- The 2026 AWS Price List at a Glance
- Membership Math: Why Nonmember Prices Aren't Simply Added
- What Each Part Fee Buys You
- Retest Costs and the Real Price of Failing a Part
- Exemption Routes and Their Fees
- Reference Materials and Other Out-of-Pocket Costs
- Preparation Costs: What AWS Does and Doesn't Offer
- Renewal: The Five-Year Cost Cycle
- Three Budget Scenarios for Real Applicants
- Version and Deadline Caveats That Affect Your Spending
- Frequently Asked Questions
- 2026 AWS pricing: Parts 1 and 2 are $665 member/$755 nonmember; Parts 3 and 4 are $705 member/$795 nonmember.
- Two member pair fees total $1,370 before reference materials and other optional costs.
- Nonmember exam prices include one year of AWS Individual Membership, so don't blindly add both nonmember pairs.
- Retests are priced per part or pair, from $345 member for one of Parts 1 or 2 up to $745 member for both Parts 3 and 4.
The 2026 AWS Price List at a Glance
The Certified Welding Engineer credential from the American Welding Society (AWS) is not sold as a single sticker price. Candidates pay in stages, because the credential is built from four separate examinations delivered at Prometric computer-based testing centers. This article walks through every line of the 2026 AWS price list (effective January 1) so you can build a realistic budget rather than guess.
The headline figures come directly from the AWS Certification and Education Programs Price List:
| Exam Component | Member Price | Nonmember Price |
|---|---|---|
| Parts 1 and 2 (initial) | $665 | $755 |
| Parts 3 and 4 (initial) | $705 | $795 |
| Both pairs combined (member) | $1,370 | See membership math below |
Applicable examination seat fees are included in these prices, so do not add a separate "Prometric fee" on top. That is a common budgeting mistake. The $1,370 member total is the sum of the two member pair fees, and it is a floor, not a ceiling: it excludes reference materials, retests, and any optional extras.
Membership Math: Why Nonmember Prices Aren't Simply Added
This is the single most misunderstood part of CWEng pricing. According to the AWS price structure, nonmember initial examination prices include one year of AWS Individual Membership. That means the $755 and $795 nonmember figures are not pure exam fees; they bundle in a membership year.
The practical consequence: a single applicant should not automatically add $755 + $795 = $1,550 and call it the nonmember total. Once the first nonmember purchase gives you a membership year, the applicable rate for your next purchase depends on your membership status at that time. The applicable membership rate must be established for each purchase.
- Join before buying: If you become an AWS member first, you pay the member rates ($665 and $705).
- Buy as a nonmember: You pay the higher nonmember price but receive a year of membership as part of it.
- Time your second pair: Because Parts 3 and 4 follow Parts 1 and 2, your membership status when you purchase the second pair determines which price applies.
Because the rules hinge on your membership status at each purchase, confirm the price with AWS at the time you buy rather than relying on a spreadsheet built months earlier. Our CWEng Requirements guide covers the eligibility side of the application so you can sequence payments correctly.
What Each Part Fee Buys You
Understanding what you are paying for helps you judge value and plan your calendar. The four examinations differ sharply in format, which is why they are priced and scheduled as two pairs.
Part 1: Basic Science Fundamental Examination
36 multiple-choice questions, two hours, closed book. Covers Domains 1-3: Mathematics (25% of the part), Physics (50%), and Chemistry (25%).
- Physics carries half of the part, so it deserves disproportionate study time
- On-screen scientific calculator available
Part 2: Applied Science Fundamental Examination
27 multiple-choice questions, two hours, closed book. Covers Domains 4-6: Strength of Materials (40%), Heat Transfer and Fluid Mechanics (30%), and Electricity (30%).
- Strength of Materials is the largest block within this part
- Fewer questions than Part 1 but the same two-hour limit
Part 3: Welding Related Disciplines Examination
60 multiple-choice questions, three hours of answer time within a three-hour-fifteen-minute appointment, open book. Covers Domains 7-13, from NDE/Weld Discontinuities and Welding Heat Sources and Arc Physics through Welding Processes and Controls, Welding and Joint Metallurgy, Weld Design, Brazing and Soldering, and Safety.
- The percentages on these headings are minimums, per the exam guide
- Approved hardcopy references are permitted
Part 4: Practical Welding and Related Applications Examination
40 multiple-choice questions, two hours thirty minutes of answer time within a three-hour appointment, open book. Covers Domains 14-19: Fabrication (25%), Filler Metals, Inspection, Productivity, Welder Performance Qualification, and Welding Procedure Qualification.
- Despite the title, Part 4 is multiple choice, not a hands-on welding performance test
- Part 4 contributes 40% of the weighted composite score
Across all four parts the exam aggregates 163 questions and nine hours thirty minutes of answer time. That is not one continuous sitting, and it excludes additional appointment time. You are paying for four separate seat appointments, which is exactly why the price list is organized in pairs. For a deeper look at the content areas behind each fee, see CWEng Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 19 Content Areas.
Retest Costs and the Real Price of Failing a Part
Passing requires at least 60% on each part and a weighted composite of at least 70%. If you fall short on a part, you pay to retake it. The retest pricing is granular, which can soften the blow if you miss only one part:
| Retest Scenario | Member | Nonmember |
|---|---|---|
| One of Parts 1 or 2 | $345 | $430 |
| Both Parts 1 and 2 | $705 | $790 |
| One of Parts 3 or 4 | $365 | $450 |
| Both Parts 3 and 4 | $745 | $830 |
Note a subtle point: retaking both parts of a pair ($705 member for Parts 1 and 2) costs more than the original $665 member pair price. Retests are priced as separate transactions, not discounted repeats. That makes a clean first attempt the cheapest path by a meaningful margin.
The dated exam guide permits up to three retests within three years of the original exam date. Three failed retakes of a single Part 3 or Part 4 at member rates would add $1,095 to your total, so the retest allowance is a safety net rather than a budgeting plan.
Key Takeaway
Because Part 4 carries 40% of the composite and Part 3 carries 30%, a weak result there is the most expensive mistake to repeat. Spend your preparation hours in proportion to composite weight, not question count. Our CWEng Passing Score guide explains exactly how the composite formula works so you can see where a retest is most likely to be needed.
Reported scores are rounded down to a whole percentage, so a result that looks like 69.9% reports as 69%, not 70%. Build a safety margin into your study targets instead of aiming for the exact threshold. If you want to gauge how often candidates need retakes, read CWEng Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows, and for a realistic sense of effort see How Hard Is the CWEng Exam?.
Exemption Routes and Their Fees
Some applicants may qualify to skip portions of the exam sequence. AWS B5.16:2006, which the dated exam guide references, provides two relevant exemption routes:
- Engineering Fundamentals/FE-exam route: A route for satisfying Parts 1 and 2 without sitting them.
- State Professional Engineer license route: A separate route for those holding a state PE license specifically in welding engineering.
The 2026 PE-exemption application fee is $480 for members and $745 for nonmembers. AWS approval governs these exemptions, so submitting an application fee does not guarantee acceptance. Always obtain AWS confirmation of individual eligibility or exemption decisions before you build a cost plan around skipping any part.
The education and experience routes themselves have no fee line of their own beyond the application, but they determine whether you qualify at all: an engineering bachelor's degree or higher plus one year of welding-based experience; an engineering-technology bachelor's plus two years; another related bachelor's plus five years; an associate in applied science degree plus ten years; or high school or equivalent plus fifteen years. The application also requires documentation, professional references, and a photograph. Full details are in CWEng Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Reference Materials and Other Out-of-Pocket Costs
The exam fees are only part of your spending. Two of the four parts are open book, and the rules about what you may bring are specific. Because the materials list is where candidates most often overspend or buy the wrong edition, it is worth knowing exactly what is permitted.
Part 3 references
Part 3 permits approved hardcopy references. The permitted items include ANSI Z49.1, the AWS Welding Handbook volumes 1 through 5, Design of Weldments, and Welding Metallurgy and Weldability of Stainless Steels. Digital copies are not supplied for Part 3, so you must bring physical books. Because these are separate publications, assembling the full set is a real expense that varies by whether you buy new, used, or already own some of them through your employer or a company library.
Part 4 reference
Part 4 permits AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2020, 24th edition, as its only reference. A hardcopy is permitted, and an on-screen, non-searchable PDF is supplied at the testing center. Do not transplant a different edition allowed for a CWI exam. Buying the wrong edition of D1.1 is a pure waste of money, so verify the 2020, 24th edition specifically against the AWS Exam References and Editions Guide before purchasing.
Other incidental costs worth planning for include travel to a Prometric center, time off work for four separate appointments (the longest runs three hours fifteen minutes for Part 3 and three hours for Part 4), and any personal calculator practice tools. An on-screen scientific calculator is available on all four parts, so you do not need to buy a specific handheld model for the exam itself.
Preparation Costs: What AWS Does and Doesn't Offer
One cost question comes up constantly: "Which official prep course should I buy?" The answer from the examined guide is blunt: AWS does not offer a CWEng preparation seminar. That means there is no official AWS seminar fee to include, and anyone selling a course as an "AWS CWEng seminar" deserves scrutiny.
Your preparation spending therefore falls into self-directed categories: the permitted reference books, practice questions, and any third-party review material you choose. Because Parts 1 and 2 are closed book and Parts 3 and 4 are open book, your preparation should be tailored. Closed-book parts reward memorized formulas and fundamentals; open-book parts reward knowing exactly where to find answers in your references. A structured approach is laid out in CWEng Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and a one-page fact review is available in CWEng Cheat Sheet 2026. For general background on options, see CWEng Training.
If you want low-cost realistic practice, our CWEng practice test platform lets you rehearse the question style across all four parts before you pay for a live attempt. Spending a little on practice is far cheaper than paying a $345-$745 retest fee.
Renewal: The Five-Year Cost Cycle
The cost of CWEng does not end when you pass. Certification is valid for five years. Renewal requires a renewal application, 80 contact hours of relevant continuing education (or the permitted contact-hour/CEU equivalent) during the five-year period, and a fee of $605 for members or $870 for nonmembers. Routine renewal does not require taking another examination.
| Renewal Element | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Cycle length | Five years |
| Continuing education | 80 contact hours of relevant education (or permitted CEU equivalent) |
| Fee (member) | $605 |
| Fee (nonmember) | $870 |
| Re-examination | Not required for routine renewal |
The $265 gap between member and nonmember renewal pricing is large enough that maintaining AWS membership across the five years is usually worth evaluating. Run the numbers for your own situation, including whatever membership dues apply to you, since the right answer depends on your total AWS spending rather than renewal alone. Also factor in the cost of earning 80 contact hours: conferences, courses, and seminars carry their own fees and travel, and employers sometimes cover them.
For the earnings side of the equation, see CWEng Salary Guide 2026 and Is the CWEng Certification Worth It?, which weigh these recurring costs against career returns.
Three Budget Scenarios for Real Applicants
To make the figures concrete, here are three illustrative paths using only the published 2026 AWS prices. They exclude reference materials, travel, and CE costs, which vary by person.
Scenario A: Member, clean first attempt
You join AWS first, then pass all four parts on the first try. Exam cost: $665 + $705 = $1,370. This is the lowest published member path, with renewal of $605 due five years later.
Scenario B: Member, one retest
You pass Parts 1 through 3 but need to retake Part 4. Exam cost: $1,370 + $365 = $1,735. Because Part 4 carries 40% of the composite, this is one of the likelier scenarios for candidates who underprepare on fabrication, inspection, and procedure qualification content.
Scenario C: Nonmember starting point
You buy Parts 1 and 2 as a nonmember at $755, which includes one year of AWS Individual Membership. When you later buy Parts 3 and 4, your applicable rate depends on your membership status at that purchase. Do not assume $755 + $795; verify the rate with AWS at the time of purchase. This scenario illustrates why membership timing matters more than the sticker comparison suggests.
Pre-purchase decisions
- Establish AWS membership status and applicable rate
- Confirm education/experience route and gather documentation, references, and photograph
- Check whether any exemption route applies and pay the exemption fee only if approved to pursue it
Parts 1 and 2 (closed book)
- Schedule Physics and Strength of Materials review first, since they are the heaviest blocks within their parts
- Take the pair, then note that you have one year from passing the last of Parts 1 and 2 to apply for Parts 3 and 4
Parts 3 and 4 (open book)
- Assemble the correct permitted references, especially AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2020, 24th edition, for Part 4
- Weight your time toward Part 4, which contributes 40% of the composite
The sequencing rule is also a cost-control tool. Parts 1 and 2 must be passed before you can sit Parts 3 and 4, so there is no way to jump ahead and no financial benefit to buying the later pair early. Be careful with timing: the one-year window to apply for Parts 3 and 4 starts when you pass the last of Parts 1 and 2. For scheduling mechanics, see CWEng Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Version and Deadline Caveats That Affect Your Spending
Before you commit money, understand one genuine ambiguity in the AWS documentation. The exam-specific Examination User Guide dated 05.06.2026 still cites AWS B5.16:2006 and supplies the four-part blueprint, question counts, and timing used throughout this article. However, AWS also publishes AWS B5.16:2025, Specification for the Qualification of Welding Engineering Personnel, third edition, and its undated "Your Step-by-Step Pathway to CWEng" cites B5.16-2025.
That pathway document also states a three-year completion window measured from application approval. The dated guide, by contrast, describes retests as permitted up to three times within three years of the original exam date. These are different statements, and they matter financially: a deadline measured from approval versus from the original exam date can change when unused retest rights or purchased attempts expire.
The takeaway is not that the price list is unreliable; the 2026 fee figures are clear. It is that the surrounding rules, such as deadlines and the governing specification, may differ depending on which AWS document you rely on. A quick written confirmation from AWS is inexpensive insurance against an expensive misunderstanding.
Frequently Asked Questions
At published member rates, the two exam pairs total $1,370 ($665 for Parts 1 and 2, plus $705 for Parts 3 and 4). That figure excludes reference materials, travel, and any retests, and it assumes you hold the applicable AWS membership at the time of each purchase.
No. The 2026 AWS price list states that applicable examination seat fees are included in the listed prices, so you should not add a separate Prometric charge on top of the pair fees.
Not automatically. Nonmember initial exam prices include one year of AWS Individual Membership, so your applicable rate at each purchase depends on your membership status then. Establish the right rate with AWS before paying rather than summing $755 and $795.
Retaking one of Parts 1 or 2 costs $345 member or $430 nonmember; both Parts 1 and 2 cost $705 or $790. One of Parts 3 or 4 costs $365 member or $450 nonmember; both Parts 3 and 4 cost $745 or $830. Up to three retests are permitted within three years of the original exam date under the dated guide.
Certification lasts five years. Renewal costs $605 for members or $870 for nonmembers and requires a renewal application plus 80 contact hours of relevant continuing education or the permitted equivalent. Routine renewal does not require retaking an examination.
Planning your CWEng spending comes down to three decisions: settle your AWS membership status first, treat a clean first attempt as the cheapest route, and confirm deadlines and the governing specification with AWS in writing. For a broader view of the credential, see CWEng Certification, and when you are ready to rehearse the question style before paying for a live attempt, try our CWEng practice exams.