ASME Sec. V 2021 NDT Certification Recommendations and Requirements
This document is published by ASME and must be followed in order to conduct ASME Approved Work. If you are doing ANY ASME Work for clients, your Written Practice MUST align with this document.
There are basically 4 categories or Levels of NDT Technician certification. Each has specific requirements for Formal Training, Test Scores and OJT Hours outlined in the document. Companies following this document are basically working to industry Codes that refer to ASME Sec. V 2021.
The 2021 version of ASME Sec. V allows NDT Technicians to be certified according to ASNT SNT-TC-1a or ASNT CP-189 as Modified by Mandatory Appendix III or Mandatory Appendix IV.
These mandatory appendices modify the ASNT Documents in a way that some of the regular ASNT Certification processes become mandatory instead of optional.
ASME Sec. V 2021 also allows for NDT technicians certified according to ISO 9712 and the ANDE Skills Based Certification Program of ASME.
Below is a basic outline of the main differences in the ASNT and ASME documents and the process your company must follow in reference to Certification and Recertification of NDT Technicians.
4 Certification Levels or Categories
The Certification Levels are the same as the normal ASNT requirements
1) Trainee – Prior to becoming Level I, II or III certified, technicians are considered trainees. They will be working under direct supervision of existing Level II and III technicians and will not be signing off on final reports or evaluating flaws for acceptance or rejection.
2) Level I – These technicians have basic skills, able to follow written instructions, do basic calibrations on equipment, and still working under the direct supervision of certified Level II and Level III Technicians. Level I technicians are not signing off on any code related work or evaluating accept/reject for components.
3) Level II – These technicians are able to work without direct supervision. They are able to calibrate, inspect, interpret, and evaluate findings for determining accept or reject of the components being inspected.
4) Level III – These technicians are able do all of the above, plus write, review, prepare work procedures and oversee the entire NDT operation for the methods they are certified for. In general, in order to become a Level III in any method, you must have been a Level II for 1-4 years, depending on your education level, in order to take the Level III tests for certification.
What does this mean for you?
Basically, your technicians will need to be Level II before you can send them out on their own to bill hours and sign off on inspection work.
Trainees and Level I technicians will generally work as helpers, under direct supervision, accumulating hours and experience.
Initial Education, Training and Experience Requirements for Certification
In this section there are a few variations from the ASNT Style Certifications
If your Written Practice is aligned with ASME requirements, documentation of:
1) Formal Training Hours
2) Test Scores for General, Specific, and Practical Tests
3) OJT Hours
are required.
Formal Training Hours can be verified with class completion certificates that include information about the number of hours credited for the class. The ASNT chart that shows the minimum number of hours for each method is used. That chart will be included in your company’s Written Practice.
Test Scores –
The 3 Tests required for each method – General, Specific, and Practical. The candidate must score a minimum 70% on the General and Specific Tests. The candidate shall score a minimum 80% on the Practical Test. This is different from the ASNT requirements. The Composite score must be a minimum 80% to reach the minimum requirement for certification.
General Test is a basic knowledge test related to the method that the technician is being certified for. The content of the General Test is outlined in your company’s Written Practice.
Specific Test tests the candidate’s ability to read and interpret a work procedure. The content of the test is outlined in your company’s Written Practice.
Practical Test is a hands-on test to verify the candidate’s ability to conduct the test according to the written procedure, identify flaws, evaluate flaws, and document their findings. The specifics of conducting the test is outlined in your company’s Written Practice.
IMPORTANT NOTE – If you are hiring someone who has previous certifications in another company, their formal training records and OJT records can be used to recertify them into your company. However, in the ASME requirements, the technician MUST be retested, General, Specific, and Practical to verify their understanding and skill.
This is a MAJOR CHANGE from previous requirements, so please be aware of the new requirement. Before hiring the individual, please prepare for time to take the tests and the associated costs.
Your Level III is responsible for the administration and grading of the exams.
OJT Records – This is sometimes the most difficult documentation to obtain. In some cases, the technician’s previous employer may not want to give up the OJT records to the new employer. The documents belong to them, just like the documents belong to your company once the technician is employed.
OJT Records must be documented BY METHOD. If someone performs some PT, MT, and UT during the course of a 10 hour work day, you cannot claim PT = 10 hrs., MT = 10 hrs, UT = 10 Hrs. Each method must be accounted for separately.
The chart for minimum number of OJT hours for each method is included in your company’s Written Practice.
The most important thing to remember is that your company is legally responsible for the actions of your inspectors. DO NOT CUT CORNERS on verifying and monitoring the records of your technicians or potential technicians. Document everything accurately and “cleanly”. That way, when an auditor shows up, everything will be ready for them to review. The better organized the records are, the easier and faster the audit will be concluded with positive results. You Continue to Earn Money!
Vision Acuity Test
The Vision Acuity test is required annually. It may be conducted by an eye doctor or your Level III or a company representative that has been trained in administering the test.
The Vision Acuity Requirement has changed to Jaeger 1 or equivalent.
Recertification
Recertification requirements have been modified in the 2021 Sec. V Requirements.
The certifications issued for Level I and Level II Personnel can be issued for a MAXIMUM PERIOD OF 3 – 5 years.
However, your company has the right to retest or revoke certifications at any point in time if you feel that the technician is no longer working up to standards.
At the end of the Certification Period, you will have a couple of choices related to how the technician becomes recertified.
ASME Sec. V 2021 DOES NOT ALLOW RECERTIFICATION BASED ON EVIDENCE OF SATISFACTORY JOB PERFORMANCE.
“Recertification SHALL BE by REEXAMINATION in those portions of the examinations deemed necessary by the employer’s NDT Level III.”
So, there is a bit of flexibility. The Level III may require only the Practical Exam, or could require all 3 tests. That is an issue that can be discussed between your company and the Level III. But, there must be reexamination of some sort for recertification in ALL CASES.
The exams are described in your company’s Written Practice and will be similar to the original exams taken when initial certification took place.
To be eligible for recertification or reinstatement of certifications, the technician must have been involved in doing the work in the method within 6 months of the recertification or reinstatement date.
There are special requirements for Suspended, Revoked or Terminated Employees. These are also outlined in your company’s written practice.
ASME Sec. V 2021 Summary
As you can see, Certification is serious business. Records must be kept, processes must be followed, audits happen.
Your company and the Level III are partners in the process. The Level III serves as a sort of Gatekeeper for your Company. Their review of documents helps to ensure that candidates are properly qualified to do the work. Their training and testing services help to verify the knowledge and skills of those who you trust with the integrity and quality of your company.
Again, remember, this information is a broad overview of the process. There are more things required, but this information will get you started.
The above information is specific to a Written Practice aligned with ASME Section V. 2019. The requirements of ASNT, NAS-410 and ISO 9712 are different. If you are doing ANY work related to the other Codes and Standards or if you would like to see their requirements, please refer to those documents for the appropriate information.
ASNT Certification Requirements NAS-410 Certification Requirements
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