8/15/2017 Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions About Nondestructive Testing
Answers to questions we hear from lots of folks!
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Online Courses All sorts of industries use this type of inspection to help insure that confident, competent
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with a high degree of integrity. Some of the industries that profit from practices within the industry.
NDT are the Oil and Gas Industry, Power Generation, Aviation and
Aeronautics, the Auto Industry including Racing, Maratime
Construction, all branches of the Military and Construction of all types.

Below are questions we get from all sorts of folks...even those that
have been in the industry for quite some time. Take a look at the list
and just click on it to go to the asnwer. If other things puzzle you
about NDT that we haven't addressed, please give us a call at 713-
849-4006.

1. What Does NDT, NDE and NDI stand for and is there
a difference?
2. What is Nondestructive Testing?
3. What is a Level I, Level II or Level III Technician?
4. What's the difference between "Qualification" and
"Certification" in Nondestructive Testing?

What Does NDT, NDE and NDI stand for and

is there a difference?

NDT
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8/15/2017 Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
NDT stands for Non Destructive Testing and there is no real
difference between NDT, NDE (nondestructive evaluation) or NDI
(nondestructive inspection), the latter two being a choice of
preference among members of different industries. All refer to the
same category of quality control test procedures that examines the
integrity (or lack, thereof) of materials, components or systems
without causing damage to them.

At NDT Training Center, we prefer NDT over the others in deference

to the worlds largest technical society of nondestructive testing
professionals, the American Society of Nondestructive Testing or
ASNT (not ASNE or ASNI) [back to the questions...]

What Is Nondestructive Testing?

Nondestructive testing is, simply stated, exactly what its name implies
- testing without destroying - to investigate the material integrity of the
test object. More specifically, a nondestructive test is an examination
of an object, material or system in any manner, which will not impair
its future usefulness.
The purpose of the test may be to detect internal or external flaws, to
measure geometric characteristics, to determine material structure or
composition or to measure or detect some of the material's properties.
A number of other technologies - for instance, radio astronomy,
voltage and amperage measurement and rheometry (flow
measurement) - are nondestructive but are not used to evaluate
material properties specifically. Nondestructive testing is concerned in
a practical way with the performance of the test piece - how long may
the piece be used and when does it need to be checked again?
Since the 1920s, nondestructive testing has developed from a
laboratory curiosity to an indispensable tool of production. No longer
is visual examination the principal means of determining quality.
Nondestructive tests in great variety are in worldwide use to detect
variations in structure, minute changes in surface finish, the presence
of cracks or other physical discontinuities, to measure the thickness of
materials and coatings and to determine other characteristics of
industrial products. Manufacturers use modern nondestructive tests
to:

1. Ensure product integrity, and in turn, reliability

2. Avoid failures, prevent accidents and save human life
3. Make a profit for the user
4. Ensure customer satisfaction and maintain the manufacturer's
reputation
5. Aid in better product design
6. Control manufacturing processes
7. Lower manufacturing costs
8. Maintain uniform quality level
9. Ascertain operational readiness

Ensuring the Integrity and Reliability of a Product - Ensuring

product reliability is necessary because of the general increase in
performance expectancy of the public. A homeowner expects the
refrigerator to remain in uninterrupted service, indefinitely protecting
the food investment, or the power lawnmower to start with one pull of
the rope and to keep cutting grass for years on end. The
manufacturer expects the lathe, punch press or forklift to stand up for
years of continuous work even under severe loads.

Preventing Accidents and Saving Lives - But reliability merely for

convenience and profit is not enough. Reliability to protect human
lives is a valuable end in itself. The railroad axle must not fail at high
speed. The front spindle of the intercity bus must not break on the
curve. The aircraft landing gear must not collapse on touchdown. The
mine hoist cable must not snap with people in the cab. Such critical
failures are rare indeed. And this is most certainly not the result of
mere good luck. In large part it is the direct result of the extensive use

of nondestructive
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8/15/2017 Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
of nondestructive testing and of the high order of nondestructive
testing ability now available. [back to the questions...]

What Is The Difference Between a Level I, II

and III?
ASNT NDT Level III
ASNT inaugurated its NDT Level III program in 1976 with certification
offerings in five NDT methods. Over the years, ASNT has certified
over 5,000 individuals from more than 50 countries as ASNT NDT
Level IIIs and has expanded the certification program to include
eleven NDT methods. ASNT is the single largest certifying body of
Level III personnel today and the ASNT NDT Level III certificate
remains the most respected and widely accepted NDT certification
throughout the world. Level III personnel are ultimately responsible for
the training, qualification and certification of a companies'
nondestructive testing Level I and Level II technicians.

ACCP Professional Level III

ASNT expanded third-party Level III certification to cover Practical
and Procedure Preparation (PP) examinations in five NDT methods
(MT, PT, RT, UT, and VT) when it introduced the ASNT Central
Certification ProgramT in 1996. ACCP Professional Level III
certification meets the requirements of ISO 9712 Level III certification.
The purpose of ACCP is to improve NDT reliability and accuracy
among practicing NDT personnel and to provide customers and
prospective employers with clear expectations of NDT personnel
competency and proficiency. In order to establish a minimum standard
of competency for NDT Level II and NDT Level III personnel, and to
provide a means of assuring an unbiased assessment of which
individuals possess such competence, ASNT used a combination of
traditional practices, national and international conventions, and
newly evolved concepts.

ACCP Level II Certification

ASNT widened the scope of its certification offerings to include Level
II certification in 1996 with ASNT Central Certification ProgramT Level
II certification. The ACCP Level II examinations include General,
Specific, Practical, and Instruction Preparation examinations in five
NDT methods (MT, PT, RT, UT and VT). ACCP Level II certification
meets the requirements of ISO 9712 Level II certification.

The NDT Trainee, Level I, and Level II

When a person starts the training and qualification process, they are
classified as a trainee. Their goal is usually to become a fully certified
Level I, Level II or Level III technician. It is important that the
technician be qualified in the inspection method before the technique
is used and test results evaluated.
Using SNT-TC-1A as a model, the experienced direction of a Level III
provides the employer with the necessary guidelines and
documentation to properly qualify and certify the NDT technician. To
comply with most industry standards, the employer must establish a
"Written Practice" that describes in detail how future technicians will
be trained, examined and certified.
Typically a Level I technician is able to carry out calibrations and
perform test procedures under the supervision of a certified Level II or
Level III.
A Level II Technician can calibrate, perform tests without supervision
and make test assessments when required. [back to the questions...]

What distinguishes "Qualification" and

"Certification" in Nondestructive Testing?

Making Sense Out of Certification for NDT Personnel per

SNT-TC-1A
The
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8/15/2017 Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
The confusion within the industries that use NDT services exists over
the terms certification and qualification. These words have been
used and abused over the decades since the 1960's when the
American Society of Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) published its first
Recommended Practice, SNT-TC-1A, Certification and
Qualification of NDT Personnel. Using SNT-TC-1A as a model
under the experienced direction of a Level III provides the employer
with the necessary guidelines and documentation to properly qualify
and certify the NDT technician. To comply with most industry
standards, the employer must establish a "Written Practice" that
describes in detail how future technicians will be trained, examined
and certified.

The Qualification and Certification Process - CLICK HERE TO

WATCH A SHORT VIDEO

SNT-TC-1A is quite specific and clear as to what proper qualification

and certification of NDT Personnel involves. Here are two
straightforward definitions to clarify the terms:

Qualification is comprised of three things: the

organized education, the required examinations
proving an individual has proper training, and
sufficient work experience in a particular inspection
method.

Certification is a written testimony by an employer

affirming that an individual has met the
requirements of training and experience regarding
a particular inspection method as stated in the
company's Written Practice.

Qualification of the Technician

Step One Training

Training is an organized program developed to provide inspection

personnel with the knowledge and skill necessary for qualification in a
specific method. In such a program the principals and techniques
(referred to as the "Body of Knowledge") of the particular test
methods are taught to the degree prescribed by the employer. The
necessary amount of training (typically stated in numbers of hours)
and examination requirements (such as content and number of test
questions) is stated in the employer's Written Practice.

Recommended Training Hours per SNT-TC-1A

Method Level I Level II Total
Magnetic Particle 12 8 20
Liquid Penetrant 4 8 12
Radiography 40 40 80
Ultrasonic Testing 40 40 80
Eddy Current 40 40 80

Step Two Examinations

Written General and Specific examinations, a Practical examination
and finally, an annual Visual examination that proves Near Vision
Acuity and Color Differentiation Skills by use of Isihara Color Plates
are administered to NDT personnel.

The General examination covers the basic principles (Body of

Knowledge) of the applicable method.
The Specific examination covers the procedures, equipment
and techniques that the employee will be required to perform
in their job assignment.

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8/15/2017 Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
The Practical (hands-on) examination allows the employee to
demonstrate their ability to operate the pertinent test
equipment and to perform defined calibrations and tests
according to relevant specifications.

Individuals are required to score 70% or higher on each of the three

exams and generate a composite score (a simple average of all three
exams) of at least 80% or higher.

Step Three Experience

Work activities accomplished in a particular test method under the
supervision of a certified individual in that particular method is referred
to as Time in Method and includes time spent observing, setting-up
and executing specific test procedures, performing calibrations and
carrying out other related activities. Time spent in organized training
programs does not count as experience.

Recommended Hours of Time in Method per SNT-TC-1A

Method Level I Level II Total
Magnetic Particle 70 210 280
Liquid Penetrant 70 140 210
Radiography 210 630 840
Ultrasonic Testing 210 630 840
Eddy Current 210 630 840

A Level II or Level III technician supervises the processing so that if

the trainee makes an error, the test can be repeated and the
supervising technician can evaluate the test object and accept or
reject, and the trainee will observe the evaluation. Time spent in
organized training programs does not count as experience. The
length of experience required prior to certification is stated in the
employers Written Practice.

Certification of the Technician

Certification of NDT personnel is the responsibility of the employer.
Personnel are certified when they have completed the initial training,
examination and experience requirements stated in the employer's
Written Practice. The length of certification and method of re-
certification is also stated in the employers Written Practice.
Documentation that states each applicants qualifications according to
the requirements of the Written Practice are required before
certification can occur. Key points to keep in mind are:

Certification is a document of testimony on the part of a

knowledgeable person in a particular NDT method - typically
the candidate's supervisor, department manager or corporate
officer depending on the size of the employer;
Certification in any NDT method is properly earned after a
candidate has completed the process spelled out by the
employers Written Practice;
A technician's certification ends concurrent with his or her
termination of employment.

The bottom line is that the employer adopts full responsibility for the
technician's actions and decisions once they are qualified and
certified, but assumes no further responsibility for actions beyond the
employment period (no such thing as a person claiming Level II status
unless they are employed by the company that put them through the
qualification process).

The most significant fact to understand about certification is this: if

certification has been properly earned through a stepped qualification

process,
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8/15/2017 Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
process, the technician should be capable of providing consistent and
trustworthy service.

Integrity: At the Heart of the Matter

The nondestructive testing profession has suffered over the years
because owners or managers have sent poorly or incompletely
trained people to perform services for clients who have not always
been savvy enough to recognize the difference between certified
technicians and unqualified warm bodies.

The work of the NDT technician is much too important to be treated

carelessly. The integrity with which we accomplish our profession will
have an impact on the health and safety of those who work in, on or
around the items we inspect. They deserve our very best. Mistakes
can and have cost lives!

Technology alone will never suffice. Only technicians who are

qualified and able to embrace integrity of character and the
importance of their profession can produce the observation,
application and analysis required by the industry they serve and the
public they keep safe.

The Written Practice for Qualification and Certification of

NDT Personnel
The Written Practice is the controlling document that adapts the
recommendations of the ASNT Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A
to meet the specific requirements of the Company/Employer. The
Written Practice should be developed or evaluated and approved by
the employer's NDT Level III. It should be maintained on file for easy
access, reference and maintenance by the Level III administrator, as
well as for ready review in situations such as customer and
jurisdictional audits. Issues covered within this dynamic document
include:

The control and administration of NDT personnel training,

examination and certification;
A description of the responsibilities of each level of
certification;
A description of the training, experience and examination
requirements for each level of certification;
Determinations of the acceptability of materials or components
in accordance with applicable codes, standards, specifications
and procedures.

In summary, the following Certification Triangle may help. All three

sides of the triangle must be in place before a candidate is truly
certified. Assuming this, and further assuming that the central portion
of the triangle is being fully adhered to by the employer, the chances
are very good that the qualification program will produce certified NDT
technicians who will positively define their profession into the future.
[back to the questions...]

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