Registering for Examination and Re-examination for NDT Certification

Registering for initial written examinations

Once you have submitted an Application Form for Non-Destructive Testing, and have been issued an examination admittance and registration form (or electronic written examination authorization for written multiple-choice examinations available via the online examination system) from the Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) National Non-Destructive Testing Certification Body (NDTCB), you have the option to arrange and complete your written examinations at either an Authorized Examination Centre (AEC) or a Special Written Examination Centre (SWEC). Please note: you can only register to complete your electronic/online examinations at one of the listed centers in the online examination system. Candidates who have valid written examination admittance and registration forms can obtain authorization for the electronic written examination(s) by submitting a request to the NRCan NDTCB by email.

Authorized Examination Centres

These centres have an inventory of examination papers. Once you have been approved for examination and issued an examination admittance and registration form, you may contact the centre of your choice to arrange an examination date. Only AECs participating in the online examination system can offer administration of the electronic examinations.

Special Written Examination Centres

Special Written Examination Centres (SWECs) provide an option when, due to timing or location, it isn’t practical or feasible for you to use an AEC for a written examination. Please note: Effective immediately MT,PT, UT and ET examinations can no longer be written at SWECs.

• community colleges
• schools
• government organizations/facilities

Using a SWEC is at the discretion of the NRCan NDTCB based on proximity to and availability of AECs. NDT examinations attempted at SWECs are subject to the same rules, regulations and processes as they would be at an AEC:

• You must provide a valid examination admittance and registration form issued by NDTCB, as well as a valid piece of government-issued photo ID, to gain access to the examination.
• The examination must be completed on site and in a controlled area at the examination centre indicated on your Special Written Examination Centre Request Form.
• You must use the provided answer page to respond to the questions. Answers/responses written directly onto the examination question pages will not be accepted.
• All examinations are closed-book. There will be no access to books, notes or memory aids. It is your responsibility to ensure that no such material is within your examination area.
• There will be no access to phones, communication devices, cameras, recording or playback devices until the examination is complete or you leave the examination centre for the day.
• You are not allowed to take paperwork/exam booklets out of the examination area.
• You must not have a potential bias or conflict of interest (e.g. family, friends, supervisor/employer/employee relationships, financial associates etc.) with the staff/invigilators at the SWEC that could affect the examination process. Independent third-party invigilation is required.
• The invigilator must be a current staff member/formal representative acting in an official capacity at the examination centre indicated on your Special Written Examination Centre Request Form.

To register to complete written examinations at a SWEC:

1. Follow the application process and gain approval for the examination(s).
2. Obtain a valid written Examination Admittance and Registration Form from the NDTCB.
3. Arrange an examination date with an acceptable examination centre.
4. Submit the form to the NDTCB, completed and signed with the SWEC request fee at least two weeks before the examination date.

The SWEC request fee (supplementary to any examination registration fees) is $55 per method. Personal cheques are not accepted. Company cheques and/or money orders are payable to the “Receiver General for Canada”. Payments may be made via fax or mail only. Please do not submit credit card information by email. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Government of Canada Acquisition Cards are not accepted by the NRCan NDTCB. Payment from Other Government Departments should be made by inter-departmental FIS transactions.

If the request is sent on time and the examination centre meets NDTCB criteria for a written examination facility, the appropriate examination(s) will be shipped directly to the facility before the examination date.

The NDTCB makes all reasonable efforts to ensure that SWEC requests are completed as per service standard targets. Despite these efforts, errors, omissions and delays are possible. We are not responsible for any direct or indirect costs, expenses or delays that may arise.

Special Written Examination Centre Request Form (PDF, 589 kb)

Registering for written re-examinations

To apply for re-examination, you must submit a fully completed Page 1 of the Application Form (PDF, 1.56 Mb) for NDT complete with the applicable written registration fee(s), no earlier than 30 days from the date of the last examination. After it is approved, you will receive an examination admittance and registration form (or electronic written examination authorization) and you can arrange for examination with an examination centre (electronic examinations can only be booked using the online exam system).

For re-examination, you are not required to resubmit certain documentation (i.e., training, education, eye examination report, etc.) unless you didn’t submit it before the initial examination attempt or it needs updating.

Please note that when a candidate fails all three attempts at an examination part, the candidate is required to reapply for and recomplete the full examination part, as well as fulfilling other applicable requirements, such as successful completion of and submission of proof of an additional full method/level-specific training course from an NRCan NDTCB Recognized Training Organization (RTO). After three consecutive failed attempts, the results from the applicable examination part are no longer valid.

You can send your request for re-examination to the NRCan NDTCB by mail, fax or e-mail.

Registering for practical examination

To complete practical examinations, if you have been approved for examination and issued a practical examination admittance and registration form, you will make your own arrangements with the AEC of your choice.

Registering for practical re-examination

To apply for practical re-examination, you must submit a fully completed Page 1 of the  Application Form (PDF, 1.56 Mb) for NDT, complete with the applicable practical registration fee, no earlier than 30 days from the date of the last examination. Following approval, you will be issued an examination admittance and registration form and you can arrange for examination with an examination centre.

Please note that when a candidate fails all three attempts at an examination part, the candidate is required to reapply for and recomplete the full examination part, as well as fulfilling other applicable requirements, such as successful completion of and submission of proof of an additional full method/level-specific training course from an NRCan NDTCB Recognized Training Organization (RTO). After three consecutive failed attempts, the results from the applicable examination part are no longer valid.

You can send your request for re-examination to the NRCan NDTCB by mail, fax or e-mail.

Taking the examinations

As an eligible NDT candidate, you will be provided with a letter confirming your eligibility for written and/or practical examination. The letter will be accompanied by an NDT examination admittance and registration form (or electronic written examination authorization). You will be denied access to the examination centre if you cannot produce an examination admittance and registration form (or a copy of the exam scheduling confirmation email for electronic exams) and government issued photo identification.

You should bring the following items to examinations:

• Examination admittance and registration form/exam scheduling confirmation email for electronic exams
• Government issued photo identification
• Pen or pencil
• Non-programmable scientific calculator with no internet connectivity