A sound instrument in the hands of an unqualified person does not produce a valid inspection. EN ISO 9712 is the standard that defines how the competence of those performing non-destructive testing is demonstrated.
- ✓ ISO 9712:2021, fifth edition, December 2021
- ✓ Qualification and certification of personnel performing industrial NDT
- ✓ Three defined qualification levels: Level 1, 2 and 3
- ✓ Certification of persons issued by a third-party body
When a test report is challenged, the first question almost always concerns the people involved: who performed the inspection, with what qualification and for which sector. EN ISO 9712 exists precisely to give that question a documented answer. The standard “specifies requirements for the qualification and certification of personnel who perform industrial non-destructive testing (NDT)”, that is, it specifies the requirements for the qualification and certification of personnel performing industrial non-destructive testing.
The reference edition is ISO 9712:2021, the fifth edition published in December 2021. The level structure is stated explicitly: “Three levels of qualification are defined (Levels 1, 2 and 3)”, that is, three levels of qualification are defined (Levels 1, 2 and 3). The distinction between the three levels concerns what the certified person is authorised to do: perform, evaluate, or define and take responsibility for technical decisions.
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The second fundamental element is specificity. The standard states that “Qualification is ‘specific’ to a defined industrial or product sector(s)”: qualification is specific to one or more defined industrial or product sectors. There is therefore no generic, universally valid NDT certification: the certificate states the test method and the sector, and outside that perimeter it covers nothing.
Confirmed elements of the standard
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Edition | ISO 9712:2021, fifth edition, December 2021 |
| Scope | Qualification and certification of personnel performing industrial NDT |
| Levels | Three defined levels: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 |
| Specificity | Qualification is specific to an industrial or product sector |
| Nature of the certification | Certification of persons issued by a third party |
What personnel certification does not replace
A frequent misunderstanding at tender stage is presenting the company’s ISO 9001 certification as proof of personnel competence. They are different planes: ISO 9001 certifies the management system of an organisation, EN ISO 9712 certifies a person.
Likewise, personnel certification says nothing about the metrological validity of the instrument used: that depends on calibration and its traceability, which are documented separately. These are three distinct requirements, and in an audit all three are demanded. You will find our service on the Calibration and setting page.
In the aerospace sector a separate qualification route also applies, described on the page dedicated to EN 4179 and Nadcap.
Recommended instruments
| Item | Use |
|---|---|
| Calibration blocks | Periodic verification of the measurement chain |
| Transducers for thickness gauges | Probes suited to the method and the qualification sector |
| DakMaster | Data management and reporting of the inspections performed |
| Dakota CMX1-DL | Corrosion gauge with A-Scan and data logger |
Frequently asked questions
Three. The standard declares that three levels of qualification are defined: Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.
No. The standard establishes that qualification is specific to one or more defined industrial or product sectors. The certificate states method and sector, and outside that perimeter it has no validity.
No. ISO 9001 concerns the management system of an organisation, whereas EN ISO 9712 concerns the competence of a person. They are distinct requirements and both are generally required.
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