Published by The American Society for

Nondestructive Testing, Inc., 1711 Arlingate Lane,

Columbus, OH 43228

Copyright © 1990 by The American Society for

Nondestructive Testing, Inc. All rights reserved.

ISBN 0-931403-97-9

Printed in the United States of America

 Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

The Importance of Personnel Qualification and Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Overview of SNT-TC-1A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Details of SNT-TC-1A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

1. Scope
2. Definitions
3. NDT Methods
4. Levels of Qualification
5. Written Practice
6. Requirements for Initial Qualification
7. Training Programs
8. Examinations
9. Certification
10. Termination

Application to Some Common Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code

API Standard 1101
AWS D1.1
MIL-STD-271F
MIL-STD-410D

NDT Level III Certification by ASNT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
 Basic Guide to NDT Personnel
Qualification and Certification
Introduction
This guide should be useful to the following
individuals:
A. Employers who need to qualify and certify
their nondestructive testing (NDT)/nonde-
structive inspection (NDI)/nondestructive
examination (NDE) personnel
B. Those who want to know more about the
NDT personnel qualification and certifica-
tion processes as they are now practiced in
US industry
C. Those who engage other companies to con-
duct their NDT
D. Those who purchase products that have
been nondestructively tested
E. Those who determine the competency of
the NDT personnel they hire
This guide covers the following topics:
Definitions
The Importance of Personnel Qualification
and Certification
Details of SNT-TC-1A
Application to Some Common Specifications
ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code
API Standard 1101
AWS D1.1
MIL-STD-271F
MIL-STD-410D
NDT Level III Certification Program
Summary
Definitions
To be sure that we understand each other, letÕs
define some terms. NDT, NDE, and NDI are
acronyms for nondestructive testing, nondestructive
evaluation, and nondestructive inspection, respec-
tively. These terms all relate to the same processes
and all have the same meaning; however, certain
segments of US industry prefer one term over
another. In other countries, the term Ònondestruc-
tive testingÓ (NDT) is used almost exclusively. The
term NDT will be used throughout this guide.
Nondestructive testing is any or all of the
processes that use various physical principles to
determine the condition of an object without affect-
ing the objectÕs ability to fulfill its intended function.
1
The most common kinds of NDT use X-rays or
gamma rays, ultrasonics, electricity, magnetism, or
penetrating liquids to detect flaws in the object.
Certain NDT methods can also measure or compare
some physical, mechanical, and chemical properties.
The terms ÒqualificationÓ and ÒcertificationÓ are
often used interchangeably, even in knowledgeable
circles; however, they mean different things, espe-
cially in this guide. The following definitions are
used:
A. ÒQualificationÓ is the process of demon-
strating that an individual has the required
amount and type of training experience,
knowledge, and capabilities. An individual
is ÒqualifiedÓ when such a demonstration
has been satisfactorily completed
B. ÒCertificationÓ is the process of providing
written testimony that an individual is
qualified. An individual is ÒcertifiedÓ when
written testimony of qualification has been
provided
In other words, an individual can be qualified
without being certified, but should not be certified
without being qualified.
The Importance of Personnel
Qualification and Certification
It is important to practice personnel qualifica-
tion and certification (PQ&C) in order to assure that
NDT personnel thoroughly understand the technol-
ogy, principles, and practices of the NDT method
they are using as well as the proper use of tech-
niques. This understanding is essential to good
NDT practices because:
A. most NDT methods do not inherently create
their own records
B. NDT results are strongly dependent on the
NDT process
C. NDT results can seldom be cross-checked
without conducting another test
NDT personnel must also know and believe in
the importance of performing the tests properly as
well as be dedicated to performing the tests proper-
ly. They must understand the potential seriousness
of, and their responsibility for, the consequences if
the tests are not performed properly.
 The principal procedure used to assure that
NDT personnel possess these qualifications consists
of the following:
A. training to impart the necessary knowledge
B. experience supervised by knowledgeable
people
C. qualification examinations to demonstrate
that the individual has acquired sufficient
knowledge and capabilities
D. certification to document successful demon-
stration of competence
In most nations, a central agency (usually the
government or an organization sanctioned by the
government) conducts the examinations and certifi-
cations. While some central certification systems exist
in the US, such as those for NAVSEA-250-1500-1,
most US certifications today are conducted by
employers in accordance with ASNT Recommended
Practice No. SNT-TC-1A. For this reason, it is impor-
tant that you understand SNT-TC-1A and how it is
applied in a few of the widely-used specifications
that require NDT personnel certification.
You should also be familiar with the optional
NDT Level III certification program offered by the
American Society for Nondestructive Testing, Inc.
(ASNT) to qualified personnel who can pass ASNTÕs
rigorous requirements. You should be familiar with
this program because:
A. you may encounter individuals who have
been certified under this program
B. this certification is recognized around the
world
C. it is required by some organizations, and
you or one of your employees may want to
apply for this certification
Overview of SNT-TC-1A
SNT-TC-1A is not a specification. It is a set of
guidelines or recommendations to employers about
how to establish and conduct an NDT personnel
qualification and certification program.
Certification in accordance with SNT-TC-1A
means certification of an individual by the employ-
er. Because it can only be given by the employer,
certification in accordance with SNT-TC-1A termi-
nates if the individual leaves the employer.
Basically, SNT-TC-1A has only two requirements
or conditions which must be met.
A. The first condition is that a written practice
or procedure for qualifying and certifying
company NDT personnel must be prepared
2
by the employer. The following recommen-
dations about preparing a written practice
are included in SNT-TC-1A:
1. establish three levels of NDT personnel
qualification, (Level I, II, and III, with
Level III being the highest)
2. specify the activities or functions that
personnel at each level of NDT qualifi-
cation should be able to perform
3. specify the training, education, and
experience that personnel at each level
of NDT qualification should have
4. specify the subjects that the training
should cover
B. The second condition is that the employer
must (shall) modify the suggestions of
SNT-TC-1A if necessary to make the qualifi-
cation and certification requirements appro-
priate for the companyÕs needs. In other
words, the employer is responsible for
assuring that the qualification requirements
are satisfactory for the NDT work that the
companyÕs employees will perform.
SNT-TC-1A can also be useful if your NDT
work is done by outside laboratories or by material
suppliers. It provides a yardstick against which to
evaluate their qualification programs and the capa-
bilities of their NDT personnel.
SNT-TC-1A also includes the following recom-
mendations:
A. What types of examinations should be
given
B. How examinations should be graded
C. Who should perform the training and pre-
pare the examinations
D. What records of the qualification process
should be kept
E. How long the certifications should remain
valid
F. How personnel should be recertified
It is important to remember that SNT-TC-1A
does not require an employer to follow all its rec-
ommendations to the letter. In fact, Paragraph 1.4 of
all SNT-TC-1A editions states that the employer
Òshall modify them as necessary to meet particular
needs.Ó
However, some regulatory bodies and specifica-
tions require that employers adhere rigidly to
SNT-TC-1A. If your contract contains such require-
ments, you may have to treat SNT-TC-1A as mini-
mum requirements. In such cases, inquiring about
those parts that seem inappropriate is a good idea.
Details of SNT-TC-1A
We will now discuss the 1988 edition of
SNT-TC-1A in more detail. To avoid a lot of needless
repetition, the exact words of SNT-TC-1A will not be
reiterated. However, each section of SNT-TC-1A will
be referred to by its number or title so you can easily
refer to the document as needed. If you want to follow
along in the 1988 edition of SNT-TC-1A, Section 1 begins
on page 2; Section 10 ends on page 6. Table 6.3.1 can be
found on page 7.
1. Scope. One major point to notice here is that
this document provides guidelines which are intended
to assist employers in developing their own written
practices or procedures for qualifying and certifying
their own NDT personnel. That does not mean you
should ignore SNT-TC-1A if other companies per-
form your NDT. Quite the contrary. The recommen-
dations of SNT-TC-1A can still be a useful guide for
you in determining whether your vendors are using
well-trained and well-qualified personnel to perform
your NDT work.
A second point to notice is that Paragraph 1.4
requires you to modify the recommendations as
needed to make them properly fit your particular
needs. If you are not very familiar with NDT, you
should get expert help in making the modifications.
The help could come from several sources, such as
your customersÕ experts, NDT schools, government
agencies such as The Department of Defense (DOD),
NDT laboratories, independent NDT consultants, or
other sources. Advertisers in ASNTÕs journal,
Materials Evaluation, or members of ASNTÕs Technical
Services Department are good sources for the names
and addresses of consultants.
2. Definitions. To understand the recommenda-
tions of SNT-TC-1A, it is important to also under-
stand the definitions of some words as they are used in
the document. Notice particularly the definitions of
should and shall; these are different from the usual
dictionary definitions. Just remember that the docu-
ment is only a guide, unless your customer has
imposed other restrictions.
3. NDT Methods. The general recommendations
of SNT-TC-1A are applicable to any method, whether
or not it is listed in Section 3. However, ASNT has
training course outlines and sample examination
questions only for the methods listed.
4. Levels of Qualification. You should notice
several important points in this section. The first is
that the three basic levels of qualification may be
subdivided. This is important especially if your per-
sonnel perform only certain segments of an NDT
method, such as using a digital ultrasonic thickness
gage, processing radiographic film, or just preclean-
ing or developing in a liquid penetrant test.
Individuals who are certified for only such specific
operations are usually called ÒLimited Level (I, II,
3
or III)Ó or are designated as having Òlimited certi-
ficationÓ because they are not qualified to perform
the full range of activities expected of personnel at
that level of qualification.
Notice that trainees may do useful NDT work,
contrary to what is sometimes asserted. A crucial
part of the training process is physically perform-
ing the necessary activities; this is the only way to
obtain the experience that is required to become
certified. The limitation on traineesÕ activities is
that they should work with, and not just under the
supervision of, a qualified person.
Note carefully the use of ÒshouldÓ and ÒshallÓ
in the descriptions of Levels I, II, and III. ÒShallÓ
means Òthis is strongly recommended unless there
is a strong reason why it does not fit your needs.Ó
For example, although the recommendations state
that a Level III Ò...shall be capable of interpreting
and evaluating results...Ó, if you have a Level III
who cannot keep current in evaluation skills, that
person should be designated as a ÒLimitedÓ Level
III, rather than masquerading as a fully-qualified
Level III. However, it is desirable for all individu-
als at the same level to be capable of meeting all
the criteria for that level.
5. Written practice. This section is one of the
two mandatory sections of SNT-TC-1A. The writ-
ten practice is nothing more than a procedure that
defines who, what, when, where, and how you
will conduct your PQ&C operations. You should
prepare it with the same care and thoroughness
that you use when preparing specifications for
purchasing quality products and equipment. If
you are not expert in NDT certification proce-
dures, you should seriously consider engaging
expert assistance in preparing your written prac-
tice.
6. Requirements for initial qualification.
Notice that the requirements in this section are for
initial qualification and certification, not for recer-
tification. The question of how much education,
training, and experience is enough for your pur-
poses depends on your NDT requirements. If you
are setting up a new program, you should either
seek expert help or use the recommendations in
Table 6.3.1.
The phrases Òequivalent activitiesÓ and Òat least
comparable to, Òappear frequently in this section
and often cause concern. Neither phrase has been
officially defined, partly because the meanings of
ÒequivalentÓ and ÒcomparableÓ depend upon each
employerÕs requirements for each level. As a sug-
gestion, positions and activities that satisfy all of the
recommendations in Section 4 for a given level
should be accepted as equivalent to that level, even
if no certification was given. If the positions and
activities do not satisfy all of the recommendations
in Section 4, you must exercise judgment and rec-
ognize that theintent of this section is to assure that
the candidate is competent in NDT.
Despite its title, it is often assumed that
Table 6.3.1 applies to certified individuals; howev-
er, it applies only to initial qualifications. When
looking at the footnotes, remember that ÒshallÓ
indicates a strong recommendation; the actual
requirements of your written practice may be dif-
ferent if your needs require it.
Note (3) of Table 6.3.1 is known as the Ò25%
RuleÓ and has been the subject of many inquiries to
ASNT. The SNT-TC-1A Questions and Answers:
Inquiries to and Responses from ASNTÕs SNT-TC-1A
Interpretation Panel (SNT-TC-1A Interpretations),
available from ASNT, contains the official answers
to many of the questions that you may have about
this and other parts of SNT-TC-1A. You will need
to decide (and include in your written practice)
which activities constitute ÒNDT-related activities.Ó
Some choices others have made include destructive
testing, metallography, welder or welding proce-
dure qualification testing, and the performance of
NDT methods other than the one for which certifi-
cation is sought.
7. Training programs. Training can be class-
room training, on-the-job training, or both. A com-
bination of classroom and on-the-job training is
preferable to memorization without comprehen-
sion; however, all training should be organized and
formal. The training should also be suited to the
employerÕs needs; it should include the actual
processes and products, and it should relate specifi-
cally to the appropriate level of certification. You
can use the Recommended Training Courses
Outlines that are appended to SNT-TC-1A as a
guide; however, you will need some expertise to
adapt them to special cases.
8. Examinations. Since this is a long and impor-
tant section, we will discuss each part separately.
8.1. If someone other than a Level III will
administer the examinations, that person should
have some documented qualifications for the work;
the person should also be designated in writing.
For example, an experienced, qualified Level II
might administer Level I examinations, if so docu-
mented.
8.2. Your procedure should state what vision
examinations will be used, and whether any modifi-
cations to the standards will apply. For example,
some specifications require Jaeger 1 rather than
Jaeger 2; some specify a distance other than 12 inch-
es (30.48 cm). While color vision is often tested with
the Ishihara Plates, you can also evaluate it by hav-
ing the candidate actually conduct an NDT test.
Some specifications require a Òdensity discrimina-
tion testÓ for radiographers, using special radi-
ographs containing known faint images. If you
4
have such a requirement, you will need to make or
buy suitable radiographs.
8.3. The general examination should deal with
the physical principles of the test method, general
knowledge of basic equipment used in the method,
and other knowledge that can be imparted in the
classroom or laboratory. It should not deal with
knowledge of the specific equipment, codes, stan-
dards, and procedures applicable to your work (see
Paragraph 8.4).
8.4. The specific examination should deal with
the details of the method that are applicable to your
work. Since these examinations may be given with
the applicable specification or procedure as refer-
ence material (see Paragraph 8.7), it is important
that the examinee should not be able to answer the
questions by simply finding the right paragraph in
the document. The questions should discern
whether the candidates can apply the material to
realistic practical situations that may be encoun-
tered during testing.
Again, review the definitions of ÒshouldÓ and
ÒshallÓ and set your requirements according to your
needs. You may need more or fewer questions than
SNT-TC-1A recommends, depending on, for exam-
ple, how many specifications and procedures must
be covered and how simple or complex the specifi-
cations are. In some cases, it is difficult to write
20 questions; in others, 20 questions will not begin
to cover the knowledge the candidate needs to do
the job properly.
8.5. The practical examination requires test sam-
ples; you should think carefully about what this
means to you. The samples may be actual produc-
tion parts; however, the Level III must test them to
approve their use. While most employers prefer to
make their own test samples, one sample per test
item is not enough; not only do test results circulate
quickly, but also the samples must be safeguarded
between tests. You need a system and a follow-up
process to ensure that the system is used. You must
decide what checkpoints are covered by the test and
determine how to grade the results. Usually, the
checkpoints include the critical variables which
must be controlled in the process and the details of
the test procedure.
8.6. Two opinions exist about the questions in the
Method-Specific Supplement (question and answer books)
to SNT-TC-1A. One opinion is that you should use
these questions only as examples, because candidates
can memorize the answers. The other opinion is that
you should use these questions verbatim because
several experts have reviewed them and, therefore,
they are more likely to be correct and free from ambi-
guities. Both are valid opinions; the one most impor-
tant in your situation should guide your practice.
The key word used in Paragraph 8.6 is Òshould.Ó
 8.7. When you provide reference material, it is
important to use the proper type of questions (see
Paragraph 8.4).
8.8. No examination should be prepared by the
person who will take the examination; this caveat
applies most of all to Level III personnel. The
Level III examinations must be prepared by an
NDT expert. If the ÒbossÓ is not an NDT expert,
he/she should not assume that the position alone
is enough of a qualification to prepare the exami-
nation. The objective of NDT examinations is to
demonstrate and document in a credible way that
the candidate is qualified. The ASNT Level III cer-
tification (see page 7) is one way to document the
candidateÕs qualifications, as are examinations by
other qualified sources. Regardless of who pre-
pares the examinations, the employer is still
responsible for certifying (for example, issuing
and signing the certificate) the individual accord-
ing to the company written practice.
8.9. It is particularly important that a Level III
be involved in grading the examinations to deal
with ambiguous questions or incorrect answers.
This is most important if the examination ques-
tions are essay or fill-in-the-blank questions,
because the correct answers for such questions are
often a matter of interpretation.
Although all three parts of the examinations
are weighted equally, if you feel that some parts
should receive more or less weight than others for
your application, you may modify the weighting
to suit your needs. (Note the definition of ÒshallÓ
in Section 2.) For example, some employers
weight heavily the specific and practical examina-
tions for Level I, weight them equally for Level II,
and weight the basic examination more heavily
for Level III. The weighting depends on where
you believe the emphasis should be placed. You
should not do this unless you are expert in the
NDT method, or have expert advice, because
SNT TC-1A does say Òshall.Ó
8.10. The intent here is that the candidate
should gain further experience or training to
strengthen the weakness(es) which caused failure.
Under no circumstances should a candidate
receive the same examination twice in a short
period of time. The objective of each examination
is to demonstrate the candidateÕs knowledge of
the subject, not the ability to memorize the
answers.
9. Certification. This section is important for
several reasons. The employer is responsible for
certification of all levels of NDT employees. (As a
corollary under SNT-TC-1A, an employer cannot
certify someone who is not an employee, but that
does not mean that an organization cannot test
nonemployees to be sure they are qualified.) The
5
recommendations of Sections 6, 7, and 8, like most
in SNT-TC-1A, should be modified to fit the
employerÕs needs.
An outside agency may be hired to provide
Level III services or for that matter, training, exami-
nations, or other NDT services. Remember that
when using any outside services, the employer is
responsible for all certifications issued to the
employerÕs personnel under SNT-TC-1A. Therefore,
even if an outside agency conducts training, exami-
nations, etc., the employer must still issue the certi-
fication.
With regard to records, consider that their pur-
pose is to document the beginning and the continuity
of qualifications of the people who perform the
NDT work. The records should be sufficient to
prove that the people were qualified at the time
they performed the work. After the work is done,
the records should be retained for as long as the
customer requires or as long as may be legally
desirable to prove that the inspection which was
performed on a given part was done by personnel
who were qualified at that time.
Interrupted service seems to be a frequent prob-
lem, so a clarification of Paragraph 9.7(4) may be
useful. Some employers define interrupted service
as a break of six months, a year, or some other fixed
interval during which no NDT work was done. This
practice has obvious weaknesses. As a suggestion,
consider the following: require full recertification
only if the duration of the interruption exceeds the
duration of the employeeÕs NDT experience or five
(5) years, whichever is less. If the interruption is
shorter than this, but longer than a month, require a
specific examination and, if the interruption is
longer than a year, add a practical examination.
This procedure or a similar one is more cumber-
some than having examinations at fixed intervals,
but acknowledges that recent knowledge is more
easily forgotten than old habits.
10. Termination. With regard to Paragraph 10.2
of SNT-TC-1A, the term ÒproofÓ is usually under-
stood to mean written evidence from the prior
employer. It is regrettable that in recent years,
Paragraph 10.2 has become increasingly difficult to
satisfy with documentation. However, with SNT-
TC-1A as a guide, the employer can adopt different
requirements. Even if you use SNT-TC-1A as a
guide, always remember that the employer is
responsible for the certifications that result.
Well, this has been a quick trip through
SNT-TC-1A. To understand it thoroughly requires
considerable study plus actual experience in the use
of the document and experience in the give and take
of dealing with customers, suppliers, or regulatory
bodies. Additional aids to understanding are the
SNT-TC-1A Interpretations. These are responses
to questions raised by users; they are available from
ASNT. If the existing interpretations do not cover
your question, you may request interpretations
yourself. To save time, contact the ASNT Technical
Services Department to learn the proper format for
the inquiry.
Application to Some Common
Specifications
Now we will discuss how SNT-TC-1A can be
applied to some of the more frequently used indus-
trial specifications. We will discuss each specifica-
tion separately so that, if your concern is with only
one of them, you need not read about the others
unless you wish to.
ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code
(The American Society for Mechanical Engineers)
The ÒCodeÓ has many sections, each with differ-
ent requirements. The PQ&C requirements of differ-
ent sections of the Code vary widely; some sections
demand little PQ&C while others are quite detailed.
Because there is not much of a problem if little is
required, it seems sensible to discuss a section with
considerable PQ&C demands, such as Section XI.
We will use the 1983 version as an example, because
the requirements change often and few users are
working to the latest edition. Keep in mind that ear-
lier and later versions of the Code may differ from
the requirements reviewed here.
Section XI, IWA-2300, specifies that the PQ&C
procedure shall comply with SNT-TC-1A, with
some exceptions. The exceptions are the following:
A. Level IIIÕs can only be qualified by exami-
nation, and basic, method, and specific
examinations must be given. This means
that if an ASNT Level III certification is
used to fulfill the basic and method exami-
nations required in SNT-TC-1A, Paragraph
8.8(4), proof must be given that examina-
tions were taken and passed. It also means
that Paragraph 8.8(5) of SNT-TC-1A cannot
be used to avoid giving specific examina-
tions for Level III.
Although new ASNT certifications can only
be obtained by examination, recertifications
can be obtained either by examination or by
documentation of continued Level III activi-
ties plus increasing Level III knowledge.
ASNT certificates do not identify which
recertification method was used. However,
the ASNT letter advising that the candidate
has been recertified does state whether or
not an examination was passed, and may be
used as the necessary proof.
6
B. Recertification is required every three years,
instead of the five-year interval recommend-
ed by SNT-TC-1A and required by the ASNT
Level III Program.
C. All references to SNT-TC-1A paragraph
numbers in the 1983 version of the code
refer to the 1980 edition. As of this printing,
no later editions of SNT-TC-1A have been
accepted by the code. The major conse-
quence of this is that the visual testing (VT)
recommendations of SNT-TC-1A (1988) are
not recognized, and a VT program must be
set up by the employer. However, unless
future Code rulings decree otherwise, there
is no reason not to use the SNT-TC-1A rec-
ommendations, modified to suit your needs.
D. When the ASNT certification is used to satis-
fy the basic and method examination
requirements of Section XI, the minimum
passing grade on the employerÕs specific
examination must be 80%, because ASNT
does not report grades for its examinations.
E. Section XI allows limited certifications and
these limitations must be described in the
employerÕs written practice. What you might
miss, unless you read carefully, is that the
limitations must also be described on the cer-
tificate.
F. The vision test requires Jaeger 1, not Jaeger 2.
Also, the Code does not specify a distance;
therefore, this test must be conducted at
15.75 inches (40.005 cm), the standard Jaeger
distance, rather than at the 12-inch (30.48 cm)
distance quoted in SNT-TC-1A. A far-dis-
tance vision test is also required for VT-2 and
VT-3 work, as defined in the Code.
G. A difference which may have a major impact
on some users is that Level I personnel may
not independently evaluate results, contrary
to Paragraph 4.3 of SNT-TC-1A. Thus, for
Section XI work, it may be necessary to train
and qualify additional Level II personnel.
H. Another difference which may have signifi-
cant impact is that IWA-2300 requires that
Level I and II practical examinations be
demonstrated to the Level III. There is no
provision for delegation of this Level III
function.
API Standard 1101
(American Petroleum Institute)
This standard covers the required NDT for
pipeline welding. It specifies that radiographers
shall be qualified in accordance with SNT-TC-1A. It
allows, but does not specify, other types of NDT.
There is ambiguity about the duties of a Level I
radiographer, but the only limitation is that only a
Level II or III may interpret the radiographs.
Requalification is required every three years,
including Level III.
AWS D1.1
(American Welding Society)
This specification covers the design, fabrication,
and inspection of welded buildings, bridges, and
tubular structures. It requires that NDT personnel,
except for visual testing (VT), be qualified to the
current edition of SNT-TC-1A. Only Level IIÕs, or
Level IÕs working under a Level II, are permitted to
perform NDT. This can hinder training by preclud-
ing trainees from doing the hands-on work needed
to thoroughly learn the nuances of methods such as
ultrasonic testing (UT).
UT personnel are expressly required to take a
specific and practical examination on D1.1. These
examinations must be taken because the UT testing
requirements are very detailed and quite unique.
Interestingly, there is no specific mention of such
examinations for any other NDT method; therefore,
the examinations may be omitted at the employerÕs
discretion, since they are only recommended in
SNT-TC-1A. However, such a practice is to be dis-
couraged if the employer has any intention of doing
quality NDT.
MIL-STD-271F
(Military Standard)
This widely-used military standard is written
primarily to specify testing requirements, but it also
includes qualification requirements based on the
1980 edition of SNT-TC-1A. The recommendations
of SNT-TC-1A are, however, invoked as minimum
requirements except for limited certifications.
Training and experience for limited certifications
may be less than those in SNT-TC-1A, provided that
the amounts are described in the written practice
and in certification records.
All NDT methods, whether covered in
SNT-TC-1A or not, must be treated similarly with
regard to personnel certification. This can be a prob-
lem with methods not covered in SNT-TC-1A
because it requires the employer to devise training
course outlines, training, and experience times for
each level, numbers of questions required on exami-
nations, and the many other details recommended
in SNT-TC-1A.
Recertification of all levels is required every
three years or more often, and the procedure used
must be of the same complexity and thoroughness
as the original examinations. In addition, recertifica-
tion is required for anyone who has not performed
the tests within the past six months; however, this
7
may be an operational examination, instead of the
full battery of initial examinations.
The vision examinations require Jaeger 1, rather
than the Jaeger 2 as in SNT-TC-1A, and a brightness
discrimination examination is required for radi-
ographic testing (RT) personnel. For the latter exam-
ination, the employer will have to prepare and
maintain several radiographs with a variety of den-
sities and sizes of penetrameter images and will
have to establish credible pass/fail criteria.
MIL-STD-410D
This standard is essentially a stand-alone speci-
fication for NDTpersonnel qualification in the five
major methods: radiographic testing (RT), ultrasonic
testing (UT), eddy current testing (ET), magnetic
particle testing (MT), and liquid penetrant testing
(PT). While being built upon the SNT-TC-1A system
of three levels and employer certification, it differs
in many details, and it provides requirements, not
recommendations. One difference is that Level I is
not permitted to evaluate results for acceptance.
Another is that vision examinations must be given
by Òmedically-qualifiedÓ personnel. Still a third dif-
ference is that Level III personnel, regardless of
educational background, must have a specified
amount of experience which varies with the NDT
method involved. There are many other differences
but these are the major ones.
Level III certification requires examination, with
the one exception that Level III certifications grant-
ed by ASNT with or without examination satisfy the
requirements for the general examination.
NDT Level III Certification by ASNT
Because employers may and do vary in their
requirements for certification under SNT-TC-1A,
NDT personnel at a given certification level may
differ markedly in capabilities from employer to
employer. A number of audits by various organiza-
tions have found numerous certified personnel who
were incompetent. While employer ignorance is one
reason behind incompetent personnel, there have
also been too many cases of Level IIIÕs who know-
ingly initiated, aided, or condoned certification of
incompetent personnel.
In order to provide a firm minimum standard of
competence of Level III personnel and to provide
means of assuring an unbiased judgment as to
which individuals possess such competence, ASNT
established its own Level III certification program in
1976.
For an initial period of six months, individuals
with extensive documented experience (a minimum
of fifteen years) and high competence were certified
by ASNT without examination, that is, Ògrandfa-
thered.Ó This was done with great care but, like all
quality measurements including examinations,
there can be little doubt that some unqualified peo-
ple were accepted and some qualified persons were
rejected. Nevertheless, those grandfathered were, on
the average, the most competent NDT group ever
certified by any system.
Since February 1977, individuals must pass
examinations administered by ASNT to obtain
Level III certification by ASNT. Note that this is not
the same as certification to SNT-TC-1A because it is
ASNT, not the employer, who grants and signs the
certificate of ASNT certification.
The ASNT exams are difficult for most candi-
dates because they require Level II knowledge of all
the common methods of NDT, a thorough knowl-
edge of SNT-TC-1A and of materials and processes
technology, and a broad Level III knowledge in the
method for which certification is sought. The
breadth of knowledge required in the method
examinations may cover any application that may
be made of the method, as well as the ability to
understand and apply detailed specifications. The
examinations are not slanted toward any one or
even a few industries or applications; they only
seem that way to those whose knowledge does not
include the full spectrum of uses to which a method
may be applied.
In addition to passing the examinations, ASNT
requires that the applicants for examinations agree
in writing to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics.
Those who are certified by ASNT are assigned a
unique certificate number, are given a certificate
8
from ASNT, and are listed in a register published
annually by ASNT.
Recertification is required every five years and
may be accomplished either by examination or by
documentation of continued Level III activity and
continued growth in appropriate Level III knowl-
edge.
Although ASNT Level III certification is not
required by SNT-TC-1A, it is one of the options for
satisfying the basic and method examination require-
ments, and it is required by a growing number of
purchasers and regulatory bodies. There is also an
ÒASNT Standard for Qualification and Certification
of NDT Personnel,Ó approved by ASNT in 1989, that
requires that every Level III working to that Standard
possess an ASNT NDT Level III certificate before
receiving employer certification as a Level III.
Summary
A graphic summary of the various ways that
can be followed to achieve certification according to
SNT-TC-1A is shown in the following flow chart. A
detailed discussion of an earlier version of this chart
is available in Materials Evaluation, May 1978.
It should also be noted that there are five edi-
tions of SNT-TC-1A that you may encounter,
depending on which industry or contract you are
working with. These editions are dated 1968, 1975,
1980, 1984, and 1988. Although the differences
among editions are not great, you should be careful
to use the one that applies to your contract, espe-
cially if verbatim compliance with SNT-TC-1A is
required.
 Certification to SNT-TC-1A
Activity: Performed by:
Employer or
1. Prepare Written Practice Outside Agency

2. Qualify Employees

Employer or
Training Outside Agency

Experience Employer or
Prior Employer

Verify and Document the

3. Training and Experience
Employer

Prepare and Administer

4. Examinations

Level I and Level II Employer or

Vision, General, Specific Outside Agency
and Practical Examinations

Level III Employer, ASNT, or

Basic and Other Outside Agency
Method Examinations

Vision and Employer or

Specific Examinations Outside Agency

5. Certification Issued Employer

6. Acceptance of Certification Customer

Note: Regardless of who performs the activity, the employer is responsible for all aspects of certification.