NDT Certification Body: FAQs

The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) is a national standards development organization that manages, among various other standards, the CAN/CGSB-48.9712 standard regarding the qualification and certification of non-destructive testing (NDT) personnel.

The Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) National Non-Destructive Testing Certification Body (NDTCB) is the Government of Canada certification body that qualifies and certifies NDT personnel by ensuring they conform to the CAN/CGSB-48.9712 standard.

In short, CGSB manages the CAN/CGSB-48.9712 standard, and the NRCan NDTCB implements the CAN/CGSB-48.9712 standard in order to qualify and certify NDT personnel in Canada.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) is responsible for certifying exposure device operators (EDO), while the NRCan NDTCB serves as the qualifying body for the EDO written examination. The NRCan NDTCB also provides certified exposure device operators (CEDOs) with an NRCan photo identification card to be used in conjunction with the valid EDO certification card issued by CNSC.

Applications for any of our certification programs can be emailed to the NRCan NDTCB; however, emailed applications cannot contain credit card information. We ask that all applications containing credit card information be submitted by mail or fax. For security purposes, our office cannot accept credit card information or applications containing credit card information by email.

If you would like to email your application and are paying for fees with a credit card, please ensure that you void the credit card number and expiry date before scanning and sending the application; after you have emailed the application, you may then telephone our office to give us the credit card information for your application.

Please note that you also cannot submit passport photographs via email with your applications. Original hardcopies of passport photographs must be submitted to the NRCan NDTCB by either mail or courier.

If you have submitted a valid and complete application for initial examination or for re-examination and you meet all of the requirements to write the examination(s), your Examination Admittance and Registration Form(s) will be issued (by either mail or email, depending on what you have indicated on your application form) approximately two weeks (10 working days) after our office receives the application.

Applications are processed in arrival sequence; however, processing times are not guaranteed and may vary depending on the volume of applications received and/or the need to verify information such as qualifying work experience. Incomplete applications/documentation may also lead to longer processing times.

Examination results are usually available approximately three weeks (15 business days) after our office receives the completed examination from an examination centre. Examination results are sent to candidates shortly after the examination has been graded.

Examinations are processed and graded in arrival sequence; however, processing times are not guaranteed and may vary depending on the volume of examinations received.

Existing Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analyzer Operator, and Exposure Device Operator (EDO) clients can request replacement documentation and/or additional administrative actions using the NRCan NDTCB Administrative Services Request Form (PDF, 1.48 Mb).

Clients are responsible for the official documentation issued to them by the NRCan NDTCB. Fees will apply for the replacement of these documents.

Renewal is the procedure for maintaining valid certification that does not require examination. Renewal of NDT certifications must take place before the end of every period of validity—approximately every five years (60 months) or less after initial/supplementary certification or recertification.

Recertification is the procedure for maintaining valid certification or revalidating a certification by examination. Recertification of NDT certifications must take place before the end of every second period of validity—approximately every 10 years (120 months) or less after initial/supplementary certification or previous recertification. The recertification process must also be completed if your certification has become invalid and you want to revalidate it.

Applications for renewal are required to be submitted within six (6) months of your certification expiry date. Applications submitted after the expiry date are subject to a $120 late fee. Candidates who do not submit satisfactory renewal applications and appropriate supporting documents within twelve (12) months of their certification expiry date will not have their certifications renewed, and will be required to recertify in order to obtain valid certification.

Renewal candidates whose initial certifications were obtained in 2010 or earlier (with expiry date of December 31, 2015), 2011 or earlier (with expiry date of December 31, 2016), and 2012 or earlier (with expiry date of December 31, 2017), respectively, are considered to be within the transitional period for recertification. In the transitional period for recertification, candidates are required to recertify by no later than their next expiry date for renewal (approximately 5 years [60 months] or fewer, based on the 15th day of your birth month). For example, if you were required to renew by December 31, 2016 and your birthday is in March, the next expiry date for your renewal is March 15th, 2021. Therefore, you would also be required to recertify before March 15, 2021.

All other candidates are required to recertify within 10 years (120 months) or less of the date of initial certification or last recertification. The recertification deadline is based on the 15th day of your birth month and the date of initial certification or last recertification. For example, if you obtained your certification on July 10, 2012 (and your last renewal expiry date was December 31, 2016) and your birthday is in September, you will be required to recertify before September 15, 2021.

Candidates within the transitional period for recertification who pass their recertification examination(s) prior to their recertification deadline (next renewal date) will have their recertification examination(s) applied at the end of their 5-year period of validity (unless otherwise requested by the candidate). Following the satisfactory completion of the renewal process, the candidate will have valid certification for a period of 5 years, and their recertification will be effective for a period of 10 years (providing there are no significant interruptions in work experience or other factors that would invalidate their certification).

For example, if you complete your recertification examination for an NDT method in June of 2019, and your next renewal date (recertification deadline) is October 15, 2021, your recertification for that method will become effective on October 15, 2021. Providing that you renew by October 15, 2021, you will have valid certification for a period of 5 years.

The following organizations may offer useful information:

• Canadian General Standards Board
• Canadian Institute for NDE
• Canadian Standards Association
• Standards Council of Canada
• Transport Canada, National Aircraft Certification