programs, such as those offered by ASNT,
the British Institute of Non-Destructive
Testing (BINDT), or the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Most government and industry
regulations include references to NDT
qualification and certification standards.
These documents outline the education,
training, and experience requirements
that must be met before completing the
certification examination process.
Training topics are addressed in
outlines found in ANSI/ASNT CP-105.
This body of knowledge for VT is the
basis for visual examination training
course outlines and curriculums. (Note:
As of this writing, ASNT is working to
achieve compatibility with ISO TS 25107.)
The training requirements listed for
both SNT-TC-1A and CP-189 state that 24
hours is the required amount of training
hours needed for Level II (8 hours for
Level I plus 16 hours for Level II). This
includes both classroom training for
knowledge transfer and laboratory
training sessions for skills transfer. A
significant portion of this time is spent
learning about material discontinuities
and defects—essentially, understanding
what to look for when performing VT.
Learning how to perform VT for DVI
and RVI takes less time if the equipment
is basic, such as a dental mirror, flash-
light, and 6-in. scale. In the past, RVI
typically involved using borescopes (lens
or fiber) for image transfer. However, if
training on videoscopes, telescopes, or
remote cameras is required, significantly
more time must be allocated for training
in these techniques.
The required training for CWI cer-
tification used to be a 40-hour course.
Now, a CWI must complete 80 pro-
fessional development hours (PDHs)
through seminars, courses, or online
courses such as those found on the
AWS Education Portal. These courses
must meet the requirements of the AWS
Specification for the Certification of Welding
Inspectors (AWS QC1:2016-AMD1).
ISO 9712: Nondestructive Testing –
Qualification and Certification of NDT
Personnel is an international standard
that specifies requirements for principles
for the qualification and certification of
personnel who perform industrial NDT.
In this standard, VT training is measured
in days, not hours. This is a change in
the 2021 standard, which was adopted by
ASNT in 2023 (ASNT CP-9712, identical
adoption) (see Table 3).
The nuclear power generation
industry developed visual examination
requirements, as outlined by the Electric
Power Research Institute (EPRI) in the
1980s, to address the unique needs of
the ASME BPVC, Section XI, for in-ser-
vice inspections. The total training hours
for Level I, II, and III visual examiners
through EPRI is 104 hours. Distinct tech-
niques within the Visual Examination
certification address general surface con-
ditions (VT-1), leak testing (VT-2), and
a third category for hangers, snubbers,
restraints, supports, and reactor vessels
internals (VT-3). Level I and II training is
40 hours each for a total of 80 hours to
become a Level II. An additional 24 hours
are needed for Level III.
Compared to these examples
from AWS and ISO 9712, the 24-hour
training specification for VT Level II in
SNT-TC-1A is noticeably lower.
Experience
SNT-TC-1A Level I and II experience
started off as measured by months (one
and two, respectively). This unit of time
measurement was replaced with experi-
ence requirements expressed in hours.
This calculation was based on approx-
imately 40% of three months’ worth of
experience, equating to 210 hours.
AWS, as stated previously, required
five years of experience if the candidate
was high school educated. How to gain
credit for those years of experience is not
clarified.
ISO 9712 requirements for experience
in VT are shown in Table 4.
Exams
Physical. Visual acuity is the primary
physical attribute that must be examined
for PQ&C in VT. Per SNT-TC-1A, “near
vision” is one of the visual acuity
requirements. According to SNT-TC-1A,
an NDT technician must have the ability
to read the Jaeger No. 2 test chart, at a
distance of no less than 12 in. (30 cm),
with or without corrective lenses, in at
least one eye. This requirement applies
to all levels of NDT personnel.
Color perception requirements are
determined according to the specific
demands of the job and are set by the
employer. A special color perception test
may be administered if abnormal color
perception exists. The candidate must
demonstrate the ability to see the appro-
priate colors needed for the specific
exam to be performed.
T A B L E 3
ISO 9712 requirements for VT
training
Level Training
requirement
VT Level 1 3 days
VT Level 2 2 days
VT Level 3 3 days
Note: One day =7 h. “Limited” and “unlimited”
terms used in ISO 9712 (2012) have been delet-
ed from the 2021 edition. Reduced training is
allowed if reduced curriculum and allowed by
certification body (e.g., if limited to direct VT
only, then less training is required).
T A B L E 4
ISO 9712 requirements for VT experience
Level Experience
VT Level 1 15 days
VT Level 2 (with Level 1) 45 days
VT Level 2 (directly) 60 days
VT Level 3 (with Level 2 and higher education) 180 days
VT Level 3 (with Level 2 only) 240 days
VT Level 3 (directly and higher education) 360 days
Note: One day =7 h.
FEATURE
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VTPQ&C
58
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Written. Written exams are used to
assess a candidate’s understanding of the
subject matter contained in the appro-
priate syllabus or outlined requirements.
SNT-TC-1A and CP-189 both refer to the
training outlines in CP-105 for theory. The
topics of the questions contained in the
general examination are found there. The
number of general questions ranges from
30 (minimum) to typically 50 on the basic
principles and theory applicable to the
VT method. The number of specific ques-
tions is determined by the codes, specifi-
cations, and procedures applicable to the
inspections mandated by customer speci-
fications, which the inspector must adhere
to during their work for the employer.
Practical. A demonstration of practical
proficiency is called the practical exam.
The primary requirement is to follow a
10-point checklist, though specific details
of the checklist are not explicitly provided.
Table 5 shows a typical example of
a practical exam’s 10-point checklist.
Each item on the list carries a value of
10 points. A minimum score of 70% is
required to pass.
When each of the 10 checklist points
carries equal weight at 10 points each,
failing the practical exam becomes
unlikely. Generally, with this scoring
system, most candidates score 90% or
higher, resulting in a pass.
An alternate is a checklist like shown
in Table 6. In this scenario, mandatory
elements must be successfully com-
pleted with a score of 80% or higher,
otherwise the entire practical exam is
considered failed. Performance, evalu-
ation, and disposition should be man-
datory checklist items where a pass
or fail decision is required. The points
assigned to other listed items can be
discretionary.
The technique and order of conduct-
ing a practical proficiency demonstration
T A B L E 5
Typical practical exam checklist
example
Observation
item Unsatisfactory Satisfactory
1. Surface
condition
2. Procedure
compliance
3. Equipment
usage
4. Adequate
coverage
5. Attribute
identification
6.
Discontinuity/
attribute
evaluation
7. Disposition
and evaluate
discontinuity/
attributes
8. Report/
document
results
9. Comply
with safety
cautions
10. Health
T A B L E 6
Proposed example of 10-point checklist for VT practical exam Level II (VT or RVI)
Categories Point weight
1. Procedure selection 3
2. Surface preparation/cleanliness 2
3. Method application—satisfactory technique 10
4. Equipment and material selection 10 (min 8 pts req’d)
• Equipment
• Material (cleaning pre and post)
5. Adequate area of interest coverage 10
6. Interpretation of indications and disposition 40 (min 32 pts req’d)
• Complete coverage for interpretation
• Determination of relevance
• Appropriate application of acceptance criteria
• Appropriate disposition of part, component, or system (min 80% accurate)
7. Standard practice codes or procedure usage 10
• Familiarity
• Compliance
8. Records 10
• Completeness
• Appropriate data entry
• Control of records
• Compliance with routing requirements
9. Health factors 3
• Site procedures familiarity
• Adherence
• Compliance
10. Safety factors 2
• Volatile liquids
• Electrical hazards
• Light and infrared radiation
80% min required total and for Sections 4 and 6 as noted 100 pts possible
J U L Y 2 0 2 4 • M A T E R I A L S E V A L U A T I O N 59