What is the difference between ASNT Certification and PCN Certification?

 ASNT Certification

ASNT or SNT (The American Society for Nondestructive Testing) qualification is based on ASNT's document SNT-TC-1A and is in accordance with the employer's established policy for people qualification. Employer's NDT Level III or an outside agency such as NDT Academy Private Limited will train and administer the exam based on the written practise of the employer. 

In the absence of documented business policy, the SNT-TC-1A suggestion for training, industrial experience, and examination will be adopted. Employers can provide NDT Level I or NDT Level II based on these qualification records, which will be signed by NDT Level III.

Once completed, the certificate must go into a company name and they will retain the certificate regardless of how much experience the individual has attained, it is up to the company to provide the individual with the relevant experience, once the examination is completed and you meet the companies written practice experience requirements you will be qualified as a Level II technician Once the examination is completed the individual can transfer the certificate into a different company’s name as long as it conforms to the companies written practice for that particular company without the completion of further examination which is necessary to change the certificate into the new companies name (Some companies will accept a certificate to be in a different companies name but inspection to be carried out on their behalf as long as this conforms to the companies written practice Valid for 3 or 5 years dependent on the company written practice requirements Examination questions are considered simpler as the individual may have no prior experience of that particular NDT method.

PCN (Personnel Certification in Non-Destructive Testing)

Personnel Certification Scheme: British/European Scheme based on BS EN ISO 9712: PCN is a personnel certification in NDT, with training provided by a BINDT-approved training centre (ATO) and examination administered by a BINDT-approved qualification body (AQB). BINDT (UK) will issue the certificate and mail it to the candidate's postal address if the candidate passes the examination.

This qualification is personal to the person. It allows the individual to go from one company to the next or from one contract to the next without having to be re-examined into a new company name. It's valid for 5 years.

Experience is required in each subject you aim to obtain in order to get qualified following examination (minimum requirements to comply with BINDT, e.g. 4 months practical experience for magnetic particle inspection); if no experience is held, all you will receive is a results notice (this is not a qualification) This means you won't be able to sign off on any reports until you've earned practical experience, documented it, and submitted it to PCN to get your certificate.