American Watchmakers - Clockmakers Institute

CW21 Exam
2026-04-27 08:00 - 2026-05-01 17:00 (America/Halifax) | AWCI – Harrison, Ohio, 701 Enterprise Dr, Harrison, OH, 45030, United States
The 2026 Spring CW21 Certification Exam Registration is now being accepted.
AWCI will host CW21 certification at its headquarter April 27-May 1, 2026, offering two core components and all five available elective components during the certification period. As it was during CW21 certification in 2025, the exam is modular and each component can be taken separately, or multiple components can be taken at the same time.
The two core components that will be available are Precision Timing and Automatic Chronograph, while the five elective components available to take are Balance Staffing, Quartz Service, Case and Bracelet Refinishing, Water Resistance, and Micromechanics.
Those seeking CW21 certification must successfully pass the three core components—the other being Theory, which is not being offered onsite at AWCI, but CW21 candidates can take it remotely under the supervision of a proctor and arrangements with AWCI educational staff—and two electives to attain the highly regarded watchmaker certification.
The deadline to register for the Spring 2026 CW21 exam round is March 27, 2026.
Following the Fall exam round, the AWCI CW21 assessment team will take the following week to assess the candidate exams from both the April and September exams, prior to the week of the AWCI Fall Symposium, and then notify those CW21 candidates of their results.
Registration cost for the available components is the following:
Core Components

Automatic Chronograph: $1,200
Precision Timing: $1,000

Elective Components

Balance Staffing: $800
Quartz Service: $500
Case and Bracelet Refinishing: $500
Water Resistance: $500
Micromechanics: $500

Please review the document’s and information on our website at the following addresses:
CW21

Watchmaking standards

Become a Certified Watchmaker

If you have questions regarding the CW21 certification exam, or to register for the CW21 certification exam, contact AWCI Education Director Jason Champion, CW21, at jason@awci.com or Office Manager James Sprague at james@awci.com

CW21 Exam
2026-09-21 08:00 - 2026-09-25 17:00
The 2026 Fall CW21 Certification Exam Registration is now being accepted.
AWCI will host CW21 certification at its headquarter September 21-25, 2026, offering two core components and all five available elective components during the certification period. As it was during CW21 certification in 2025, the exam is modular and each component can be taken separately, or multiple components can be taken at the same time.
The two core components that will be available are Precision Timing and Automatic Chronograph, while the five elective components available to take are Balance Staffing, Quartz Service, Case and Bracelet Refinishing, Water Resistance, and Micromechanics.
Those seeking CW21 certification must successfully pass the three core components—the other being Theory, which is not being offered onsite at AWCI, but CW21 candidates can take it remotely under the supervision of a proctor and arrangements with AWCI educational staff—and two electives to attain the highly regarded watchmaker certification.
The deadline to register for the Fall 2026 CW21 exam round is August 21, 2026.
Following the Fall exam round, the AWCI CW21 assessment team will take the following week to assess the candidate exams from both the April and September exams, prior to the week of the AWCI Fall Symposium, and then notify those CW21 candidates of their results.
Registration cost for the available components is the following:
Core Components

Automatic Chronograph: $1,200
Precision Timing: $1,000

Elective Components

Balance Staffing: $800
Quartz Service: $500
Case and Bracelet Refinishing: $500
Water Resistance: $500
Micromechanics: $500

Please review the document’s and information on our website at the following addresses:
CW21

Watchmaking standards

Become a Certified Watchmaker

If you have questions regarding the CW21 certification exam, or to register for the CW21 certification exam, contact AWCI Education Director Jason Champion, CW21, at jason@awci.com or Office Manager James Sprague at james@awci.com
