" International Certification inNDT (ICN) from ISNT "Diwakar Joshi,Member, WG 1- ICNDTIndian Society for Non – Destructive Testing
INDIA

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NDT in Industry
 We all know that non-destructive testing plays an important rolein Quality control, Quality Assurance and reliability of theproducts and systems.
 Different NDT/NDE methods have evolved in the last few

decades and the list is ever increasing.
 These cater to various industries in sectors like Manufacturing,

Nuclear, Defence, Power, Automotive, Railways, Oil and Gas,Aerospace, Infrastructure, Construction, Shipping and so on.
2 NDT tells you about the soundness of the material.

Unsoundness creates a compromise with integrity, leading tofailures and safety issues, which is NDT’s main concern.
 The success of NDT is in the implementation of rightprocedures, having right calibrated equipment and using
qualified and certified manpower.

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Qualification and Certification
 Qualification and Certification of NDT operator plays a crucial rolein the industry.
 Certified individuals would do good NDT and would be successful

only when they know what they are doing, when they accept or
reject knowingly and knowledgeably, when they know not just thetechnique but the limitations of the technique, the equipment, theconsumables, and their own limitations.

4 The certification examination they passed is a testimony of theirqualification.
 They can do a good job not because they have just passed anexamination, but because they have undergone a robust training
program.
 These technicians are ‘made’ by training, and this is what

authorized training centres ensure.

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NCB and ISNT National Certification Board of Indian Society for Non-destructiveTesting (NCB-ISNT) has recently launched the certification scheme
ICN – International Certification in NDT.
 ISNT’s basic objective is to promote NDT science and Technology inIndia and abroad. ISNT considers that Training and Certification is
the key parameter in the same. Hence, NCB was formed 25 years
back to standardize the certification examinations.

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INDIAN SOCIETY FOR NON- DESTRUCTIVE TESTING

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ISNT

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Journal of Non-Destructive Testing & Evaluation
KEY Publications &Points
 Quarterly publication
 4-6 papers and articles ineach issue Details of Boards of ISNT Details of activities
carried out by variouschapters Upcoming meetings andprograms

Online submission,
reviewing, publication andarchiving at
URL: https://jnde.isnt.in

Papers are indexed by Google Scholar

9International linkage  Member of ICNDT (International Committee on NDT).
 Federation of Asia Pacific Region Countries was formed in Nov 2013.

India is the one of the founder member.
 ISNT Conducted two benchmark events
 14th World Conference on NDT (WCNDT) Dec 1996, New Delhi.
 14th Asia Pacific Conference on NDT (APCNDT) Nov 2013, Mumbai.

10 ISNT has association with other International societies.
 Associate member of European Federation for NDT (EFNDT).

 Member of Asia Pacific Federation for NDT (APFNDT).
 Liaison Member of International Society for Condition Monitoring (ISCM).
 Member of Engineering Council of India (ECI).
11 ISNT has active association or has MOU with other NDT societies.
 Australian Institute for NDT (AINDT).
 French Confederation for Non-Destructive Testing (COFREND).
 Korean Society for NDT (KSNT).

 The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT).
 American Society for Non-destructive Testing (ASNT).
12 ISNT conducts many technical lectures, seminars etc. throughout the year.
 The biggest event is the Annual Conference and Exhibition on Non

Destructive Evaluation, which is a global event.
 This year the 34th conference NDE-2024 is planned in Dec 2024 atChennai, India with the theme “Imagine, Innovate, Ignite, Insight”
 The next major international event is the ‘3rd International Conference on

NDE 4.0’, which will be hosted in Bangalore, India in March 2025.

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ISNT – 19 Chapters all over India

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Structure of ISNT16

ISNT Chapters
There are 19th Chapters all over India, who are promoting ISNT
activities with the help of webinars, local seminars, Training programs,
Technical lectures, Field trips, Industry workshop, College training
programs etc.

TMB
The Training Management Board (TMB) of ISNT has sole responsibility
to manage all the training related activities and policies for thecertification schemes of ISNT.
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PFMB
The PFMB is working with the following objectives :To conceptualize, formulate and organize various non-certification
programs such as Webinars, Workshops, Conferences, Seminars etc.
to create platform for constant interaction with ISNT members, meetthe requirement of industry, academia and research community.
To interact with other international NDT societies, National technicalsocieties to formulate and organize joint programs.
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NCB
The National Certification Board is a non-profit body formulated by National
Governing Council of Indian Society for Non-destructive Testing. National
Certification Board is the sole certification body in India for certification ofpersonnel related to Non-Destructive Testing (NDT). It initiates, maintains,promotes and administers the national certification scheme according to theIndian Standard IS 13805:2004 and its own scheme ‘International
Certification in NDT (ICN)’, which meets the requirement of ISO 9712:2021.
The National Certification Board includes eminent representatives fromacademic institutes, research centres, industries, Government nodal
ministries, public sector undertakings, private sector, other related societies
or institutes, insurance bodies, third party inspection agencies etc.
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NCB-ISNT registered under ICNDT MRA Schedule 220

Accreditation Certificate issued by NABCB valid till 18 May, 2027

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Role of NCB-ISNT and TMB in ICN
 Training Management Board (TMB) is doing the important job ofstandardizing training all over India.
 TMB has multiple tasks of developing training material, Train theTrainers Program, practical notes, mock-up papers etc.
 It also draws up training institute requirements and assesses themthrough audits for accreditation.
 So far, 4 centers have been accredited, Insight Quality Services andISNT’s Mumbai Chapter in west, ANSA in south and Satyakiran innorth.

22 Training environment shall be appropriate and shall meet statutory,regulatory and TMB requirements.
 Compromise in safe working environment will lead to suspension ofauthorization.
 Training centers shall basically fill the gap between required andexisting competence requirements of the candidate.

23 Training centers shall have full control at each stage like defining

training needs, designing and planning training, providing training,and evaluating the outcome of training.
 The training center shall have a quality management system which isconforming to ISO 9001 or similar quality management system.
 ‘Train the trainers’ program desirable for instructors to acquire the skillof imparting their knowledge more efficiently and effectively.

24 NCB-ISNT conducts examinations.
 NCB-ISNT conducted examiners’ workshop in 1999, 2013, 2017,and qualified about 60 examiners.
 NCB-ISNT conducted a question bank development project in2015.

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The ICN Scheme - General For NDT qualification and certification, until recently, India had adomestic scheme based on the Indian Standard IS 13805, GeneralStandard for Qualification and Certification of Non-Destructive
Testing Personnel.
 We did not have our own international scheme.
 However, ISO 9712, Non-destructive testing - Qualification andCertification of NDT Personnel, being an international standard,gained popularity.
 The need to have an international scheme based on ISO 9712 wasseen.
26 The scheme is for International Certification in NDT.
 A central certification scheme – the first indigenous such scheme inIndia.
 NCB-ISNT was audited as per ISO/IEC 17024:2012 General

requirements for Bodies operating Certification of Persons, andAccredited by National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies –Quality Council of India.

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 Scheme based on ISO 9712:2021, Non-destructive testing, qualificationand certification of NDT personnel.
 Scheme formally launched during NDE 2023 in the presence of ICNDTSecretary Mr. David Gilbert.
 Scheme is registered under MRA (Multilateral Recognition Agreement)

Schedule 2 of ICNDT, and valid in several other countries that are part ofMRA.
 So far 19 certificates in different methods are issued with this scheme.
 More than 5000 certificates are issued under IS 13805.

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ICN Scheme Launching at NDE 2023

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The ICN Scheme - Features
 The scheme was originally launched in a limited capacity in the welding

sector.
 In 2021, edition 2021 of ISO 9712 was adopted, and multiple sectorswere covered.
 Now, Sectors covered are - Weld, Casting, Forging, Tubes/Pipes,Wrought Products (Plates, Bars & Rods). First multi-sector exam wasconducted in Dec 2023, though first welding sector exam wasconducted in Feb 2020.
 Methods covered currently – ET, LT, MT, PT, RT, TT, UT, VT.
 NABCB accreditation is for RT, PT, UT, MT, VT Future Plan to add DR, PAUT and TOFD
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 Levels – Level 1, 2, and 3.
 The basic objective of the scheme is to make better and morecompetent NDT personnel.
 Training can be conducted by Authorized Training Centers.

Examinations are conducted by NCB.
 The risk of the same body involved in training and examinations isminimum now due to two separate bodies.
31 Candidates’ eligibility based on education, training, experience,vision.
 Examinations :Level 1 - General, Specific, Practical.
Level 2 - General, Specific, Practical, Instruction writing.
Level 3 - Basic, Method (General, Specific, Procedure).

32 Minimum number of questions – General – 40, Specific – 30.
 Passing – minimum 70%.
 Certificate validity – 5 years.

33 Other requirements for E learning / Online learning, remote training

conducted away from the center or at clients’ premises are alsomentioned.
 We all know that quality cannot be inspected in the product, however,it has to be built in. NCB’s examinations, TMB managed training,
ICNDT Question banks and other features ensure this.

34 Additional techniques and limited scope are specified in methods ET,

LT, RT and UT.
 Responsibilities of all entities and persons are specified.
 Minimum educational qualification specified for Level 1 and 2 is school

pass out with science and mathematics and for Level 3 it is Diploma inEngineering or two years science or engineering pass out. Level 3
minimum educational qualification can be compensated by higherexperience. 9712 does not specify any minimum educationalqualification.

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 Theory training can be delivered through various modes, but practicaltraining has to be delivered through face-to-face instructor-led modeonly.
 Conditional direct access to Level 2 or Level 3 is allowed.
 Conditional possible reductions in training duration are allowed, withtotal reduction not to exceed 50 % of the training duration.

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 Level 1 and 2 can gain part experience after the certification

examination, with certificate withheld till evidence of completion ofexperience. 25% of the experience is required before taking the exam.
 Weightage factors for grading Level 1 and 2 practical examinations arespecified.
 Certificates issued by other certification bodies may be considered

conditionally by NCB-ISNT.
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 An examiner shall not be permitted to examine any candidate who isworking (permanently or temporarily) in the same facility as theexaminer under no condition.
 There is no criteria for minimum age for certification.

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Highlights
 Scheme from India that has been included in MRA.
 All Sectors covered.
 Additional techniques covered.
 The risk of the same body involved in training and examinations isminimum now due to two separate bodies.
 Candidates’ eligibility also based on some minimum education.
40 There is no criteria for minimum age for certification.
 25% of the experience is enough to take examination.

 An examiner is not permitted to examine any candidate who isworking in the same facility as the examiner under no condition.
 TMB draws up training institute requirements and assesses themthrough audits for accreditation.

41 ‘Train the trainers’, an in-house developed program, desirable for

instructors to acquire the skill of imparting their knowledge more
efficiently and effectively.
 Three examiners’ workshops conducted.
 Question bank development project conducted.

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Conclusion:
With well – Structured Training and effective Examinations
ICN scheme is gaining popularity in India and abroad andwill serve as a reliable Central Certification Scheme incoming future.

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Thank you!
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