NDT Certification

 

What is NAS-410?

 

National Aerospace Standard 410 is an industry standard published by AIA, which defines the minimum requirements for the qualification and certification of nondestructive testing (NDT) personnel. The requirements include: formal training, experience, examinations, and vision examinations.  It is chiefly used by the Aerospace and Defense Industry.  The standard evolved from MIL-STD-410, which was a requirement for companies that provided (NDT) services for government contracts.

 

Surprisingly, there is no law that mandates how technicians performing NDT will be trained or certified. As you could imagine, this could be problematic for a profession that is critical for public safety.  Even the most unassuming NDT methods have nuances and processes controls a layman would not be versed in.  Technicians must be competent in order to perform these processes effectively.

 

In response, several standards were developed to address qualification and certification of NDT personnel.  In most cases, the use of these standards by an employer of NDT personnel is either voluntary, or required by contractual obligations.   These standards have varying requirements, but they all serve the same purpose:  To standardize how NDT personnel are trained and certified.  The table below is a comparison of three common standards used in the United States:

What is required for NDT Certification?

 

It is important to note that each of the aforementioned standards define qualification as having the required amount of training, experience, and passing the required examinations.  Verifying the qualification of candidates is the responsibility of the employer.  After the employer verifies a candidate’s qualifications, they may issue a certification.  Certification is a written statement attesting that the candidate has met all of the requirements.  Employers must keep records to support the certification.

 

Passing an ASNT exam or attending a training course alone does not constitute certification.  It merely provides one component required in the entire qualification process.  An employer must evaluate the sum of a candidate’s qualifications and decide if the candidate meets the requirements for certification.

 

For example, a candidate with no previous experience attended a 40-hour course in Liquid Penetrant.  After he or she completed the course, they would still need to obtain the following qualifications to be eligible for certification under NAS410:

 

The required hours of experience

(obtained under the direction of a

Level 2 or better)

Passing a General Examination

Passing a Specific Examination

Passing a Practical Examination

Passing vision examinations

 

Minimum Requirements Vs. Recommendations

 

As previously stated, NAS-410 and CP-189 outline minimum requirements for certification.  This means that if a company certifies using one of those standards, there is a reasonable expectation of quality in regards to their training and certification program.  It may also be interpolated that there will be a reasonable expectation of quality in the inspection services they provide.

 

Conversely, SNT-TC-1A is a recommended practice.  Employers have discretion on how closely they follow it.  The only real requirement in SNT-TC-1A is that employers have a written practice to define their qualification and certification procedures:

 

“It is recognized that these guidelines may not be appropriate for certain employer’s circumstances and/or applications.  In developing a written practice as required in Section 5, the employer should review the detailed recommendations presented herein and modify them, as necessary, to meet particular needs”

 

This point is made not to suggest that companies that certify under SNT-TC-1A are mediocre.  In truth, it is important for a proprietor to review the training and certification program of any NDT provider, regardless of certification standard.  Proprietors must ensure that the NDT provider’s training and certification program impart the necessary competencies to meet their needs.