AWS D1.1 certification: what it actually means

There is no single "AWS D1.1 certification." AWS D1.1/D1.1M is the American Welding Society's structural welding code for steel, and "D1.1 certified" usually means one of three things: a welder passed a qualification test under the code's rules, a CWI took Part C on D1.1, or a CWI added AWS's D1.1 endorsement (AWS).

AWS describes D1.1 as setting requirements for welded structures made from carbon and low-alloy constructional steels. The newest edition is D1.1/D1.1M:2025, released in April 2025.

What "D1.1 certified" can mean

Sources: AWS's Certified Welder program page, CWI page and D1.1 endorsement page. Checked November 2026.

For welders

D1.1 doesn't issue cards. It sets the rules for qualifying welders and welding operators by test, in Clause 6 of the 2020 edition. A welder who passes a test to a welding procedure specification (WPS) under those rules is qualified for the positions, processes and thicknesses the test covers. That is what most job posts mean by "D1.1 certified."

There are two common ways to test:

• With an employer. A company that works to D1.1 can test you to its own procedures and keep the records. Ask for a copy of your test record when you pass.
• Through AWS's Certified Welder program. You test at an AWS Accredited Test Facility (ATF), and a CWI inspects the weld. AWS says the program tests to its QC47 specification, covers procedures used in structural steel and other industries, and has no education or experience prerequisites. Each ATF sets its own fee. Ask the ATF which code or specification your test is based on.

AWS says a Certified Welder credential stays active only while you submit maintenance (continuity) records, and it is not tied to one employer. D1.1 also sets its own rules on how long a welder's qualification stays in effect, in the same clause. Read the clause in the edition your job uses.

For welding inspectors

CWI Part C. Part C is the open-book code exam, and you choose the code. AWS's CWI page lists the 2020 edition of D1.1 among the Part C choices, alongside API 1104, D1.2, D1.5, D15.1, D17.1, ASME Section IX with B31.1 and B31.3, and an ISO option. Our Part C guide covers how to tab and search D1.1:2020.

The D1.1 endorsement. A current CWI or SCWI can add a D1.1 code endorsement. AWS says the exam uses multiple-choice and open-ended questions on five areas: material and design, fabrication, inspection, qualification, and reports and records. It references D1.1/D1.1M:2025. You can bring your own bound copy or use the electronic copy on the testing computer. The 2026 fee is $445 for members and $540 for non-members, and AWS says endorsements are extended each time you renew your CWI. AWS also lists adding this endorsement as one way for a CWI to recertify.

How D1.1 is organized (2020 edition)

You won't find code text here, only the layout, so you know where to look:

• Clause 4: design of welded connections
• Clause 5: prequalification of WPSs
• Clause 6: qualification of WPSs and welding personnel
• Clause 7: fabrication
• Clause 8: inspection

Clauses 1 to 3 cover general requirements, references and definitions. Clauses 9 to 11 cover stud welding, tubular structures and existing structures. If you learned on D1.1:2015, most clause numbers moved in 2020. Check the 2025 edition's layout before relying on these numbers with a newer book.

D1.1 and other AWS structural codes

D1.1 covers steel. Other parts of the D1 series cover other work, such as D1.2 for aluminum and D1.5 for bridges. A job's contract documents name the code that applies.

Studying D1.1 for the CWI

Our free D1.1:2020 study guides follow the clause layout above:

• D1.1 qualification (Clauses 5 and 6)
• D1.1 fabrication (Clause 7)
• D1.1 inspection (Clause 8)

Test your lookup speed with the free CWI diagnostic, which has a Part C option on D1.1:2020. For the full path, see how to become a welding inspector.

Frequently asked questions

What is AWS D1.1 certification?

AWS D1.1 is a welding code. "D1.1 certified" usually means a welder passed a qualification test under D1.1's rules, or a welding inspector took CWI Part C on D1.1 or holds AWS's D1.1 endorsement.

How do I get D1.1 certified as a welder?

Pass a welder qualification test to a WPS under D1.1's qualification rules. You can test with an employer that works to D1.1, or at an AWS Accredited Test Facility through AWS's Certified Welder program. Keep a copy of your test record.

Does a D1.1 welder certification expire?

It can lapse. AWS's Certified Welder program requires maintenance (continuity) records to keep a credential active, and D1.1 sets its own rules in Clause 6 (2020 edition) on how long a welder's qualification stays in effect.

What is the AWS D1.1 endorsement?

It is an add-on exam for current CWIs and SCWIs that covers D1.1 in five areas: material and design, fabrication, inspection, qualification, and reports and records. The 2026 fee is $445 for AWS members and $540 for non-members.

Which D1.1 edition is used on the CWI exam?

AWS's CWI page lists the D1.1 2020 edition for Part C. The D1.1 endorsement page references D1.1/D1.1M:2025. Check AWS's current exam information before you buy a code book.

Is a D1.1 certification the same as being a CWI?

No. A CWI is a welding inspector certified by AWS after passing Parts A, B and C and meeting experience rules. A welder qualified to D1.1 has passed a welding test. A CWI may use D1.1 as their Part C code.

Sources

Our D1.1 Qualification questions cite these documents, by document and, where we can confirm it, chapter or section.

1. AWS D1.1 (43 questions)

Questions? support@cwiready.com