Protecting the future
The PCN Scheme
Personnel Certification in Non-Destructive Testing (PCN) is a scheme for the certification of proficiency of non-destructive testing (NDT) and condition monitoring (CM) operators. Technicians and engineers practising NDT have a very important role in the NDT quality chain in order to maximise the reliability of inspections.
The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) takes the reputation of the PCN Scheme very seriously and its responsibility to help end-users maintain high levels of safety and reliability is of the utmost importance.
The training and examination processes are required to be performed to very high standards of integrity and quality, exceeding the requirements of international standards such as ISO 9712. Therefore, the approval and audit processes that BINDT has put in place are very robust.
Training
All new Approved Training Organisations (ATOs) and Authorised Qualifying Bodies (AQBs) have training prior to being approved. The training covers the operations of the ATO and AQB in detail, including administration processes, marking examinations, integrity and all PCN requirements.
Audits
An ATO or AQB is subjected to very in-depth audits by BINDT. An organisation can expect BINDT to conduct a three- to five-day audit depending on its scope of approval. The audits take place annually unless the ATO or AQB has been through the full cycle of auditing with no major findings, at which point it can then be moved to biennial audits.
Drop-in audits
BINDT has a permanent auditor located in India to conduct drop-in audits. The auditor will arrive unannounced, interview candidates and audit the ATO or AQB processes. AQBs can expect an unannounced visit at least once a month. BINDT will always conduct drop-in audits of other local ATOs and AQBs when it is auditing in the vicinity.
ID cards for examiners and trainers
BINDT is in the process of issuing identification cards to all tutors, invigilators and examiners that are employed by an ATO or AQB. The identification card will display the name and a photograph of the tutor, invigilator or examiner in order for candidates to clearly recognise authorised staff.
Covert operations
BINDT has a pool of ‘secret shoppers’ that attend ATOs and AQBs, acting as a candidate to conduct covert investigations. Feedback from the investigations is reported to Jennifer Cook, Certification Services Department Office Manager at BINDT, on a daily basis.
The topics investigated are:
BINDT has a process for selecting which ATO or AQB to investigate. The process takes into account the following:
Online examinations
BINDT believes that the launch of online examinations in 2018 will help to police the PCN Scheme.
The benefits
Exceeding ISO 9712
PCN exceeds ISO 9712 in many areas, such as:
Product technology
PCN has introduced a separate product technology paper.
Before 2021, all PCN candidates will need to complete a basic maths and product technology paper prior to taking a PCN examination.
Engineering safety, integrity and reliability
The purpose of a PCN certificate is to provide assurances of independence, impartiality and conformity to international standards of proficiency in NDT. The PCN Scheme has built a very good reputation over the many years it has operated and it has been adopted in countries all over the world.
In order to protect the quality and robustness of the PCN Scheme, new measures have now been taken and BINDT has significantly ‘raised the bar’ in terms of how certification bodies must demonstrate compliance with the international standards to which they are accredited.
To view or download a copy of the leaflet, click here.
For further information contact:
Certification Services Division, The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing, Midsummer House, Riverside Way, Bedford Road, Northampton NN1 5NX, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1604 438300; Fax: +44 (0)1604 438301; Email: pcn@bindt.org
Personnel Certification in Non-Destructive Testing (PCN) is a scheme for the certification of proficiency of non-destructive testing (NDT) and condition monitoring (CM) operators. Technicians and engineers practising NDT have a very important role in the NDT quality chain in order to maximise the reliability of inspections.
The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) takes the reputation of the PCN Scheme very seriously and its responsibility to help end-users maintain high levels of safety and reliability is of the utmost importance.
The training and examination processes are required to be performed to very high standards of integrity and quality, exceeding the requirements of international standards such as ISO 9712. Therefore, the approval and audit processes that BINDT has put in place are very robust.
Training
All new Approved Training Organisations (ATOs) and Authorised Qualifying Bodies (AQBs) have training prior to being approved. The training covers the operations of the ATO and AQB in detail, including administration processes, marking examinations, integrity and all PCN requirements.
Audits
An ATO or AQB is subjected to very in-depth audits by BINDT. An organisation can expect BINDT to conduct a three- to five-day audit depending on its scope of approval. The audits take place annually unless the ATO or AQB has been through the full cycle of auditing with no major findings, at which point it can then be moved to biennial audits.
Drop-in audits
BINDT has a permanent auditor located in India to conduct drop-in audits. The auditor will arrive unannounced, interview candidates and audit the ATO or AQB processes. AQBs can expect an unannounced visit at least once a month. BINDT will always conduct drop-in audits of other local ATOs and AQBs when it is auditing in the vicinity.
ID cards for examiners and trainers
BINDT is in the process of issuing identification cards to all tutors, invigilators and examiners that are employed by an ATO or AQB. The identification card will display the name and a photograph of the tutor, invigilator or examiner in order for candidates to clearly recognise authorised staff.
Covert operations
BINDT has a pool of ‘secret shoppers’ that attend ATOs and AQBs, acting as a candidate to conduct covert investigations. Feedback from the investigations is reported to Jennifer Cook, Certification Services Department Office Manager at BINDT, on a daily basis.
The topics investigated are:
- Enquiry follow-up;
- Course schedule planning;
- Teaching processes;
- Laboratory equipment;
- Laboratory safety measures;
- Laboratory ventilation;
- Facility;
- Trainer skills and experience;
- Food provided; and
- Examination processes.
BINDT has a process for selecting which ATO or AQB to investigate. The process takes into account the following:
- Any complaints or appeals received;
- Any feedback received;
- Any issues raised during drop-in audits; and
- The Corruption Index score of the country concerned.
Online examinations
BINDT believes that the launch of online examinations in 2018 will help to police the PCN Scheme.
The benefits
- All questions have been reviewed and referenced to the syllabus.
- The content is the same on all examination papers.
- Each paper will have the same syllabus coverage.
- Candidates will train to the syllabus, not train to pass the paper.
- Identical papers will have the same questions but they will appear in a different order.
- AQBs will have no prior knowledge of the paper or its content.
- Tightened security.
- Remote invigilation.
- Instant marking: the AQB will not be able to change any grades or marks.
Exceeding ISO 9712
PCN exceeds ISO 9712 in many areas, such as:
- The number of samples; n The number of categories (for example welds, ultrasonic testing (UT) 3.1, 3.2, 3.8, etc); and
- An 80% distinction grade.
Product technology
PCN has introduced a separate product technology paper.
Before 2021, all PCN candidates will need to complete a basic maths and product technology paper prior to taking a PCN examination.
Engineering safety, integrity and reliabilityThe purpose of a PCN certificate is to provide assurances of independence, impartiality and conformity to international standards of proficiency in NDT. The PCN Scheme has built a very good reputation over the many years it has operated and it has been adopted in countries all over the world.
In order to protect the quality and robustness of the PCN Scheme, new measures have now been taken and BINDT has significantly ‘raised the bar’ in terms of how certification bodies must demonstrate compliance with the international standards to which they are accredited.
To view or download a copy of the leaflet, click here.
For further information contact:
Certification Services Division, The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing, Midsummer House, Riverside Way, Bedford Road, Northampton NN1 5NX, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1604 438300; Fax: +44 (0)1604 438301; Email: pcn@bindt.org
