What to Look for in an Online CWI Prep Course
An online CWI prep course can be expensive but a good investment. If you pass the CWI exam, you can improve your earning potential and qualify for a higher-paying job or a promotion at your current workplace.
To avoid wasting money and get the most out of your time and effort, it helps to think carefully before choosing a course. Here are some things to consider.
Trustworthy Reviews
Reviews can be helpful when choosing an online training course, but not all reviews are equally reliable. Testimonials posted directly on a company’s website are easy to fake and difficult to verify, so they shouldn’t be your only source of information.
Instead, look for reviews on third-party platforms or through word of mouth. Feedback shared on social media or industry forums is generally more trustworthy because it’s much harder to manipulate. Sites like Reddit and Facebook groups often contain candid discussions where people share both positive and negative experiences.
When evaluating online reviews, you can further assess their trustworthiness by looking at the profile of the person posting them. On platforms like Reddit or industry forums, an active profile with a history of regular posts and comments is a good sign. Accounts that are brand new, have very few posts, or only post about a specific course may be less reliable.
Pay attention to how natural the review sounds and whether the person appears genuinely involved in the community. Users who are active in discussions and contribute on a variety of topics are much less likely to be associated with a company promoting a course.
If you’re willing to put in a bit more effort, consider reaching out directly to Certified Welding Inspectors—either locally or online—and ask what prep course they used and whether they would recommend it. Firsthand recommendations from people who have actually passed the CWI exam are far more valuable than anonymous online reviews.
In general, word of mouth is one of the most reliable ways to evaluate a CWI prep course. Because these courses can be expensive, there is strong incentive for some providers to use exaggerated or fake reviews. Taking the time to verify feedback can help you avoid wasting money and choose a course that truly prepares you for the exam.
Instructor Experience and Expertise
Another important thing to look at is who created the course. You want someone with a lot of real-world experience in the welding inspection industry. Ideally, this should not be someone who just passed the exam recently or a recent college graduate who may have gotten lucky on the test.
Someone who has spent years working in the field can provide deeper context, clearer explanations, and more practical answers to your questions. An instructor with long-term industry experience is also more likely to anticipate where students tend to struggle and explain complex concepts in a way that makes sense.
If you have questions while you’re studying, you want answers from someone who understands welding inspection as a profession, not just as an exam. That kind of experience shows up in how the material is explained and how questions are answered.
Proven Track Record
Along with experience, you also want a course that has been around for a while. A brand new course may look appealing, but longevity matters. A course that’s been around for several years has likely been used by many people, and those people were able to pass the CWI exam using that material.
That kind of track record is important because it shows the course actually works in real-world situations. Over time, courses like this are usually refined based on student feedback, which leads to more complete and better-organized study material. When a course has helped many people succeed over the years, that’s a strong sign you’re looking at something reliable.
Quick and Easy to Ask Questions
High-quality study material is important, but having quick access to the instructor can enhance your learning experience. A good online CWI prep course should make it simple to reach the instructor whenever needed, without leaving the course, opening your email, or navigating through multiple pages.
Ideally, a contact option is available on every page, making it convenient to ask a question whenever something isn’t clear. If contacting the instructor is difficult, you may end up asking fewer questions—something you definitely want to avoid, especially since the exam is challenging. An easy-to-use, easily accessible question form ensures you get the answers you need, making the course feel more supportive and helping you get the most out of the material.
AWS Approval
Another key factor to consider is whether the course is AWS-approved. When a course is approved by the American Welding Society, it means the organization has reviewed it and determined that it meets their standards for CWI exam preparation. That approval adds credibility and shows that the course is legitimate.
An Example of a Great CWI Prep Course
If you’re currently looking for this type of online CWI training, our prep course was built around all of these ideas.
The course was created by Matt Owens, a Certified Welding Inspector with many years of experience in the inspection industry. He passed the CWI exam on his first attempt in 2010 and later founded an inspection company in 2016. His company has delivered inspection services to notable clients, including Salt Lake City International Airport and Hollywood Burbank Airport.
The course has been available since 2017, and during that time, many people have gone through it and passed the CWI exam. Reviews can be found across Reddit with links available so you can verify them yourself.
Students also have direct access to Matt throughout the course. Every page includes a chat feature that allows you to ask questions right away, and responses are provided within 48 hours. Previous coaching conversations are available as well, so students can see the level of detail and knowledge behind the answers.
The course is 80 hours, fully online, and AWS-approved. It was created by someone with extensive industry experience and is designed to cover all the material you need to be well prepared for the CWI exam.
Click the button below for more information.