ISO/TS 11774:2011

Non-destructive testing - Performance-based qualification

ISO/TS 11774:2011 provides a method for qualification of non-destructive testing (NDT) personnel, procedures, and equipment for specific non-destructive tests conducted in accordance with documented procedures established within a performance-based qualification programme. Implementation of ISO/TS 11774:2011 requires cooperation between applicable industry sector committees (ISCs) and qualification bodies to ensure that specific performance expectations are addressed. The qualification methodology described in ISO/TS 11774:2011 is based upon the ability of a candidate to demonstrate capability in detecting and sizing critical discontinuities equivalent to those to be detected and sized in the performance-based qualification programme as established by the ISC. It is possible that second party (employer-based) qualification and approval (e.g. in accordance with ANSI/ASNT CP-189) or qualification and third party certification (e.g. in accordance with ISO 9712 or EN 473), followed by on-the-job training does not provide the required degree of confidence for safety critical inspections, and ISO/TS 11774:2011 provides criteria to assist in preparing an individual for performance-based qualification examinations. Qualification to ISO/TS 11774:2011 is limited to the specific applications, using the specific documented procedure in the performance-based qualification programme.

Essais non destructifs — Qualification sur une base de performances

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 24-Oct-2011
• ICS: 03.100.30 - Management of human resources
• ICS: 19.100 - Non-destructive testing
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 135/SC 7 - Personnel qualification
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 135/SC 7 - Personnel qualification
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 17-Jul-2023
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Overview

ISO/TS 11774:2011 - "Non‑destructive testing - Performance‑based qualification" provides a structured method to qualify NDT personnel, procedures and equipment based on demonstrated performance. The Technical Specification defines how candidates must detect and size critical discontinuities using documented, industry‑specific procedures within a performance‑based qualification programme. Implementation requires cooperation between industry sector committees (ISCs) and independent qualification bodies to set performance expectations and certify results.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and limitation
  • Qualification is application‑specific and valid only for the documented NDT procedure and essential parameters defined in the programme.
• Roles and responsibilities
  • Qualification body: develops and administers qualification, issues certificates (needs conformance with ISO/IEC 17024).
  • Industry Sector Committee (ISC): sets technical requirements, mandatory discontinuity types/sizes and grading criteria.
  • Employer: authorizes qualified personnel to perform inspections.
• Prerequisites for candidates
  • Evidence of current NDT Level 2 or Level 3 certification, or completion of ISC‑specified training and examinations.
  • Sufficient training and practical experience (including virtual training or specimen analysis).
• Procedure qualification
  • The NDT procedure must be qualified (Annex A) so essential parameters are controlled and mandatory detectable discontinuities can be resolved.
• Examination design
  • Use of qualification specimens/grading units that replicate component geometry, materials and discontinuities.
  • Minimum specimen set rules (e.g., at least 10 discontinuities and a maximum 1:2 ratio of discontinuous to blank grading units).
  • Random assembly of specimen sets, masked identification and defined tolerance for sizing.
  • ISC sets minimum detection and false‑call rate criteria.
• Post‑qualification
  • Continuing practice supervised by an NDT Level 3 and periodic performance demonstrations are required; failure triggers retraining and re‑examination.
• Records and validity
  • Certificates are invalid if prerequisite certification lapses or performance is inadequate.

Applications and who uses it

ISO/TS 11774:2011 is intended for organizations and professionals involved in safety‑critical NDT inspections, including:

• Qualification bodies and certification schemes
• Industry sector committees (ISC), regulators and design authorities
• Employers in oil & gas, power generation, aerospace, transportation and heavy fabrication
• NDT Level 2/3 personnel preparing for performance‑based qualification exams

The standard is particularly valuable where higher confidence is required beyond employer‑based or conventional certification - e.g., critical weld inspections, in‑service integrity assessments and certification of inspection procedures.

Related standards

• ISO/IEC 17024 - conformity assessment for bodies certifying persons
• ISO 9712 / EN 473 - personnel certification for NDT
• ANSI/ASNT CP‑189 - employer‑based qualification guidance

Keywords: ISO/TS 11774:2011, non‑destructive testing, NDT, performance‑based qualification, qualification body, industry sector committee, NDT personnel, procedure qualification, qualification specimens, false call rate.

Standards Content (Sample)

TECHNICAL ISO/TS
SPECIFICATION 11774
First edition
2011-11-01
Non-destructive testing — Performance-
based qualification
Essais non destructifs — Qualification sur une base de performances

Reference number
©
ISO 2011
©  ISO 2011
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the address below or
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Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword . iv
Introduction . v
1  Scope . 1
2  Normative references . 1
3  Terms and definitions . 1
4  Responsibilities . 3
4.1  Qualification body . 3
4.2  Employer . 3
4.3  Industry sector committee . 3
5  Qualification of the NDT procedure . 3
6  Prerequisites for performance-based qualification examinations . 3
7  Performance-based qualification examination . 3
7.1  Qualification specimens . 3
7.2  Assembly of the specimens . 4
7.3  Administration and grading of examinations . 4
8  Post-qualification requirements . 5
8.1  Continuing practice . 5
8.2  Periodic performance demonstration . 5
9  Validity . 5
10  Records and documentation . 5
Annex A (normative) Non-destructive testing procedure qualification . 7
Bibliography . 11

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
In other circumstances, particularly when there is an urgent market requirement for such documents, a
technical committee may decide to publish other types of document:
— an ISO Publicly Available Specification (ISO/PAS) represents an agreement between technical experts in
an ISO working group and is accepted for publication if it is approved by more than 50 % of the members
of the parent committee casting a vote;
— an ISO Technical Specification (ISO/TS) represents an agreement between the members of a technical
committee and is accepted for publication if it is approved by 2/3 of the members of the committee casting
a vote.
An ISO/PAS or ISO/TS is reviewed after three years in order to decide whether it will be confirmed for a
further three years, revised to become an International Standard, or withdrawn. If the ISO/PAS or ISO/TS is
confirmed, it is reviewed again after a further three years, at which time it must either be transformed into an
International Standard or be withdrawn.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/TS 11774 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 135, Non-destructive testing, Subcommittee
SC 7, Personnel qualification.
iv © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Performance demonstration establishes the ability of a specific examination system (i.e. equipment,
procedures and personnel) to achieve a desirable level of performance. The pre-established criteria for
acceptable performance are based on an industry obtaining desired test results on qualification specimens
with or without discontinuities including an established acceptable false call rate using qualified procedures
and equipment.
NOTE Wherever gender specific words such as “his”, “her”, “he” or “she” appear in this Technical Specification the
other gender is also applicable.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION ISO/TS 11774:2011(E)

Non-destructive testing — Performance-based qualification
1 Scope
This Technical Specification provides a method for qualification of non-destructive testing (NDT) personnel,
procedures, and equipment for specific non-destructive tests conducted in accordance with documented
procedures established within a performance-based qualification programme.
Implementation of this Technical Specification requires cooperation between applicable industry sector
committees (ISCs) and qualification bodies to ensure that specific performance expectations are addressed.
The qualification methodology described in this Technical Specification is based upon the ability of a
candidate to demonstrate capability in detecting and sizing critical discontinuities equivalent to those to be
detected and sized in the performance-based qualification programme as established by the ISC.
It is possible that second party (employer-based) qualification and approval (e.g. in accordance with
[3] [1]
ANSI/ASNT CP-189 ) or qualification and third party certification (e.g. in accordance with ISO 9712 or
[2]
EN 473 ), followed by on-the-job training does not provide the required degree of confidence for safety
critical inspections, and this Technical Specification provides criteria to assist in preparing an individual for
performance-based qualification examinations.
Qualification to this Technical Specification is limited to the specific applications, using the specific
documented procedure in the performance-based qualification programme.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC 17024, Conformity assessment — General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
candidate
individual seeking qualification under a qualification procedure who has satisfied all prerequisites detailed in
the qualification document
NOTE The qualification document is a description of the qualification system, including all applicable conditions,
agreed between the parties to the qualification.
3.2
certification body
body that administers procedures for certification according to the requirements of this Technical Specification
and which fulfils the requirements of ISO/IEC 17024
3.3
employer
legal entity for which the candidate for qualification or the qualified individual works on a regular basis
3.4
essential parameter
parameter of the NDT method, technique, the component, and defects that the test is intended to detect or
characterize
3.5
false call
reporting a defect when none exists
3.6
grading unit
section of a qualification specimen
NOTE Grading units can be of unequal lengths and spacing, and either with or without discontinuities.
3.7
industry sector committee
ISC
body comprised of individuals representative of the interests in the inspection to be qualified
3.8
NDT qualification examiner
impartial individual who is certified to NDT level 3 within a scheme recognized by the qualification body, and
who is qualified in the specific NDT application
3.9
NDT procedure
written description of all essential parameters and precautions to be applied when non-destructively testing
products in accordance with standard(s), code(s) or specification(s)
3.10
performance-based qualification programme
methodology for establishing the ability of a specific qualification system (for equipment, procedures, and
personnel) to achieve a required level of performance
3.11
qualification body
independent entity that administers qualification of NDT personnel, NDT equipment and NDT procedures
3.12
qualification certificate
document issued under the rules of a qualification system indicating that adequate confidence is provided that
NDT procedures, equipment and personnel or any combination of these are capable, for a specific non-
destructive test, of achieving the stated objectives
3.13
qualification procedure
orderly sequence of rules describing how a specific non-destructive test on a specific component is qualified
3.14
qualification specimen
example or a simulation of the component for which the non-destructive test is qualified which, as appropriate,
replicates size, geometry, material properties and containing discontinuities to be encountered on site
2 © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

4 Responsibilities
4.1 Qualification body
A qualification body shall develop and administer the qualification process, in accordance with the qualification
procedure, and issue certificates of qualification upon compliance with this Technical Specification and ISC
specific requirements.
4.2 Employer
An employer is responsible for authorizing employees to perform NDT for which they are qualified in
compliance with this Technical Specification and ISC specific requirements.
4.3 Industry sector committee
An ISC establishes qualification requirements for specific industry applications, and advises the qualification
body on all technical and procedural matters concerning the qualification.
5 Qualification of the NDT procedure
To ensure effective and consistent evaluation of personnel, the NDT procedure shall first be qualified in
accordance with Annex A. The qualified procedure is valid only when the essential parameters are applied
and controlled as defined within the procedure. The procedure qualification shall demonstrate the capability to
resolve mandatory detectable discontinuities under representative conditions.
6 Prerequisites for performance-based qualification examinations
6.1 To be permitted to continue with the performance-based qualification examination, the candidate shall
fulfil either 6.1.1 or 6.1.2.
6.1.1 The candidate shall provide evidence of current level 2 or 3 certification in the method(s) for which he
is to be qualified under this Technical Specification. For NDT level 2 personnel, the certification may be from a
nationally recognized employer-based programme or a certification body accepted by the ICS. For NDT level
3 personnel, the certification shall be from a certification body.
6.1.2 The candidate shall satisfy the training and experience established by the ISC in 6.2 and successfully
complete written examinations administered by a certification body approved by the ISC. The certification
body accepted by the ISC shall confirm conformance with the foregoing.
6.2. Candidates for qualification shall have sufficient training and specific practical experience to ensure
they are capable of performing non-destructive tests using the qualified NDT procedure. The experience may
be obtained with the use of virtual training systems, or by examining representative specimens, that may be
located in a laboratory, with relevant and non-relevant discontinuities that may be located in a laboratory, or
analysing recorded data from automatic, digital or analogue systems.
7 Performance-based qualification examination
7.1 Qualification specimens
The ISC shall:
 specify the
...