How much do I need to know before taking this course?

No previous knowledge is required to take this course. We start at the beginning, explain every term and topic, and provide practice questions to ensure you understand the material.

Who should take this course?

This course is ideal for both students and professional who want to learn or reacquaint themselves with the basic principles required to understand more advanced metallurgical concepts.

How long do I have to complete this course?

Participants have access to the course content 24 hours a day for a period of 30 days from the date of registration. After this 30-day period, participants will have an additional 10 days to pass the completion exam. The exam can be activated before the end of the 30-day period if the participant has completed all the modules.

Does this course include a completion exam?

Yes. Upon completion of the final course module, participants are prompted to take an exam designed to evaluate their comprehension of the subject matter. The completion exam consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and must be completed within a 90 minute period. Participants who do not attain the 75% passing score may attempt to retake the exam a second time. Participants who attain a score of 75% or more on the completion exam earn an AWS Certificate of Completion and 6 Professional Development Hours (PDHs). The AWS Certificate of Completion can be downloaded and printed directly from the webpage.

Do I need to purchase any other materials?

No. All the materials and resources necessary to complete the course objectives are included.

Do I receive Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for completing this course?

Yes. Participants that receive a score of 75% or above on the Completion Exam will receive an AWS Certificate of Completion and 6 Professional Development Hours (PDHs).

Can I use these Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for recertification?

Yes. Professional Development Hours (PDHs) earned through AWS online courses can be applied towards recertification provided the PDH's are earned during the certification period.

Do I receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for completing this course?

Yes. Participants that receive a score of 75% or above on the Completion Exam will receive an AWS Certificate of Completion and 0.6 IACET Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Can I use these Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for recertification?

Yes. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) earned through AWS online courses can be applied towards recertification provided the CEUs are earned during the certification period.

Will this course help prepare me for the Certified Welding Inspector Exam?

Yes. The Certified Welding Inspector Fundamentals Exam (Part A) contains questions concerning the topics covered in this seminar. This course is designed to help prepare participants for this section of the exam.

What platforms and devices can I use to view AWS Learning online courses?

You must be connected to the internet to access AWS Learning online courses. AWS supports the most recent versions of Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer. Courses can be viewed on desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. Note, however, that a high speed internet connection and large screen offer a better user experience.

Metallurgy I: Science of Metals & Alloys Online Training Course

Metallurgy I

Welding involves various metallurgical phenomena, including melting, freezing, diffusion, precipitation, thermal strains, and shrinkage. If disregarded or misunderstood, these effects can lead to cracking, porosity, or welds with poor properties. Metallurgy I introduces the fundamental concepts required to understand the metallurgical phenomena that affect welding and welded materials. Topics include the characteristics of atoms, the periodic table, chemical bonding, chemical reactivity, the atomic structure of materials, and the properties of metals.

At a Glance

Price

Member: $213
Non-member: $284

Materials Access

60 days

Length & PDH / CEU

Approximately 6 hours
6 PDHs | .6 CEUs

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Course Details

Who Should Take This Course
Prerequisites
Objectives
Course Modules
Student Learning Outcomes

Anyone involved in the design, fabrication, or inspection of welded, brazed, or soldered joints
Anyone wishing to learn about, and how to manipulate, the crystal structure of metals
Anyone seeking to prepare for the AWS Certified Welding Inspector exam
- This student body may encompass many positions, including:
  - Welders
  - Welding engineers
  - Welding inspectors
  - Welding supervisors
  - Shop owners

Prior to taking this course, students should be familiar with basic welding processes and welding terminology. This prerequisite knowledge can be obtained by:

Taking the AWS Welding Fundamentals I online course
Obtaining and reading a copy of AWS A3.0 Standard Terms and Definitions

This course teaches students how to:

Discuss the importance of metals to a modern society
Discuss the characteristics of an atom and its parts
Discuss the characteristics of an electron
Explain the need for heat treatments and stress relief
Explain how elements are classified
Define key terms commonly used in reference to ionic bonding and corrosion
Describe the structure of a crystal lattice
Describe the material properties of metals
Discuss the atomic characteristics of the four states of matter

MODULE 1 – All About Atoms: The Elements
MODULE 2 – All About Atoms: The Atom
MODULE 3 – All About Atoms: Electrons
MODULE 4 – The Periodic Table: Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids
MODULE 5 – The Periodic Table: Periodicity and Valence Electrons
MODULE 6 – Ionic Bonds: Main Group Elements
MODULE 7 – Ionic Bonds: Transition Metals
MODULE 8 – Ionic Bonds: Reactivity of Metals
MODULE 9 – Ionic Bonds: The Structure of Crystal Lattices
MODULE 10 – Covalent Bonds
MODULE 11 – Metallic Bonds: Material Properties
MODULE 12 – Metallic Bonds: Alloys and States of Matter

Upon completion of Metallurgy II, students will be able to:

Explain the metallurgical phenomena that affect welding and welded materials, including melting, freezing, diffusion, precipitation, thermal strains, and shrinkage
Demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of atoms, the periodic table, chemical bonding, and chemical reactivity, and explain how they relate to metallurgy
Analyze and interpret the atomic structure of materials, including crystal lattices, and describe how they impact the properties of metals
Identify and apply the appropriate heat treatments and stress relief techniques required to prevent cracking, porosity, or welds with poor properties
Discuss the material properties of metals, including ductility, malleability, strength, and toughness, and explain how they are affected by metallurgical phenomena
Classify elements based on their properties and describe the characteristics of ionic bonding and corrosion
Evaluate the atomic characteristics of the four states of matter and explain how they relate to metallurgical phenomena
Apply the fundamental concepts of metallurgy to design, fabrication, or inspection of welded, brazed, or soldered joints

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the AWS Metallurgy I online course and who is it for?

Metallurgy I is a self-paced online course that introduces the fundamental concepts of metallurgy as they relate to welding. It covers topics including atomic structure, chemical bonding, and the properties of metals. It is ideal for students, welding professionals, and anyone preparing for the CWI exam who wants to build or refresh their foundational metallurgy knowledge.
Do I need prior welding knowledge to take Metallurgy I?

No previous knowledge is required. The course starts from the beginning, explains every term and topic in clear language, and includes practice questions throughout. However, basic familiarity with welding processes and terminology — such as from the AWS Welding Fundamentals I course — is recommended to get the most out of the material.
How long do I have to complete the course and what do I earn?

Participants have 30 days of access to the course content from the date of registration, with an additional 10 days to complete the final exam. American Welding Society Those who score 75% or higher on the 50-question completion exam earn an AWS Certificate of Completion and 6 Professional Development Hours (PDHs).
Does Metallurgy I help with the CWI exam?

Yes. The Certified Welding Inspector Fundamentals Exam (Part A) contains questions on the topics covered in this course, and it is designed to help participants prepare for that section of the exam. American Welding Society It is also included as part of the AWS CWI Pre-Seminar bundle.
Can the PDHs earned count toward AWS recertification?

Yes. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) earned through AWS online courses can be applied toward recertification, provided they are earned during the active certification period. American Welding Society The course awards 6 PDHs upon successful completion.

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Comprehensive support for your welding education journey

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