The ASNT Central Certification Program (ASNT 9712) is ASNT's third-party portable certification scheme — an alternative to SNT-TC-1A guide (the employer-based Recommended Practice). Where SNT-TC-1A leaves the certification with your employer, ASNT 9712 issues the card directly to YOU. Change employers? Your ASNT 9712 card stays valid. This portability is increasingly the preferred path for inspectors working across multi-site EPC contracts, EPC contractors with global mobility, and senior multi-method Level III consultants.
\n\n| Dimension | SNT-TC-1A | ASNT 9712 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Recommended Practice (RP) | Third-party certification |
| Certifying body | Your employer (using their Written Practice) | ASNT directly |
| Portability | NOT portable — re-cert at new employer | Fully portable — card travels with you |
| Levels available | Level I, II, III | Level II + Level III (no Level I) |
| Written Practice | Required — employer maintains | Not required — ASNT manages |
| Exam administration | Employer-administered | ASNT-administered |
| Recertification | 3-5 years (per employer's Written Practice) | 5 years |
| Cost | Lower (employer-internal exam) | Higher (ASNT exam fee + processing) |
| Industry preference | US refining + petrochem; MENA | Aerospace; multi-site / global EPC; senior multi-method |
ASNT NDT Level II + Level 3 cover the major NDT methods:
\nASNT 9712 wins when:
\nSNT-TC-1A wins when:
\nDifferent layers. ASNT certification (SNT-TC-1A or ASNT 9712) = METHOD certification (UT, RT, MT, PT, ET, VT). API 510 Pressure Vessel Inspector, API 570 Piping Inspector, API 653 Tank Inspector + AWS CWI = INSPECTION + CODE certifications layered on top. A typical senior refining inspector holds: ASNT 9712 (or SNT-TC-1A) Level II UT + RT + MT + PT + API 510 + API 570 + (often) AWS CWI.
\n\nAtlantis NDT runs ASNT 9712-aligned 5-7 day cohorts per method, ASNT NDT Level III-led, with mock exams + code-navigation drills + 12-month material access. Includes the General + Specific exam prep and Practical exam preparation. request a free consultation for next cohort.
\n\nA: No automatic conversion. Apply through ASNT, submit training + OJT records, take the General + Specific + Practical exams. Training-hour credit is sometimes granted from prior employer Written Practice records, but the exams are required.
\nA: Yes — ASNT 9712 carries an ASNT exam fee + processing fee on top of similar training-hour requirements. The portability premium is worth it for multi-employer career paths. Pricing varies by region and scope.
\nA: No. ASNT 9712 is Level 2 + Level 3 only. Level I path is SNT-TC-1A-only (employer-based).
\nA: Both are third-party portable schemes. ASNT 9712 follows ASNT's question bank + training hours; ISO 9712 follows the country's accredited certification body (PCN, COFREND, DGZfP, AINDT, NRCan's NDTCB in Canada). Some employers accept ASNT 9712 as ISO 9712 equivalent; others require formal ISO 9712 cards. Senior inspectors often hold both.
\nA: Yes. Many senior inspectors hold ASNT 9712 for portability + SNT-TC-1A at their primary employer for cost efficiency.
\nA: NAS 410 is aerospace-specific (US prime contractors); EN 4179 is the European aerospace equivalent. Many aerospace inspectors hold ASNT 9712 + NAS 410 (or ASNT 9712 + EN 4179). The schemes overlap in training-hour minimums.
\nA: ASNT-administered, available at ASNT-approved test centres globally. Houston, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, London, Toronto are common. ASNT publishes the test-centre directory.
\nA: Day 1-2 — UT physics + equipment + technique; Day 3 — interpretation + acceptance criteria + ASME V Article 4 reference; Day 4 — General + Specific exam prep + mock; Day 5 — Practical exam prep + full timed mock. request a free consultation for next cohort.
\n\nAtlantis NDT is led by Anoop Rayavarapu (ASNT NDT Level III in UT, RT, MT, PT and VT). Free consultation for NDT inspection companies, training providers, and asset owners worldwide. request a free consultation. Pricing varies by region and scope, quote on request.
","order":0,"createdAt":"2026-06-21","updatedAt":"2026-10-18","quickAnswer":{"question":"What is ASNT 9712 and how is it different from SNT-TC-1A?","answer":"ASNT ASNT 9712 (which replaced ACCP, the former ASNT Central Certification Program) is third-party portable NDT certification administered directly by ASNT — your cert travels between employers. Unlike SNT-TC-1A (employer-based, not portable), ASNT 9712 requires no employer Written Practice. Level 2 covers UT, RT, MT, PT, ET, VT (each per-method); Level 3 covers Basic + Method exams. Increasingly preferred for multi-employer + global EPC mobility.","bullets":["ASNT 9712 = third-party portable (ASNT issues your card direct)","Levels available: Level 2 (per method) + Level 3 (Basic + Method)","Recertification every 5 years; annual eye test + continuing experience"]}}