FIFTH CANADIAN CONFERENCE ON NONDESTRUCTIVE ... - IAEA

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sirailiarities but there may exist differences. For instance, a few standards
allow Level I personnel to interpret/evaluate some results, whereas others do not
allow such responsibility.
(c) The categories or sectors of certification are often identical with
castings, forgings, welds and aircraft structures/aerospace being commonly found
but others may also be found. Specific areas may also be covered such as wrought
steel plates and bars, types of welds (plate, pipe, nozzle), etc.
(d) Examination schemes show some common features. Written and practical tests
are applied by all schemes with oral tests being encountered in but a few schemes,
either as a requirement or as a complement. Most schemes include a general
written test, a sector written and practical tests.
(e) Training requirements are common to most schemes but not all. Minimum
hours may be specified and even related to a given degree of schooling. In order
to avoid the implications of assessing and comparing national education systems,
the ICNDT has endeavoured to determine a syllabus without a corresponding number
of hours and schooling level. Industrial experience is usually mandatory.
Several other headings are not examined herein but must also be considered, such
as validity period, renewal conditions, health requirements, certificate ownership,
etc.
The above description points to some of the difficulties that might be expected
towards harmonizing present and future national schemes for the certification of
nondestructive testing personnel but there also exist definite commond grounds.
The next ISO TC135/SC7 meeting will be held in February 1985 and the Board of
Directors of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing recently expressed
their objective to have an international standard finalized by 1988. Time will
tell whether an international document or standard will be acceptable to the concerned
countries and if so, what the time frame will be to achieve that objective.