ISO 9712

Covers — qualification and certification of personnel performing industrial NDT (RT, UT, PT, MT, ET, LT, VT, AE, TT, ST), defining Levels 1/2/3, training/experience/exam requirements, and central-body certification and renewal.

Does NOT cover (exclusions) — the following are governed elsewhere:

• The NDE method procedures themselves → ASME Section V / ASTM E-series.
• Employer-based US certification → SNT-TC-1A.
• Weld/procedure qualification → ASME Section IX / ISO 15614.

ISO 9712 certifies the examiner through an independent body; it does not define how each NDE method is performed.

ISO 9712 sets minimum requirements for personnel certification:

• Levels — Level 1 (performs), Level 2 (interprets/reports), Level 3 (procedures/oversight) per method.
• Training & Experience — minimum documented training hours and industrial experience.
• Examination — general, specific, and practical exams administered under the certification body.
• Certification & Renewal — issuance, validity period, and recertification requirements.

ISO 9712 is the international standard for qualifying and certifying NDT personnel through an independent, central certification body. It defines Level 1, 2, and 3 examiners by method, with minimum training, experience, and examination requirements, plus certificate validity and recertification.

Its third-party model contrasts with the US employer-based SNT-TC-1A approach: many international and EU projects specify ISO 9712 precisely because the certifying body is independent of the employer. Section V and the ASTM E-series still define how each method is performed.

Engineering Note: Confirm which personnel scheme the contract requires — an SNT-TC-1A certificate may not satisfy a specification that mandates independent ISO 9712 certification, and vice versa.