ASNT vs PCN Certification: Which NDT Scheme Should You Require?

When specifying an NDT inspector for a project, the certification scheme matters. ASNT SNT-TC-1A and BINDT PCN are the two most widely recognized certification systems in the world, and they work differently in ways that affect which is accepted where and what it actually proves about the inspector holding it.

This article explains how each scheme works, where each is accepted, and how the choice of certification affects project qualification in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. It is written from the perspective of an inspector holding both, which provides a direct basis for comparison.

ASNT SNT-TC-1A: The Employer-Based System

ASNT SNT-TC-1A (Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A) is published by the American Society for Nondestructive Testing. It is the dominant NDT personnel qualification framework in North America.

SNT-TC-1A is an employer-based certification system. The employer (inspection company, fabricator, or owner) establishes a written practice that meets SNT-TC-1A requirements, conducts training and examinations, and certifies its own personnel. ASNT does not itself certify individuals under SNT-TC-1A; that is done by the employer against the SNT-TC-1A framework.

This means that an ASNT Level III under SNT-TC-1A is certified by their employer according to the employer's written practice. Different employers can have different training programs and examination standards while both nominally complying with SNT-TC-1A. The minimum requirements are set by SNT-TC-1A, but implementation varies.

ASNT does offer a separate central certification program (ASNT Central Certification Program, ACCP) that is examination-based and more analogous to PCN. But the employer-based SNT-TC-1A certification is what most North American projects reference when they specify 'ASNT Level III.'

BINDT PCN: The Central Certification System

BINDT PCN (Personnel Certification in Non-Destructive Testing) is operated by the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) and is accredited by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) to ISO/IEC 17024, the international standard for personnel certification bodies.

PCN is a central certification system. BINDT itself administers the examinations, evaluates experience documentation, and issues certificates. The certificate belongs to the individual, not to their employer. When an inspector changes employers, their PCN certification goes with them. This is fundamentally different from SNT-TC-1A, where the certification is issued by the employer.

PCN certification follows EN ISO 9712, the European standard for NDT personnel qualification. This standard is adopted across Europe and is recognized through the European Multilateral MRA, meaning PCN certificates are recognized by equivalent national certification bodies in participating European countries.

BINDT PCN includes sector-specific certification schemes including oil and gas, welds, castings, forgings, and aerospace. The sector-specific scheme ensures the inspector's examination and practical assessment covers the specific application types relevant to the work.

ASNT SNT-TC-1A vs BINDT PCN: Direct Comparison

Where Each Is Accepted

Geographic acceptance follows the market influence of each certification body:

ASNT SNT-TC-1A is the standard in North America. Canadian and US oil and gas operators, fabricators, and inspection companies uniformly reference SNT-TC-1A in their written practices. When a Canadian fabricator's ITP calls for 'ASNT Level II' examination of welds, that is what the inspection certificate should reflect.

BINDT PCN is the standard in Europe, the Middle East, and much of Asia and Australasia. Shell-operated projects globally frequently specify PCN. Saudi Aramco and ADNOC supplier lists recognize PCN. Major international EPC contractors (Wood, Worley, Fluor, Technip) specify PCN on international projects. In Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia), PCN is the dominant specification.

For work that spans multiple regions, an inspector holding both ASNT certification and BINDT PCN eliminates geographical qualification barriers. The inspector does not need separate qualification procedures in different jurisdictions.

PAUT Certification Under PCN

One area where PCN has a specific advantage is phased array UT. BINDT PCN includes a specific PAUT certification scheme (PCN PT and ST qualifications for sector scanning and full-matrix capture) that is recognized internationally as a rigorous, independently assessed PAUT qualification.

ASNT ACCP also includes PAUT, but PCN PAUT is more widely specified on international projects, particularly Shell-operated projects and major Middle East projects. Holding BINDT PCN PAUT certification alongside ASNT Level III UT provides the broadest global acceptance for PAUT work.

The PAUT examination under PCN includes both written and practical components. The practical assessment involves demonstrating scanning technique and data interpretation on representative samples. This makes the PCN PAUT certificate a higher assurance of demonstrated field capability than a paper qualification alone.

What Dual Certification Means in Practice

Holding both ASNT Level III certification (all five methods: UT, RT, MT, PT, VT) and BINDT PCN certification means the inspector can be deployed on North American projects under ASNT standards and on international projects under PCN requirements without additional qualification steps.

For clients working across multiple jurisdictions, this eliminates a recurring bottleneck. Inspectors qualified under only one scheme may need to sit examinations or go through a qualification process before being accepted for work in the other region. A dual-certified inspector steps into either environment immediately.

Norman QC holds ASNT NDT Level III certification in all five primary methods plus BINDT PCN certification including PAUT. This dual certification supports qualification for North American, European, Middle Eastern, and Asian project inspection requirements without additional credentialing steps.

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