Tuesday, February 7, 2012
National Welding Inspection School
This post is for all my Inspectors, Chief Inspectors and the wanna-be-ones too! I highly recommend this program and taking the time out of your busy schedules to obtain this certification. Not many of you have heard of this certification, but it is nationally recognized and a must have for the Elite Inspectors in the oil & gas fields. The CPWI stands for Certified Pipeline Welding Inspector... can you imagine your on a pipeline with a CWI and he wants to make your pipeline a "clean zone" like the refinery or plant he just worked in. Well, the CPWI is a more focused certification for those pipelines that so need an inspector with the understanding and knowledge of the pipeline in all its rustic dirtiness! Sorry all you new CWI's... its' not a clean room! With specific regulations and codes that must be adhered too, I find the National Welding Inspection School and John to be at the fore-front of this battle with EPA and environmentalist to produce safe, sturdy and superb pipelines. Check 'em out... don't trust my humble opinion.
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I am a cwi, as well as a previous Level 2 rt, vt, mt and ut and am a nace 3 coating inspector. The cpwi cert is not a cert but a good familiarization with general welding inspection for non welders. Some companies want a cwi but only want to pay 15 - 20 bucks an hour. The old saying - "You get what you pay for!" stands true on this course. If you are a non welder (no not a guy who can weld - an artisan and craftman who signs his name to his work (lost in todays world))this is a good familiarization course. If you are a want to be inspector who doesn't know what he is looking at and will work for peanuts, this is the course for you. If you want to do the real deal, buck out and pay the hefty price and get a worldwide cert like AWS or CSWIP
ReplyDeleteHey anonymous,just little info for ya,I have inspection experience working with cwi inspectors it is expensive and hard to pass the test, an 85 percent fail rate in the laws cwi course and test and it does not give you any clout on a pipeline unless you want to be a manager.I have friends that are a lot of money with there cpwi for example 63 dollars an hour double on weekends and holidays,most of them make a daily rate another example a 1000 a day in texas or 4800 a week in Mr,cwi is great but you have been mislead on the amount these guys make they are probably making more than you do, personally I am going to get my cpwi in in Feb 2013 and well get first hand info 23 years as welder rig welder inspector,instructor,certified all alloys exotic alloys,carbon stainless,uphill down hill you name it I have welded it and there is money to be made as a cpwi.
Deletewhere????? I am a NDE Tech with 28 years experience. my first 11 years as a pipeline radiographer. after that AUT, UTSW , straight beam flaw detection, MT, PT, B Scan systems operator, acoustic emissions, EC. I have worked for approximately 27NDE and inspection companies. mostly contract work. I have had my CPWI cert for over 1 year. can't find a job with it or anyone who recognizes it to save my life! if you know please throw me a bone. I I would like to get at least one job with it to recover the 2500 dollars that I spent to get it.
DeleteI have 35 yrs in welding on pipelines and all kinds of fabrication. I am a little confused as what the best certification I should get. I have sent my resumes in for over a year and no responseO luck. What should I do? Hank
DeleteI have been a pipeline welder for over35yrs and am confused as what to take to get certified. I have sent resumes in for over a year and no luck. Which course would be best for me?
DeleteENBRIDGE PIPELINE WORK RECOGNOZES THE CPWI. YOU'LL CLEAR ABOUT 3500 / WK WITH PER DIEM
DeleteCPWI's work for CWI's
ReplyDeleteWell....I have been a contract inspector for 20 years and before that I was a welder for nearly 10.....I have many certifications, such as SCWI, API-510, API-570, API-653, API-580, API-936. I have also been an NBIC A.I. for boilers and pressure vessels and I have also obtained a level 3 NACE certification.
ReplyDeleteI have worked in power plants, nuke plants, refineries, chemical plants pipeline terminals and cross country pipeline projects. I have also occasionally worked in shipyards and taught exam prep classes for clients.
I have worked with many "inspectors" that actually knew less than they probably should have but you must realize is that there is no ONE certification that will encompass everything or by virtue of having qualify you to be in your position. That comes from years of experience and a willingness to keep learning and further your technical expertise in your field.
With all of that said...I think that the CPWI is little more that a decent seminar that relates to pipeline type work only. Most inspectors would be able to understand the project by simply reading the specifications and codes that pertain to that job. Basically, the CPWI isn't worth the paper its printed on. I know a few and all wish they had spent their money on the CWI or an API certification instead.
As for money....Pipelines will generally pay fairly well regardless of your certifications because that people doing the hiring know less about the certs and codes than a wanna-be inspector does.
Some projects will pay day rates between $800 and $1000 and up. Most CWI's are paid around $40 per hour plus per diem, most API's are paid $50+ an hour plus per diem. Most projects will run 6 or 7 days a week, 12 hours a day or more, for sometimes months at a time.
There is money to be made out there for sure, but unfortunately under educated inspectors with insufficient experience and technical expertise are bringing down the pay scale and undermining the positions.
CPWI is a guy giving a class on pipeline and raping people for the fee
ReplyDeleteI did the CPWI class. Hoping it would be something to entice an oil company to bring me on. since I have no prior experience in the industry. Also my college degree(marketing, fwiw,.. and worthless) just "over qualifies" me for any entry level jobs I apply for.
ReplyDeleteUnless you HAVE A JOB, and your employer wants you to get this.. save your money and time. I'm not even having luck getting in with NDT companies taking me on as a trainee.. this course was just worthless isn't even recognized as a "visual inspection" course.
Contact Tulsa Inspection Resources. Tell them you have a CPWI and are interested in Enbridge work.
DeleteSorry there is so many "GREAT INSPECTORS" out there with such large ego's- kills it for the hard working hands who are building their cert's and experience. The course is definitely worth it if you apply yourself and want to learn-it shouldn't stop when you leave the class. If you are in the PA/OH/WV area at the Marcellus shale, there is plenty of work to be had-just need to show up and ask. Everyone needs to start somewhere. It blows away any NDT/NDE $'s I ever saw, but then again I have not worked for 27 different companies!!!! Might be a reason that guy is such a nomad. EGO????
Deleteand thats why we dont hire tulsa inspection for the most part they just want bodies and yes men that will maybe not look the other way but do not have the expierance to stop a job ... they dont live in the area so when it fails they wont be affected. sad sad sad
DeleteSorry,AWS clearly states that your perview does not alloy you to stop a job.No 1104 inspector has that in his perview.I have seen many egomaniacs try to only lose their job.Every leaking pipeline has one thing in common,an A.W.S. inspector.In the end it is your contacts that supply your position.In Vegas AWS d1.1 are pay is $25 hr.If you are working for a major oil co. Your Co.boss in all likelyhood a CPLWI .The vast majority of inspectors have no certification.I personally know a substantial number who make $4-7K a week and AWS who make$25 hr in Vegas.I have your certifications,but ,like ASNT the NWIS is a good addition to the AWS 1104. AWS is a johnny come lately that tests your skill on plastic a very unstable, temp. sensitive media .Do they give you the (CTE) at testing no.Can the factor cause you to fail part B yes.NWIS does provide a better service.Frome one who has both and looking to take their Hydro test. Look at the co.s that choose them for their co. inspectors ,your boss.
ReplyDelete