NDT Certification and Practices 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In ASNT SNT-TC-1A, which party is ultimately responsible for the certification of NDT personnel?
- ASNT headquarters
- The employer (Correct answer)
- The government regulatory agency
- The training school or college
Correct answer: The employer
Under SNT-TC-1A, the employer bears ultimate responsibility for certifying their NDT personnel and maintaining associated records.
Question 2: What is the typical recertification interval for NDT Level II personnel under SNT-TC-1A?
- One year
- Three years
- Five years (Correct answer)
- Ten years
Correct answer: Five years
SNT-TC-1A recommends a recertification interval of five years, though employers may specify shorter intervals in their Written Practice.
Question 3: A technician certified under employer A wants to work for employer B performing the same NDT method. Under SNT-TC-1A, what must employer B do?
- Accept the certification automatically as fully portable
- Review the technician's records and may require requalification per their own Written Practice (Correct answer)
- Contact ASNT to transfer certification
- Simply update the technician's badge
Correct answer: Review the technician's records and may require requalification per their own Written Practice
Because SNT-TC-1A certifications are employer-specific, employer B must independently evaluate the technician's qualifications and may require reexamination per their own Written Practice.
Question 4: Which of the following NDT methods requires specific radiation safety training and regulatory compliance in addition to standard NDT certification?
- Magnetic Particle Testing (MT)
- Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT)
- Radiographic Testing (RT) (Correct answer)
- Visual Testing (VT)
Correct answer: Radiographic Testing (RT)
Radiographic testing involves ionizing radiation and requires compliance with NRC or state radiation control regulations, including radiation safety officer oversight.
Question 5: What is the key difference between 'qualification' and 'certification' in NDT terminology?
- They are synonyms with no meaningful difference
- Qualification is the demonstrated skill and knowledge; certification is the formal employer documentation of that qualification (Correct answer)
- Certification refers to training; qualification refers to exam results
- Qualification is only for Level III; certification is for Level I and II
Correct answer: Qualification is the demonstrated skill and knowledge; certification is the formal employer documentation of that qualification
Qualification refers to the education, training, experience, and demonstrated ability a technician possesses, while certification is the formal written testament by the employer acknowledging that qualification.
Question 6: Which of the following scenarios would require an NDT technician to undergo requalification before resuming inspection duties?
- Taking a one-week vacation
- Absence from NDT activities for a period exceeding the limit specified in the Written Practice (Correct answer)
- Transferring to a different work shift
- Using a different brand of the same type of equipment
Correct answer: Absence from NDT activities for a period exceeding the limit specified in the Written Practice
Extended absence from NDT activities beyond the period specified in the employer's Written Practice typically triggers a requalification requirement to ensure continued competency.
Question 7: For aerospace NDT applications, which specification is most commonly referenced for personnel certification requirements?
- AWS D1.1
- NAS 410 (now ATA Spec 105) (Correct answer)
- ASME Section V
- API 650
Correct answer: NAS 410 (now ATA Spec 105)
NAS 410, now superseded and aligned with ATA Spec 105, governs qualification and certification of NDT personnel specifically in the aerospace industry.
NDT Certification and Practices 5
In ASNT SNT-TC-1A, which party is ultimately responsible for the certification of NDT personnel?