# ISO 9712

> ISO 9712 (Non-destructive testing: Qualification and certification of NDT personnel) is the international standard for central, third-party certification of NDT technicians by an accredited certification body, in three levels per method and sector.

- Source: https://amps.global/glossary/iso-9712/
- Type: Glossary
- Published: 2026-09-05
- Tags: NDT, certification

## Key facts

- Certification body, not the employer, examines and certifies; the certificate follows the technician between employers
- Certificates are valid 5 years, renewed on evidence of continued work and vision, and require a recertification exam at 10 years
- Sectors include welds, castings, forgings, tubes and pipes, pre- and in-service testing
- National schemes aligned with ISO 9712 include PCN (UK), AINDT (Australia), COFREND (France) and ASNT's ISO 9712 program

Also known as: ISO 9712:2021, EN ISO 9712, AS ISO 9712.

## What it requires

Candidates must meet training hours and industrial experience for the method and level, pass general, specific and practical examinations set by the certification body, and satisfy vision requirements. Level 3 candidates also sit a basic exam and a main-method exam. The body maintains the register that clients and auditors check.

## Why clients ask for it

Because the certificate is independent of the employer, clients and accreditation bodies treat it as portable proof of competence. Many tenders in Australia and New Zealand specify ISO 9712 Level 2 for the technician and Level 3 approval of procedures.

## ISO 9712 certificates in AMPS

AMPS keeps personnel and equipment certificates on dedicated personnel and equipment pages, and its flag system warns one month before a certificate, calibration document or scheduled inspection falls due, so managers always know what is missing or expiring. Renewal and recertification dates are therefore visible a month before they bite, not when a client audit asks.

## Related pages

- [PCN certification](https://amps.global/glossary/pcn-certification/)
- [AINDT](https://amps.global/glossary/aindt/)
- [NDT certification levels](https://amps.global/glossary/ndt-certification-levels/)
- [Guide: tracking NDT certificates and expiry dates](https://amps.global/guides/tracking-ndt-certificates-and-expiry-dates/)

## Sources

- [ISO - International Organization for Standardization](https://www.iso.org/)
- [BINDT - British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing](https://www.bindt.org/)
- [AINDT - Australian Institute for Non-Destructive Testing](https://www.aindt.com.au/)