwork... the kind of skills that don't come from a welding machine” on a recent episode of State of the Arc (a podcast you should absolutely be listening to, along with Arc Junkies and Weld Wednesdays with AWS).
You Have to Be Coachable—Even as a CWI
“Coachable” is a word you hear a lot in sports. But it belongs in the welding world too. Because welding—just like sports—is a skill-based, performance-driven craft. And CWIs? We’re not immune to needing growth either.
Being coachable means being open to feedback, no matter your title. Maybe you misread a weld. Maybe someone shows you a better way to communicate an issue. Maybe your initial assumption was wrong. That doesn’t mean you’re bad at your job—it means you’re learning, and willing to grow.
The same goes for welders. A coachable welder is the kind of person you want on a jobsite. One who learns from their mistakes, takes pride in improvement, and doesn’t let ego get in the way of progress.
But here’s the thing: Welders are more likely to be coachable when you are too.
If your whole approach is rigid, combative, or dismissive—don’t expect people to respond well. Growth has to go both ways.
Communication Is Key—Teamwork Matters Just as Much
Nobody wants to work with someone who’s always right and never listens. That applies whether you’re a welder, an inspector, or anyone in between.
If you want to be effective as a CWI, you have to know how to communicate in a way that invites problem-solving—not finger-pointing. You don’t have to sugarcoat everything, but you should know how to read the room and adjust accordingly. Because at the end of the day, the job is the same for all of us:
Does the weld pass or fail?
and
How do we get it right without creating chaos?
Respect Is Everything
Welders are prideful people—and they should be. It’s a tough job. Hot, dirty, physically demanding, and full of pressure. Every weld has a name on it. And if something fails, it’s usually the welder who’s first under the microscope.
So, if you’re going to walk up to someone’s work with a gauge in hand, you’d better carry a healthy dose of humility and respect with you. Because the minute you start throwing your title around without showing respect for the work or the person who did it, you’ve lost them.
Respect doesn’t mean letting things slide. It means handling issues professionally.
Did the people in the back hear that one? I’ll say it again.
Respect doesn’t mean letting things slide. It means handling issues PROFESSIONALLY.
It means understanding that most welders want to do good work, and your job is to help ensure they can.
A good CWI doesn’t create tension—they create standards. And welders will rise to those standards if they trust the person setting them.
Final Thought
Getting your CWI is a HUGE accomplishment.
But don’t stop growing once you pass the exam.
If you really want to make a difference—on the floor, in the field, or in your career—focus on the things that don’t show up on a Scantron:
Being coachable
Listening more than you speak
Communicating with clarity
Treating people with respect—even when delivering tough calls
Because anyone can point out a defect.
Not everyone can build trust while doing it.
And that’s what makes a good CWI.