Qualifying Work Experience for NDT Certification
Individuals who want to become certified in non-destructive testing need a combination of appropriate training and work experience. This page describes the required work experience.
Experience requirements for certification levels
The minimum requirements for experience to be gained prior to certification are as specified below. The employer must verify documentary evidence of experience on pages 3 and 4 of the Application form for Non-destructive testing certification (PDF, 1.58 Mb) and provide it to the NRCan Non-Destructive Testing Certification Body (NDTCB).
Industrial experience
| NDT Method | Months of Experience Required | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |
| ET, RT, UT | 3 | 9 | 18 |
| MT, PT, VT | 1 | 3 | 12 |
Legend:
- ET = Eddy Current
- RT = Industrial Radiography
- PT = Liquid Penetrant
- MT = Magnetic Particle
- UT = Ultrasonics
- VT = Visual Testing
Notes:
- Work experience in months is based on a nominal 40-hour week (175 hours/month) or the legal week of work. Any individual working in excess of 40 hours/week may be credited with experience based on the total hours, but will need to produce documentary evidence of this experience.
- For Level 2 certification, work experience consists of NDT work time as an individual certified to Level 1. If the individual is being qualified directly to Level 2 with no time at Level 1, the experience must consist of the sum of the times required for Level 1 and Level 2.
In the event that a part of the experience is sought following successful examination, the results of the examination are valid for two years or for the total experience time required for the methods concerned, whichever is greater.
Important Announcement: Reduction in minimum required qualifying work experience for practical examination eligibility (reference updated [Version 03] NRCan NDTCB Rules of Implementation for CAN/CGSB-48.9712-2014).
The NRCan NDTCB has implemented a significant program update to its certification process for Non-Destructive Testing (NDT). The minimum percentage of qualifying work experience obtained by NDT candidates in order to be eligible for practical examination has been reduced from 50% to 25%. This means that candidates who have obtained 25% or more of their total required work experience hours (and have satisfied all minimum application requirements) are eligible to receive admittance to the NDT practical examination for a given method. This change affects new applications and applications already in process. Candidates are responsible to contact the NRCan NDTCB to inquire about their eligibility for practical examination, or to submit work experience hours for review to receive their practical examination admittance and registration form(s). The NRCan NDTCB will not notify candidates of their eligibility for practical examination—candidates must initiate this process/inquiry. Please contact the NDTCB for more information.
Background: This program update is being implemented by the NRCan NDTCB as part of our continuous improvement to further streamline the certification process, and to assist candidates in gaining both employment/work experience and certification in the field of NDT.
Based on recent feedback from various industry stakeholders and program users across Canada, the NRCan NDTCB is aware that it may be challenging for candidates to gain access to the qualifying work experience required for both practical examination eligibility and certification eligibility, which may then create potential time delays and barriers for the fulfillment of certification and examination requirements.
Although program updates such as this may improve the certification process for current and future candidates, the NDTCB would like to encourage the NDT industry/employers to continue to improve access to and provide opportunities for quality work experience for NDT certification candidates.
Minimum experience prior to examination
For written examinations:
- Level 1: 0%
- Level 2: 0%
- Level 3: 25%
For practical examinations:
- Level 1: 25%
- Level 2: 25%
- Level 3: 25%
Additional experience requirements for Level 3
Level 3 responsibilities require knowledge beyond the technical scope of any specific NDT method. This broad knowledge may be acquired through various combinations of education, training and experience that must be documented and provided to the certification body in the form of a curriculum vitae (CV).
Reductions in qualifying work experience
Reductions may be considered for simultaneous experience in different methods for:
- MT2, PT2, VT2
- PT3, MT3, UT3, ET3, RT3
There is no reduction for simultaneous experience in different methods for:
- Level 1s – All methods
- Level 2s – Volumetric Methods
The percentage of qualifying work experience that can be deducted for simultaneous experience in different methods is shown below:
- two testing methods: reduction of total required time by 25%;
- three testing methods: reduction of total required time by 33%;
- four or more testing methods: reduction of total required time by 50%.
The maximum reduction for qualifying work experience in a given NDT method is 50%.
Accelerated Experience Credit Programs
Candidates for NDT certification can obtain up to 25 days worth of industrial work experience per method/level by taking method/level-specific Accelerated Experience Credit Programs provided by participating Recognized Training Organizations (RTOs).
- Accelerated Experience Credit Programs are a maximum of 5 days in duration, and are provided in the format of practical workshops that meet NRCan NDTCB requirements.
- The duration of experience gained from Accelerated Experience Credit Programs may be multiplied by a factor of 5 when calculating qualifying work experience (e.g. if you complete a 2-day practical workshop, you may multiply that by five to count for 10 days of qualifying work experience).
- To submit experience gained from an Accelerated Experience Credit Program to count towards total qualifying work experience hours, candidates shall send a copy of the “certificate of completion” (that was issued by the RTO) to the NDTCB for review.
Some Recognized Training Organizations have been providing “practical workshops” to fulfill this work experience opportunity for certification candidates; however, as of April 1, 2019, the NRCan NDTCB is no longer accepting experience gained in a “practical workshop” provided by a Recognized Training Organization (completed April 1, 2019 and later) as valid industrial experience. (Experience gained in a “practical workshop” provided by a Recognized Training Organization that is completed prior to April 1, 2019 will be accepted as valid industrial experience by the NDTCB).
Calculating experience credits
Situation 1:
An NDT candidate is applying for Level 2 Radiographic Testing (RT) examination eligibility, which requires 12 months of experience, working 100% of the time in RT inspection.
| Acquired NDT Experience: | 48 months |
|---|---|
| Percentage of time: | Radiographic Testing 25% |
| Calculation: | 48 months x 25% RT = 12 months’ experience |
This NDT candidate satisfies the experience time requirements for Level 2 Radiographic Testing.
Situation 2:
The same NDT candidate as in situation 1, above, is also applying for examination in Level 2 Ultrasonic Testing (UT). Level 2 Ultrasonic Testing requires 12 months of work experience, working 100% of the time in UT inspection.
| Acquired NDT Experience: | 48 months |
|---|---|
| Percentage of time: | Ultrasonic Testing 20% |
| Calculation: | 48 months x 20% UT = 9.6 months’ experience gained |
This NDT candidate would not satisfy the experience time requirements for Level 2 Ultrasonic Testing, as the experience time requirement of 12 months would not be met. However, the candidate could challenge practical examination by indicating on the application that he/she is applying without the qualifying work experience as he/she has obtained at least 25% of the required work experience hours needed to challenge the practical examination.
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