{"id":"119","title":"ISO 9712 Certification Process: Step-by-Step Guide [2026]","slug":"iso-9712-certification-process-step-by-step-guide","date":"March 2026","author":"Atlantis NDT","category":"Certification & Career","metaDescription":"ISO 9712 Level 1/2/3 certification: International standard, 5-10 years path, a modest cost, 120-240 training hours, exam fees per the current published schedule.","snippet":"ISO 9712 Level 1/2/3 certification: International standard, 5-10 years path, a modest cost, 120-240 training hours, exam fees per the current published schedule.","content":"<p>Reviewed by <a href=\"/authors/anoop-rayavarapu\">Anoop Rayavarapu</a>, ASNT NDT Level III (UT, RT, MT, PT, VT). Updated October 2026.</p><h2>How does ISO 9712 certification work?</h2><p>ISO 9712 is the international standard for qualifying and certifying NDT personnel; the current edition is ISO 9712:2021, adopted in Europe as EN ISO 9712:2022. An independent certification body issues the certificate, not your employer, so it stays with you when you change jobs. You qualify per method and level: training, documented industrial experience, a vision test, and general, specific and practical examinations set and graded by the certification body.</p><h2>ISO 9712 levels</h2><p><strong>Level 1</strong> performs NDT to written instructions under the supervision of Level 2 or Level 3 personnel. <strong>Level 2</strong> sets up and verifies equipment, performs and supervises NDT, interprets results against codes and standards, and writes NDT instructions. <strong>Level 3</strong> takes responsibility for an NDT facility or examination centre, establishes and validates techniques and procedures, interprets codes and standards, and directs personnel at all levels.</p><h2>The steps to ISO 9712 certification</h2><ol><li><strong>Choose the method, level and sector.</strong> The certificate names the method, the level and the product or industrial sector it covers.</li><li><strong>Complete the training.</strong> ISO 9712 sets minimum training durations for each method and level, and the certification body&#x2019;s scheme document states them; the updated CSWIP scheme, for example, states training and experience in days.</li><li><strong>Gain the industrial experience.</strong> Experience in the method is documented and confirmed by your employer. Some schemes accept structured practical training for part of it; CSWIP&#x2019;s intensive practical training course is one example.</li><li><strong>Pass the vision test.</strong> Near-vision acuity and colour perception are checked, and near vision is checked again every year.</li><li><strong>Take the examinations.</strong> General, specific and practical examinations, set and graded by the certification body.</li><li><strong>Receive the certificate, then renew it.</strong> Certification runs in five-year periods, with renewal at five years and recertification at ten under the scheme&#x2019;s rules.</li></ol><h2>Can I get ISO 9712 certified in the US?</h2><p>Yes. ASNT 9712 is ASNT&#x2019;s certification programme designed to meet ISO 9712:2021 (ANSI/ASNT CP-9712:2023), at Level II and Level III. ASNT examines you, including practical examinations, and issues a certificate that stays with you. ASNT says ASNT 9712 replaced the former ASNT Central Certification Program (ACCP). In Canada, certification to CAN/CGSB-48.9712 is through Natural Resources Canada&#x2019;s NDT Certification Body or CWB Group.</p><h2>ISO 9712 vs SNT-TC-1A in one line</h2><p>Under ISO 9712 a certification body certifies you and the certificate moves with you; under SNT-TC-1A your employer certifies you under its written practice and the certification ends when you leave. The full comparison: <a href=\"/blog/iso-9712-vs-asnt-snt-tc-1a-certification-comparison\">ISO 9712 vs SNT-TC-1A</a>.</p><h2>Frequently asked questions</h2><h3>Can I use ASNT Level II to get ISO 9712 Level 2?</h3><p>Not directly. ISO 9712 examinations are passed with a certification body. Documented training and experience may count toward eligibility where the scheme allows it, so keep your records.</p><h3>What happens if I fail part of the ISO 9712 examination?</h3><p>The certification body&#x2019;s scheme sets the re-examination rules, including how many retakes are allowed and the waiting period. Check the scheme document before you book.</p><h3>What is a sector on an ISO 9712 certificate?</h3><p>A sector is the product or industrial area the certificate covers, such as welds or castings, or an industrial sector made up of several product sectors. The certificate is valid only for the sectors it names, so match them to the work you will do.</p><h3>Does an ISO 9712 certificate by itself authorise me to work?</h3><p>No. The certificate shows competence; your employer still authorises you to perform NDT on its work, under its own procedures and quality system.</p><h3>How long is an ISO 9712 certificate valid?</h3><p>Certification runs in five-year periods: you renew at five years and recertify at ten, under ISO 9712:2021 and the certification body&#x2019;s scheme. Under the updated CSWIP scheme, renewal is by structured credit or examination. A significant interruption in work in the method can end the validity, so keep a record of continuous activity.</p><h2>Next steps</h2><p>ASNT&#x2019;s own credentials, including ASNT 9712: <a href=\"/asnt-certification\">ASNT certification</a>. The UK scheme compared: <a href=\"/compare/asnt-vs-pcn\">ASNT vs PCN</a>. Training to ASNT SNT-TC-1A: <a href=\"/training\">NDT training</a>.</p><p>Sources: ISO 9712:2021 and EN ISO 9712:2022; <a href=\"https://certification.asnt.org/certification/asnt-9712-level-ii\" rel=\"noopener\">ASNT 9712 Level II</a> and <a href=\"https://www.asnt.org/standards\" rel=\"noopener\">ASNT standards</a> (ANSI/ASNT CP-9712:2023); <a href=\"https://www.cswip.com/press-releases/2025/updates-to-iso-9712-summary\" rel=\"noopener\">CSWIP: updates to ISO 9712</a>.</p>","updatedAt":"2026-10-18T00:00:00Z","h1":"ISO 9712 Certification: Levels, Exams, Hours and Renewal"}