100+ Free AWS ASME IX Endorsement Practice Questions
Pass your AWS ASME BPVC Section IX + B31.1/B31.3 Endorsement exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
Which welder qualification test position qualifies the welder for all positions on groove welds in plate?
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Key Facts: AWS ASME IX Endorsement Exam
60
Multiple-choice questions
AWS endorsement page
2 hours
Open-book time limit
AWS endorsement page
72%
Passing score
AWS endorsement policy
$445/$540
Member / nonmember fee
AWS price list
July 1, 2025
Hard-copy books required by candidate
AWS endorsement policy
3 codes
Section IX + B31.1 + B31.3 books needed
AWS endorsement scope
Open-book, 60 multiple-choice questions, 2 hours at Prometric, 72% passing. Fee is $445 AWS member / $540 nonmember. Covers ASME Section IX (QW-100 general, QW-200 WPS/PQR, QW-300 welder qualification, QW-400 variables, plus P/F/A-Number tables) along with B31.1 Power Piping and B31.3 Process Piping (wall thickness, welding, examination, preheat/PWHT, hydrostatic test). Hard-copy code books must be supplied by the candidate as of July 1, 2025.
Sample AWS ASME IX Endorsement Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your AWS ASME IX Endorsement exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1What is the primary scope of ASME BPVC Section IX?
2In ASME Section IX, which Article addresses general welding requirements?
3Which Section IX article governs Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) and Procedure Qualification Records (PQR)?
4Which Section IX article addresses welder and welding operator performance qualification?
5In Section IX, P-Numbers are assigned to base metals primarily to:
6P-Number assignments for base metals are listed in which paragraph of Section IX?
7F-Numbers in Section IX are used to group:
8A-Numbers in Section IX classify:
9Which type of variable, if changed, requires requalification of a WPS but does NOT necessarily affect the toughness requirements?
10Supplementary essential variables become essential variables when:
About the AWS ASME IX Endorsement Exam
The AWS ASME BPVC Section IX endorsement (with B31.1 Power Piping and B31.3 Process Piping) is an open-book add-on credential for active CWIs and SCWIs. The exam is approximately 60 multiple-choice questions over 2 hours, delivered at Prometric, and verifies the inspector can navigate Section IX welding/brazing qualification rules and apply B31.1 and B31.3 piping requirements. As of July 1, 2025, candidates must bring their own bound hard-copy code books; electronic copies are no longer provided at the test center.
Questions
60 scored questions
Time Limit
2 hours
Passing Score
72%
Exam Fee
$445 / $540 (AWS (Prometric))
AWS ASME IX Endorsement Exam Content Outline
Section IX General Requirements (QW-100)
Article I scope, definitions, organization of QW articles, and inspector responsibilities under Section IX.
Section IX Procedure Qualification (QW-200)
WPS and PQR content, supporting multiple WPSs from one PQR, qualification thickness ranges (QW-451), tension/bend/toughness testing.
Section IX Performance Qualification (QW-300)
Welder/operator qualification, RT alternative to bend tests (QW-304), six-month expiration (QW-322), positions (QW-461), production weld qualification.
Section IX Welding Variables (QW-400)
Essential, supplementary essential, and nonessential variables organized by process (QW-253 SMAW, QW-255 GMAW/FCAW, QW-256 GTAW, QW-258 SAW).
P-Numbers, F-Numbers, A-Numbers
Base metal grouping (QW-422), filler metal usability grouping (QW-432), as-deposited weld metal chemistry (QW-442) and how they drive requalification.
Forms and Documentation (QW-482/483/484)
Suggested formats for WPS, PQR, and WPQ documentation, plus QW-485 demonstration mockup records.
B31.1 Power Piping
Scope (Chapter I), design pressure and wall thickness (104), welding/preheat/PWHT (127, 131, 132), examination acceptance (136), hydrostatic test (137).
B31.3 Process Piping
Fluid service categories (300.2), wall thickness (304), welding (328), examination (341.3.2/341.4), preheat/PWHT (330/331), hydrostatic test (345).
Open-Book Exam Strategy
Tabbing technique, look-up speed drills, and decision trees for QW article selection during the 2-hour timed exam.
How to Pass the AWS ASME IX Endorsement Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 72%
- Exam length: 60 questions
- Time limit: 2 hours
- Exam fee: $445 / $540
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
AWS ASME IX Endorsement Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the AWS ASME IX endorsement cover?
It verifies that an active AWS CWI or SCWI can navigate and apply ASME BPVC Section IX (welding, brazing, and fusing qualifications) together with ASME B31.1 Power Piping and B31.3 Process Piping. Approximately 60 multiple-choice questions are weighted across general Section IX rules (QW-100), procedure qualification (QW-200), performance qualification (QW-300), welding variables (QW-400), and the B31.1/B31.3 chapters most relevant to fabrication and inspection.
How long is the AWS ASME IX endorsement exam and what does it cost?
The exam is 2 hours, delivered as a computer-based test at Prometric. The endorsement fee is $445 for AWS members and $540 for nonmembers. A 72% score is required to pass. Candidates may take the test as part of an initial CWI registration or schedule it later after obtaining CWI/SCWI status.
Do I get the code books at the testing center?
No. As of July 1, 2025, AWS no longer provides electronic copies of code books at Prometric for the Section IX endorsement. Candidates must bring their own bound, hard-copy editions of ASME BPVC Section IX, ASME B31.1, and ASME B31.3. Tabs and personal notes inside the books are typically allowed per the AWS endorsement policy, but loose papers and electronic devices are not.
What edition of the codes does the endorsement reference?
AWS aligns the endorsement to the most recently published editions of ASME Section IX, B31.1, and B31.3. Inspectors should confirm the current reference edition on the AWS endorsement page before purchasing books, because ASME publishes Section IX on a 2-year cycle and the B31 codes on roughly a 4-year cycle. Buying the wrong edition is the most common avoidable preparation mistake.
What is the difference between essential, supplementary essential, and nonessential variables?
Essential variables (QW-401.1) affect mechanical properties other than toughness and always require requalification when changed. Supplementary essential variables (QW-401.3) affect notch toughness and become essential only when the construction code requires impact testing (such as B31.3 low-temperature service). Nonessential variables can be changed in the WPS without requalifying the PQR, although they still must be documented on the WPS.
Who should take this endorsement?
CWIs and SCWIs working on power generation, refineries, petrochemical plants, pharmaceutical and semiconductor fabs, district heating, or any pressure piping fabrication shop will benefit. Owners increasingly require the endorsement for inspectors signing off on ASME-stamped or B31-compliant piping. It is also a common stepping stone toward stacking additional CWI endorsements for SCWI eligibility.