A certification candidate can be any person, older than 16 years regardless of sex, residency, mother tongue, the employment status and the education level. Having earned the certificate, an NDT inspector is given the authorization to carry out all the activities within the scope listed in the certificate.

The validity of the certificate as per EN ISO 9712 is 5 years. 

5 after intial certification renewal of certificate can be done by:

• Practical examination (1 examination specimen and 1 additional written instruction for Level 2)
• Credit structured system

Certificate must be extended prior to the certificate expiry. Unless the validity is extended, the candidate has to apply for the certification again (take the exam). The responsibility of re-certification lies in the hands of a certificate holder.

10 years after  the initial certification, a recertification can be done by:

• Practical examination (for Level 1 and 2)
• Written examination (Level 3)
• Credit structured system (Level 3)

Recertification needs to take place prior to the certificate expiry.

Certification procedure

The certification procedure is clearly defined and a candidate should be familiar with it in advance.

Training

A candidate who applies for the certification has to get trained for a specific method first. The training has to take place in the training center, approved by the accredited and notified certification body.

Prior to the training, a candidate has to submit the evidence of visual adequacy to the training center.

In the table below, the minimal duration of specific training is stated. If the level 2 certification is directly applied for, the durations of both levels must simply be added.

 One training day lasts minimum 7 hours. At direct certification apply to Level 2, training days are summed together.

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION

The application for certification is a document by means of which a candidate defines the scope he/she wants to be certified for. By signing the application, a candidate confirms he/she is familiar with the rules and the procedure of the certification.

As a minimum, the following information has to be contained in the application:

• Name and surname
• Address
• Date and place of birth
• Employer
• Information on certification
• Signed applicant statement
• Signed customer statement
• Confirmation on issuance of PED certificate (if required)
• Signature for pocket certificate issuing (if required)

Attachments:

• Copy of evidence on eye exam (a physician’s or optometrist’s certificate stating that the candidate satisfies the requirements of SIST EN ISO 9712)
• Proof of NDT training attendance (for the initial certification only)
• Photograph in an electronic form
• Signed professional ethics statement

EXPERIENCE

The required experience prior to certification is listed in the table below. If the level 2 certification is directly applied for, the experience of both levels has to be taken into consideration.

The amount of work experience is based on a 7-hour working day, which can be achieved in one day or by accumulating hours. The maximum number of hours worked in one day is 12 hours. Experience in days is achieved by adding up all the hours divided by 7.

Personnel data, acquired in the course of the certification is confidential, only the list of names and surnames of certified personnel, together with the certification scope and number is made public.

SEP trainings

Examination

There are three parts of the exam:

• General written part – 40 questions (duration: 2 min/question),
• Specific written part – 30 questions (duration: 3 min/question),
• Practical examination (duration: approx. 3 to 4 h).

Specific and practical parts of the exam are carried out separately for SIST EN ISO 9712 and for SNT-TC-1A/CP-189.

In the table below, the number of questions required for level 3 (basic exam) as per SIST EN ISO 9712 is listed.

In the table below, the number of questions required for level 3 (exam in the main method) as per SIST EN ISO 9712 is listed.

In the table below, the number of questions required for level I and II as per SNT-TC-1A/CP-189 is listed.

Conditions for passing the exam

To pass the exam in accordance with the SIST EN ISO 9712, a candidate has to achieve 70% as a minimum in each part of the exam  (general, specific, practical or A, B, C and D, E, F). In addition, a 70% score has to be achieved as a minimum in the practical part of the exam for each sample and for an NDT procedure.

The passing grade in accordance with ASME standards is 70% at minimum in each part of the exam (i.e., general, specific or A, B, and C)and at least 80% for practical part.The average of all parts of the exam has to be 80% as a minimum.

NDT certificate

Having received the certificate and the authorization by the NDT certificate holder – the employer, he/she obtains the right to carry out the activities within the scope of the certification.