| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
Certification Overview |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
NDT is a very important
industry. It assures safety and quality in all engineering systems
and structures. It is for this reason that correctly qualified
personnel operate in the industry. To enforce this principle,
the various NDT institues
have developed certification schemes, enabling employers to ensure
their staff are correctly trained to carry out non destructive
testing.
Over several decades of development, we now have the current status
of two fundamental types of personnel certification; employer based
certification, and central certification. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Employer Based Certification |
|
|
| |
This is a system
by which employers construct their own 'Written Practice'. A
written practice describes
the responsibilities of each level of certification, as expected
by the company, as well as describing the training, expereince
and examination
requirements for each level of certification. There are several
documents that provide requirements or recommendations for employers
while establishing
a written practice. SNT-TC-1A ia a recommended practice published
by ASNT, the current version is 2001; this recommended practice
gives guidlines
for an employer to establish a written practice, it only provides
recommendations for the written practice, and not requirements.
CP-189 is a standard,
published by ANSI, that outlines requirements for any written
practice that conforms to the standard. Other standards include
NAS410 and EN4179.
Lavender International provide training and examinations services
suitable for an employers written practice. We also provide Level 3
Services, to enable companies to set up their own written practices.
One of the advatages of employer based certification, is that the training
and examination is structured to methods and products specific to each
individual company. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Personal Central Certification |
|
|
| |
The idea of central certification, is
that an operator can obtain certification from a central certification
scheme, that is recognised by a large range of employers. Hence, limiting
the problem of having to train to each individual employers certification
scheme. It also provides employers with a reliable guide as to how much
training an operator has had. There are two central certification programmes
that Lavender International provides training services to; PCN, and ASNT
(Level 3 only). |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
PCN (Personal Certification
for NDT), is a programme developed by the British
Institute of Non-Destructive Testing. PCN exams conform to EN 473,
and ISO 9712. Lavender International is accredited to provide
training and examination to Levels 1, 2 and
3. PCN provide the requirements for training, work experience,
and examination, for all NDT operators certified under their
scheme. There are a minimum
number of training hours, that vary for each method and level,
in addition to a minimum number of hours of work experience.
PCN also require that
an examination is passed. The work experience can be either obtained
before or after examination, it is recommended that it is obtained
before. If examination is taken before experience, a results
notice is issued
and experience must be obtained within 12 months. Once the examination
has been passed, and the work experience obtained, the certificate
will be issued. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Training (Hours)
|
Work Experience (Months)
|
|
|
Level 1
|
Level 2*
|
Level 1
|
Level 2*
|
VT
|
16
|
24
|
1
|
3
|
MT
|
16
|
24
|
1
|
3
|
PT
|
16
|
24
|
1
|
3
|
RT
|
40
|
80
|
3
|
9
|
UT
|
40
|
80
|
3
|
9
|
ET
|
40
|
40
|
3
|
9
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
* These are additional to hours/months
already obtained from Level 1. To go direct to level 2, the sum of level
1 and level 2 hours/months should be obtained. Eg. to do PT Level 2,
the requirements would be 40 hours training, and 4 months work experience.
The training for Level 2 varies from Level 1, however PCN is
not Level specific with training requirements. Even though it
is possible to complete a Level 2 with 40 hours Level 1 training,
this is certainly not recommended. It is highly recommended that
the training is obtained in each level individually.
Work experience is when a trainee assists, and watches a qualified
NDT operator. The period in months required is based on a 160
hours per month basis. To read more detailed information regarding
work experience, take a look at Steve Lavender's article about
Work Experience.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Level 3 Certification |
|
|
| |
There are 2 types of Level 3 personal
certification, PCN Level 3, and ASNT Level 3. An employer based Level
3 certification is also available, this should not be confused with the
ASNT Level 3 scheme.
In the PCN Level 3 programmes, the requirements for certification
are that:
a) the Level 3 Basic Examination has been passed.
b) a minimum amount of work experience has been obtained.
c) the Level 2 in the method is held, otherwise the Level 2 practical
exam must be taken. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Work Experience Required for PCN Level
3, if Level 2 is held:
Education Experience
No degree or diploma 4 years
Successful completion of technical school or at least 2 years
of engineering or science study at an accredited college or university
2 years
Graduate or successful completion of at least three years accredited
science or engineering college or university 1 year
Work Experience Required for PCN Level 3, if Level 2 is not held:
No degree or diploma - 6 years
Successful completion of technical school or at least 2 years
of engineering or science study at an accredited college or university
- 4 years
Graduate or successful completion of at least three years accredited
science or engineering college or university - 2 years
ASNT Level 3
The ASNT scheme works similarly to the PCN Level 3 scheme, in
terms of work experience. A Basic Examination must be passed,
and each additional method examination required at Level 3, to
obtain ASNT Level 3 status. Lavender International offer Level
3 training suitable for ASNT Level 3, however we cannot offer
examination, this has to be done at a location determined by
ASNT, this location changes each year. Please call the Lavender
Office for the latest sites. |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
