The American Welding Society has awarded Doug Cash, Welding faculty member at Lamar Community College, Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification.
“This certification could mean big things for the program,” Cash said. “This program just keeps evolving, it keeps moving right up.”
The designation means that Cash is now certified to inspect welds. Beyond this designation, it speaks to his qualifications as an instructor. In order to become a CWI, Cash completed a rigorous testing process. CWI’s must be familiar with welding processes and procedures, terminology, and symbols and understand how different materials react during the welding process. Inspectors must demonstrate competency in nondestructive testing and utilize visual clues that suggest whether or not a weld is acceptable.
CWI is widely recognized, both nationally and internationally, and successful companies have come to rely on this AWS certification when ensuring the highest level of quality workmanship.
Cash is now one of only 50,000 Certified Welding Inspectors worldwide to receive this designation.
“This is the most difficult thing I’ve ever done,” he said of his accomplishment. In fact, most individuals do not complete the process; by one statistic first time test-takers have an average failure rate of 87.5 percent.
This award follows on the heels of other recent accolades bestowed on the LCC Welding Department. The Department was also featured in the Welding Journal, published by the American Welding Society in April 2016 in a special focus on education.
The LCC welding program continues to grow with over 60 students taking a welding course this last fall. Instructors include Doug Cash, Terry Martin, and Charles Cook.
“We are excited about the quality of our instructors and growing student numbers in this program.” Said Stagner Dean of Academic Services. “It reflects the quality of student experience and post-graduate job-readiness at LCC.”
For more information on the Welding department at Lamar Community College, visit www.lamarcc.edu/welding.