Level III Certification Records and a Recertification Dispute
An NDT Level III certified under a written practice based on SNT-TC-1A has been performing leak testing method duties for five years. The employer's written practice requires recertification every five years, consisting of a practical examination and a documented review of the Level III's continuing experience. The Level III's file shows: initial certification examination passed five years ago; annual performance reviews on file; a log of leak-test procedures written and approved; but no record of a practical examination in the past five years, and the continuing-experience review was signed by the Level III himself. The employer's auditor questions whether the Level III is currently certified.
1. Evaluate the certification status of this Level III against the written practice and SNT-TC-1A principles.
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The written practice governs, and it requires a practical examination and a documented continuing-experience review every five years. The file shows neither a practical exam in the past five years nor an independent continuing-experience review - the self-signed review does not satisfy the intent of an independent evaluation. Therefore the Level III's recertification is not documented and, strictly, the individual is not currently certified under the written practice until the requirements are met. Initial certification and annual performance reviews do not substitute for the required recertification activities.
2. What corrective actions should the employer take, and what does this imply for tests the Level III approved during the gap?
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Corrective actions: (1) suspend the Level III's certification status until recertification is completed; (2) administer the required practical examination and conduct an independent continuing-experience review signed by an authorized representative other than the individual; (3) update the written practice if it is ambiguous about who may sign the review; (4) document the recertification. For tests approved during the gap, the employer must assess impact: procedures and results approved by an uncertified Level III may need independent review by a currently certified Level III. The employer should determine whether any acceptance decisions were affected and, if so, re-review or re-test as needed, and record the corrective action.