100+ Free AWS CRAW Practice Questions

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Question 1

Score: 0/0

How many axes of motion does a typical industrial articulated robot used for arc welding have?

3 axes

4 axes

6 axes

8 axes

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: AWS CRAW Exam

2 parts

Exam Structure

Part A written + Part B performance

75%

Part A Pass Score

QC19 closed-book

$480-$745

Exam Fee

AWS 2026 price list

3 years

Validity

9-year recert cycle

40 hrs

Training Minimum

QC19 prerequisite

2 levels

CRAW-O & CRAW-T

CWI required for Technician

The AWS CRAW exam has two parts: a closed-book Part A written test requiring 75% to pass and a hands-on Part B performance test graded pass/fail. The 2026 fee is $480 for AWS members or $745 for non-members per attempt. Certification is valid for 3 years with a 9-year recertification cycle per QC19 Clause 12. CRAW-O requires 3 years of welding experience including 12 months of robotic operation; CRAW-T requires 5 years of experience, 18 months of robotic operation, AND a current AWS CWI credential.

Sample AWS CRAW Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your AWS CRAW exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1How many axes of motion does a typical industrial articulated robot used for arc welding have?

A.3 axes

B.4 axes

C.6 axes

D.8 axes

Explanation: A standard industrial articulated arc welding robot has 6 axes of rotary motion, allowing the tool center point to reach any position and orientation within the work envelope. The six joints correspond to base rotation, shoulder, elbow, and three wrist axes. Some cells add a 7th axis (external rail) or positioner axes for part manipulation. Exam tip: Memorize that 6 axes is the baseline — questions about a 7th or 8th axis usually involve an external track or positioner.

2The Tool Center Point (TCP) on a robotic arc welding system is most commonly defined at which location?

A.The center of the robot base

B.The tip of the contact tube or electrode

C.The wrist flange mounting surface

D.The center of gravity of the torch

Explanation: The Tool Center Point is typically defined at the tip of the GMAW contact tube (or the electrode tip for GTAW) because that is where the arc and therefore the weld is produced. All path coordinates and travel speeds are calculated relative to the TCP. Exam tip: If the stickout or contact tube changes, the TCP must be reverified — this is a common cause of weld placement errors after consumable changes.

3Which coordinate system moves the robot TCP along axes aligned with the fixture or workpiece rather than the robot base?

A.Joint coordinate system

B.World coordinate system

C.User (work) coordinate system

D.Tool coordinate system

Explanation: A user or work coordinate system is defined by teaching three points on the fixture or part so jog motions run parallel to the part features. This lets a programmer touch up a path along the weld seam without wrestling with the world axes. Exam tip: Teaching a good user frame is the single fastest way to simplify touch-ups after a fixture is moved or rebuilt.

4The volume that can be physically reached by the robot TCP is known as the:

A.Work envelope

B.Safety zone

C.Interference region

D.Cell footprint

Explanation: The work envelope (also called reach or work volume) is the set of all points the TCP can physically reach given the robot kinematics. It is the starting point for cell layout, fixture placement, and guarding design per ANSI/RIA R15.06. Exam tip: The safeguarded space defined in R15.06 is larger than the work envelope because it must include any tooling that extends the reach.

5A repeatability specification of plus or minus 0.08 mm for a welding robot describes:

A.The accuracy of the robot moving to a commanded absolute position

B.How close the robot returns to a previously taught point on repeated cycles

C.The resolution of the teach pendant display

D.The maximum positioning error after a collision

Explanation: Repeatability is how closely the robot returns to a single taught point across many cycles, independent of whether that point is at the commanded absolute location. Accuracy, by contrast, is how close the robot moves to a calculated or CAD position — it is typically worse than repeatability. Exam tip: For taught (online) programming, repeatability is what matters; for offline programming, accuracy becomes critical.

6Which motion type causes the TCP to follow a perfectly straight line between two taught points?

A.Joint move

B.Linear move

C.Circular move

D.Point-to-point air move

Explanation: A linear (LIN or MOVL) motion interpolates all six axes so the TCP travels in a straight line at the programmed Cartesian speed. Joint moves are faster but curve through space and are reserved for air moves where path shape does not matter. Exam tip: Always weld with linear or circular moves — joint moves near the part risk unexpected paths and collisions.

7A singularity in a 6-axis articulated robot most commonly occurs when:

A.Two wrist axes become collinear so infinite joint solutions exist

B.The robot reaches maximum payload

C.The teach pendant loses communication with the controller

D.The servo amplifier overheats

Explanation: At a wrist singularity, axes 4 and 6 align and the controller cannot uniquely solve the inverse kinematics, producing wild joint velocities. Shoulder and elbow singularities also exist at full reach or through the base. Exam tip: Reorient the approach angle or introduce a small offset in the path to avoid running a weld straight through a singular configuration.

8Which tool is used to verify and recalibrate the robot TCP after a torch collision?

A.Pin gauge and sharp reference point

B.Dial torque wrench

C.Calibrated flow meter

D.Shielding gas purge block

Explanation: A sharp reference pin is the standard tool for verifying TCP. The operator jogs the contact tube tip to the pin from several orientations; if the tip stays within the manufacturer tolerance (commonly 0.5 mm or better) the TCP is valid. If not, the TCP is retaught using a multi-point routine. Exam tip: Always reverify the TCP after a collision, torch swap, or contact tube change before running production.

9The payload rating of an arc welding robot must include:

A.Only the torch mass

B.Torch, cables, dressout, and any wrist-mounted accessories

C.Only the contact tube and nozzle

D.The wire feeder mounted on the robot base

Explanation: Rated payload refers to everything carried by the wrist flange: the torch, cable dressout to the umbilical breakaway, any vision or sensor mounts, and mounting brackets. Exceeding payload accelerates gear wear and degrades repeatability. Exam tip: Many integrators derate the published payload by 15 to 20 percent to account for dynamic loads during rapid moves.

10What governs the design of safeguarding for an industrial robotic arc welding cell in the United States?

A.ANSI/RIA R15.06

B.NFPA 70E only

C.ASME B30.20

D.OSHA 1910.147 only

Explanation: ANSI/RIA R15.06 (harmonized with ISO 10218) is the consensus standard for industrial robot and robot system safety in the U.S., covering safeguarded space, risk assessment, and safeguarding device selection. AWS D16.1 references R15.06 for cell safeguarding and adds welding-specific hazards. Exam tip: Know that D16.1 and R15.06 are complementary — D16.1 covers weld-specific items; R15.06 covers the robot system.

About the AWS CRAW Exam

The AWS Certified Robotic Arc Welding (CRAW) credential is issued by the American Welding Society to operators and technicians who program, set up, run, and maintain industrial robotic arc welding systems. There are two levels: CRAW-O (Operator) and CRAW-T (Technician), the latter requiring a current AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) credential. The certification is built on AWS QC19 (program specification) and AWS D16.4 (body of knowledge) and references D16.1 safety, D16.2 installation, D16.3 risk assessment, ANSI/RIA R15.06, and AWS D1.1. CRAW certification is widely recognized by automotive, heavy-equipment, aerospace, and fabrication employers as proof of robotic welding competence and is required for Test Supervisors at AWS Approved Testing Centers.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

Part A: approximately 2 hours (closed-book); Part B: performance test scheduled at ATC

Passing Score

75% on Part A; pass/fail on Part B performance test

Exam Fee

$480 member / $745 non-member (American Welding Society (AWS) via Approved Testing Centers (ATCs))

AWS CRAW Exam Content Outline

20%

Safety (D16.1, R15.06, OSHA)

Safeguarding, 250 mm/s reduced-speed teaching, three-position enabling devices, light curtains, LOTO, arc radiation, fume control, and hierarchy of controls

16%

Programming and Sensing

Teach pendant and offline programming, user frames, approach/retract, weaving, touch sensing, through-arc seam tracking (TAST), and laser sensing

14%

Robot Fundamentals

Articulated 6-axis arms, TCP, coordinate systems, work envelope, repeatability vs accuracy, motion types, singularities, and payload

14%

Arc Welding Processes

GMAW transfer modes, pulsed and controlled-waveform GMAW, FCAW-G, GTAW, shielding gases, and filler metal selection per AWS A5 classifications

12%

Weld Parameters and Fixturing

WFS/voltage on CV supplies, heat input, CTWD, work and travel angles, positioners, coordinated motion, tack welds, and fit-up control

12%

Troubleshooting and PM

Porosity, undercut, fusion defects, spatter, burn-through, wire feed issues, robot drift, nozzle cleaning, reducer lubrication, and collision response

Qualification and D16.4

AWS D16.4 personnel qualification, QC19 program rules, CRAW-O vs CRAW-T scope, Part A/Part B structure, recertification, and ATC requirements

Installation, Risk, Quality

AWS D16.2 installation specs, D16.3 risk assessment, grounding, visual inspection per D1.1, macroetch, NDT awareness, and monitoring systems

How to Pass the AWS CRAW Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 75% on Part A; pass/fail on Part B performance test
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: Part A: approximately 2 hours (closed-book); Part B: performance test scheduled at ATC
Exam fee: $480 member / $745 non-member

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 CRAW Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize the 250 mm/s (10 in/s) reduced-speed limit for teaching inside the safeguarded space from R15.06 and D16.1 — it is one of the most frequently tested safety numbers on Part A

2Know the D16 family by heart: D16.1 safety, D16.2 installation, D16.3 risk assessment, D16.4 personnel qualification — exam questions will test whether you can attribute a requirement to the correct document

3Practice heat-input math: Heat Input = (60 x V x I) / travel speed in mm/min. Be comfortable converting between mm/s, in/min, and kJ/in so you can answer parameter questions under pressure

4Memorize the 75% passing score for Part A and the 3-year validity / 9-year recertification cycle from QC19 Clause 12, plus the 40 contact hours training prerequisite and 80 contact hours CEU route for long-cycle renewal

5For CRAW-T candidates: review CWI-level inspection topics (visual acceptance per D1.1 with 1/32 inch undercut limit, macroetch interpretation, NDT methods, WPS/PQR relationship) — the Technician exam adds significant quality-verification content not in CRAW-O

Frequently Asked Questions

What score do I need to pass the AWS CRAW exam?

You need a minimum score of 75% on Part A, the closed-book written exam, per AWS QC19. Part B is a hands-on performance test graded pass/fail by an AWS-approved CRAW-T Test Supervisor at the Approved Testing Center. You must pass both parts to earn the certification. If you fail Part A, you retake Part A; if you fail Part B, you retake Part B — the parts are evaluated independently.

Is the AWS CRAW exam open-book or closed-book?

Part A of the CRAW exam is closed-book. You cannot bring D16.4, D16.1, R15.06, or any other reference into the testing room. Part B is a practical performance test where the candidate programs and runs a robot to weld test coupons that are then inspected against D16.4 acceptance criteria. Plan on studying the standards thoroughly before exam day — this is not an open-book exam like many ICC or state electrical exams.

How hard is the CRAW exam?

CRAW is a moderately challenging certification because it combines robotics knowledge, arc welding metallurgy, safety standards, and hands-on performance. Candidates with real production experience on a welding robot tend to pass Part A on the first attempt; those who studied only theory often struggle with the parameter and troubleshooting questions. CRAW-T is considerably harder than CRAW-O because it adds quality/inspection content that overlaps with the CWI body of knowledge (which is itself a prerequisite).

Which AWS standards does the CRAW exam reference?

The exam is built on AWS QC19 (program specification), AWS D16.4 (personnel qualification body of knowledge), AWS D16.1 (robotic arc welding safety), AWS D16.2 (system installation), and AWS D16.3 (risk assessment). It also references ANSI/RIA R15.06 for industrial robot safety and AWS D1.1 for welding procedure and acceptance criteria knowledge. CRAW-T candidates should also review CWI body of knowledge topics including NDT and weld symbols.

What jobs can I get with CRAW certification?

CRAW-O and CRAW-T holders work as robotic welding operators, programmers, technicians, and cell leads in automotive, heavy equipment, aerospace, defense, and contract fabrication. Typical salary ranges run from $55,000 to $95,000 depending on level and region. CRAW-T is required to serve as a Test Supervisor at an AWS Approved Testing Center. The certification also improves leverage for promotion into welding engineering and quality roles.

How do I prepare for the CRAW exam?

Start by completing an OEM or equivalent robotic programming course at an AWS Approved Testing Center — most ATCs offer CRAW prep bundles. Review AWS D16.4 clause by clause, memorize the safeguarding limits in D16.1 and R15.06 (especially the 250 mm/s reduced-speed rule), and practice parameter development on representative coupons. Use 100-question practice exams like OpenExamPrep to drill troubleshooting and standards knowledge before attempting Part A.