Wed, 14 June, 2023
One of the great things about TWI Certification Ltd (TWI CL) is its close-knit relationship with The Welding Institute, and it’s well established working relationship with TWI Training and Examinations. While these connections provide a myriad of benefits for our candidates and clients, it can also cause confusion for those who are just beginning their relationship with any or all of the organisations! To help alleviate this confusion and assist our future customers and clients in navigating to the right place to answer their query, we’ve put together this handy overview of each area and how and where they interlink…
TWI Certification Ltd (TWI CL)
Formed in 1993, TWI CL is a volunteer led Certification Body that was formed to provide assurance to industry of the competence and compliance of its people, products, and procedures. These assurances take the form of certificates that are awarded when the requirements of a TWI CL certification scheme are met.
While all of TWI CLs certifications are well regarded and sought after, the most globally recognised is its CSWIP scheme, providing individual certification to over 50,000 people worldwide. Through its Company Certification schemes TWI CL also provides certification for organisations wishing to comply with international standards such as ISO 3834, EN 1090 and EN 15085. It also offers certification for the quality assurance of training facilities through its Certification Scheme for Welder Training Organisations (CSWTO) as well as a scheme for the Certification of Manufacture of Special Materials (CMSM).
The Welding Institute
Established in 1923, The Welding Institute is a professional engineering institution (PEI) formed to support the development of its members in the fields of welding, joining, and allied technologies.
The Institute serves as a voice of the welding industry, and provides respected guidance to statutory bodies such as the British Standards Institution, the Engineering Council and the UK government.
It is also a licensed member of the Engineering Council, and as such are authorised to nominate eligible members to become a Chartered Engineer (CEng), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Engineering Technician (EngTech).
TWI Training and Examinations
TWI Training and Examinations is a part of the larger TWI Ltd group, which is a subsidiary of The Welding Institute. TWI Training began its life as a small part of The Welding Institute – the School of Welding Technology. Its first course – welding of pressure vessels – was undertaken in 1957 and it was so popular that it was oversubscribed by 150%! TWI Training has gone on to expand not only in the UK but globally too, with courses available throughout the world and, for those who can’t attend a course in person, many are also available to study online from the comfort of your own home!
The examinations for several of the CSWIP and BGAS-CSWIP certification schemes have been subcontracted by TWI CL to TWI (Training and) Examinations. As part of this business relationship TWI CL audits their activities to ensure the security, confidentiality, and impartiality of the examination process and that all candidates receive the same experience during their CSWIP or BGAS-CSWIP examination.
How it all links together
TWI CL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Welding Institute, and any profits from TWI CL activities are transferred to The Welding Institute to facilitate its operations, member activities, and to support the work its undertakes on behalf of the industry. So if your query is about your AWeldI, TechWeldI, MWeldI, FWeldI, or your Engineering Council registration (CEng, IEng or EngTech) then contact The Welding Institute.
Each CSWIP scheme has a variety of access conditions that must be met before a candidate can sit an examination. One type of access condition is sitting a CSWIP approved training course, many of which are run by TWI Training. So if your query is about a training course – dates, locations, cost – then contact TWI Training. Successfully passing an examinations is usually a requirement for achieving certification so any initial queries regarding your exam – results, dates, locations – should be directed to TWI (Training and) Examinations
Any queries relating to the renewal or recertification of your individual certificate (once you have received your exam results) please contact TWI CL via our CSWIP website. If you have a query about your company certification certificate please contact us via our TWI CL website.