ASNT 9712 in Europe

The European Federation for Non-Destructive Testing (EFNDT) recently published a communication urging employers, asset owners, and certificate holders to conduct due diligence regarding ASNT 9712 certification. The American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) welcomes this as a best practice for any program new to the employer. Verification protects everyone, and we’re confident in what it shows. Here are direct answers to the points raised by EFNDT.

Is ASNT 9712 Equivalent to ISO 9712?

ASNT 9712 is governed by the ANSI/ASNT-CP-9712:2023 standard, an identical United States adoption of ISO 9712:2021. It represents a certification scheme that every certification body is required to develop for its certification program, to set requirements, and to be certified under its name. The program is maintained within ASNT’s accredited quality management system, the same system that covers all ASNT certification programs (accredited and nonaccredited).

Is It Accredited?

ISO 9712 does not mandate that the certification body be accredited. The importance of accreditation comes down to individual employers, asset owners, certificate holders, and regulators who need to consider whether it represents a limiting factor for them. ASNT recognizes the importance of accreditation for practicing professionals. ASNT already holds ISO/IEC 17024 accreditation for its other nondestructive testing (NDT) certification scheme, and it is pursuing ISO/IEC 17024 accreditation for ASNT 9712 as well, targeted for early 2027. We state this openly so employers can make informed decisions.

Is It Recognized for Pressure Equipment?

Yes. Through ASNT India, ASNT 9712 holders can obtain Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) certification (2014/68/EU, Annex I, Section 3.1.3) via Bureau Veritas Italia, a European Notified Body (No. 1370), which is accredited to ISO/IEC 17024 and is a recognized third-party organization (RTPO). ASNT plans to offer the same route through our partners in the EU and ASNT Certification Services in the US. For those for whom this route is insufficient, ASNT also provides alternative routes as detailed below.

Who Controls the Exams?

ASNT Certification Services owns and governs ASNT 9712 worldwide, and we do not use the authorized qualifying body (AQB) model within our program. Delivery partners are established ISO 9712 organizations already accredited to ISO/IEC 7024 and/or approved by other accredited certification bodies for ISO 9712 programs. ASNT conducts in-depth audits of each partner before recognizing it. ASNT auditors take and observe partner exams to verify impartiality, quality integrity, and traceability. Our partners’ certification programs must meet ASNT’s 9712 program requirements. Additionally, our partners are reassessed periodically to keep their recognition.

Is the Practical Exam Just an 80% Pass Mark?

No, and we agree with EFNDT that a single number doesn’t prove equivalence. In ASNT 9712, the 80% is a detection rate on specimens, not a simple score. Every practical exam also has enhanced rigor, including mandatory flaws the candidate must find, limits on false calls, and a defined difficulty level for each flaw. Unlike regular ISO 9712 programs, ASNT 9712’s established methods are broken down into a distinct set of techniques, and all techniques subject to the candidate’s method certification must be examined and passed successfully to obtain certification. Finally, our partners’ examinations are not drafted exclusively for ASNT 9712. ASNT 9712 approves existing examinations used by those organizations for other accredited certification bodies. As a result, candidates for ASNT 9712 certification are compared against a standardized benchmark in the same examination process, but because of the 80% pass mark, they must demonstrate greater proficiency. Together, these go beyond the current requirements of ISO 9712:2021.

How Does Dual Certification Work?

Each organization issues its certification under its own approved scheme and controls issuance, renewal, recertification, suspension, and withdrawal. The two certifications are linked: if one is affected, so is the other. The holder uses whichever certification the client accepts for the work. ASNT cooperates with its partners to align their schemes to ensure parallel dual certification can be achieved with minimal additional effort for the candidate.

How Are Training and Experience Verified?

ASNT Certification Services checks every candidate’s training and experience records before certification. It uses the same documented procedures and quality management system as ASNT’s other certification scheme, which is already accredited to ISO/IEC 17024. Through its partner Advanced Technology Group s.r.o. (ATG) in the EU, the training and examination process is further aligned with four additional accredited certification bodies, enabling one joint pathway for multiple certification options.

Why Levels 2 and 3?

Employer demand for a portable, independently verified credential is strongest at Levels 2 and 3, where people move between employers, industries, and countries. The fact that ASNT 9712 does not provide Level 1 certification doesn’t mean the Level 1 requirements are omitted. ISO 9712 allows direct access to Level 2 for candidates who meet its training, experience, and exam requirements. This means candidates for Level 2 must comply with the joint training and experience requirements for Levels 1 and 2, as required by the standard. ASNT has decided that the market volume for international Level 1 certification is not sufficient to justify the development of such a program. Additionally, ASNT’s priorities for the next methods and techniques include the forthcoming phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) and time of flight diffraction (TOFD) offerings, as well as new methods such as leak testing (LT) and electromagnetic testing (ET).

Does ASNT 9712 Replace National Schemes?

No. It is an additional pathway. If legislation, a contract, or a customer specification requires certification from an accredited body or an RTPO, that requirement comes first. ASNT has never suggested otherwise. Nevertheless, even within the EU, ASNT provides a pathway for compliance with local regulatory requirements. By partnering with ATG, which is approved by several RTPOs in the EU, candidates can gain and maintain both ASNT and RTPO certificates through its training and examination process. Therefore, candidates do not need to consider trade-offs; they can simply extend their global reach with ASNT.

How Can I Verify a Certificate?

Check ASNT Certification Services for evidence of scope, scheme conformity, and accreditation status.

Still Not Sold on ASNT 9712? See for Yourself

ASNT and its partner ATG invite anyone interested in the ASNT 9712 certification scheme to learn how it works and why it is a viable alternative. Join the ASNT 9712 NDT Forum at ATG in Prague, Czech Republic, on 2–4 December 2026. Learn more and register.