PURPOSE: This standard establishes the minimum requirements for the qualification and certification of personnel performing nondestructive testing (NDT), nondestructive inspection (NDI), or nondestructive evaluation (NDE) in the aerospace manufacturing, service, maintenance and overhaul industries. For the purposes of this standard, the term NDT will be used and will be considered equivalent to NDI and NDE.

In Europe, the term “approval” is used to denote a written statement by an employer that an individual has met specific requirements and has operating approval. Certification per EN ISO/CEI 17024 is not required by this standard unless specified by local or regulatory requirements. The term “certification” as defined in paragraph 3.1 is used throughout this standard as a substitute for the term “approval”. Except when otherwise specified in the written practice, certification in accordance with this standard includes operating approval.

APPLICABILITY: This standard applies to personnel using NDT methods to test and/or accept materials, products, components, assemblies or sub-assemblies. This standard also applies to personnel directly responsible for the technical adequacy of the NDT methods used, who write NDT procedures and/or work instructions, who audit NDT facilities, or who provide technical NDT support or training.

This standard does not apply to individuals who only have administrative or supervisory authority over NDT personnel or to research personnel developing NDT technology for subsequent implementation and approval by a certified Level 3. Personnel performing specialized inspections using certain direct readout instruments as determined by a Level 3 certified in the method, do not require qualification or certification to this standard.

PURPOSE: This standard establishes the minimum requirements for the qualification and certification of personnel involved in nondestructive testing (NDT). These requirements include training, experience and examinations for personnel performing NDT in the aerospace manufacturing, service, maintenance and overhaul industries.

NOTE: In Europe the word “certification” may only be used when the certification process complies with the requirements of EN 45013 and the term “approval” would be used to denote a written statement by an employer that an individual has met specific requirements. For simplification the term “certification” as defined in paragraph 3.2 is used throughout this standard as a substitute for the term “approval”.

APPLICABILITY: This standard applies to personnel using NDT methods to test and/or accept materials, products, components, assemblies or sub-assemblies. It also applies to those individuals directly responsible for the technical adequacy of the NDT methods used, as well as personnel performing external NDT technical audits or providing technical NDT training. This standard is not intended to apply to individuals who only have administrative authority over the personnel identified above, nor does it apply to research personnel developing technology for subsequent approval by a certified Level 3.

IMPLEMENTATION: This standard merges the NDT personnel certification requirements of NAS 410 and EN 4179. It introduces the concept of a National Aerospace NDT Board (NANDTB) from EN 4179, but it is not mandatory to have such a board for compliance with this document. Individuals currently certified in accordance with either NAS 410 or EN 4179 may have their current certification period extended to the maximum limits defined in Section 8 of this standard. Personnel do not need to recertify to the requirements of this standard until their current or extended certification expires.

COMMON METHODS: This standard contains detailed requirements for the applicable training, experience, and examination for the following common NDT methods:

Liquid Penetrant (PT)

Magnetic Particle (MT)

Eddy Current (ET)

Ultrasonic (UT)

Radiography (RT)

OTHER METHODS: This standard may apply to other NDT methods that can be used to determine the acceptability or suitability for intended service of a material, part, component, sub-assembly or assembly without impairment of the intended part function. Such methods include, but are not limited to, acoustic emission, neutron radiography, penetrant leak testing, thermography, holography, and computed tomography. The requirements for personnel training, experience, and examination for these other methods shall be as established by the cognizant NDT organization or NANDTB and shall be in accordance with the guidelines established for the methods listed in 1.3.

LEVELS OF QUALIFICATION: The levels of qualification established by this standard are:

Trainee

Level 1 “Limited”

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Instructor

Auditor

LEVELS OF CERTIFICATION: The levels requiring certification in accordance with this standard are:

Level 1 Limited

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

PURPOSE.  This standard establishes the minimum requirements for the
qualification and certification of personnel involved in the application
of nondestructive testing (NDT), nondestructive inspection (NDI), or
nondestructive evaluation (NDE) personnel.  For this document NDI, NDT
and NDE will be referred to as NDT.  These requirements include
training, experience and examination.

APPLICABILITY.  This standard applies to personnel using NDT methods to
accept materials, products, subsystems, components or systems.  It also
applies to those individuals directly responsible for the technical
adequacy of the NDT methods used as well as those providing the
technical training for NDT personnel.  This standard is not intended to
apply to individuals with administrative authority only over the above
identified personnel or the research personnel developing technology for
use by qualified and certified NDT personnel.

COMMON METHODS.  This standard contains detailed requirements for the
applicable training, experience, and examination for the following
methods:

                    Liquid penetrant      (PT)
                    Magnetic particle     (MT)
                    Eddy current          (ET)
                    Ultrasonic            (UT)
                    Radiography           (RT)

OTHER METHODS.  This standard may apply to other NDT methods such as
acoustic emission, neutron radiography, leak testing, thermography,
holography, computed tomography, or any other NDT method that can be
used to determine the acceptability or suitability for intended service
of a material, part, component, subsystem, or system without impairment
of the intended function.  The requirement for personnel training,
experience, and examination for these other methods shall be as
established by the Cognizant NDT Organization.  Guidelines established
for the methods listed in 1.2.1 may be used.

LEVELS OF QUALIFICATION.  The levels of qualification established by
this standard are:

                    Trainee               Instructor
                    Level I               Auditor
                    Level II
                    Level III

LEVELS OF CERTIFICATION.  The levels requiring certification in
accordance with this standard are:

                    Level I
                    Level II
                    Level III