PCN News

Certification Services Department – June 2025 


 
Qualifications & Certification Talk
 




Changes in requirements for PCN renewal and recertification in line with BS EN ISO 9712


There is a requirement for all BS EN ISO 9712-accredited Certification Bodies, of which BINDT is one, to ensure that all certificate holders applying for renewal or recertification meet the criteria defined within the latest edition of BS EN ISO 9712 prior to the issue of certification to them. 


This allows Certification Bodies to demonstrate to organisations such as the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) that the certification decisions made are complete, correct, documented and meet the requirements of the standards aligned to the Certification Body’s scope of accreditation.


It is the requirement of the latest edition of BS EN ISO 9712, and therefore the PCN Scheme, to ensure that the practical competency of a Level 1, 2 or 3 certificate holder can be verified at the point of certification renewal, hence the need for all certificate holders (Level 1, 2 or 3) to have successfully demonstrated this to PCN, through correct submission of the recently published PCN24/CP16. These changes are a mandated requirement of the latest edition of 
BS EN ISO 9712.  


More information can be found at: www.bindt.org/admin/downloads/PCN24-CP16-FAQ.pdf




Update to PCN certificates


You will be aware that the Certification Services Department and the Technical and Industrial Department have been working with industry representatives to fully revise the PCN certification scheme in line with the latest edition of BS EN ISO 9712. The new suite of documentation can be found on our website at https://www.bindt.org/Certification/PCN24download/.

As a result of the changes, we have received feedback that the PCN certificates no longer show the legacy numbering on the reverse of the PCN certificate. BINDT is working through this PCN24 transition process and is currently dealing with updating the certificates to resolve this issue very soon. The updated reverse of the PCN certificate will look as follows:





Improvements to Certification Services


The British Institute of NDT (BINDT) and its Certification Services Department have embarked on a number of exciting developments to improve services for certificate holders, training schools and examination centres, as well as others engaging with the PCN Scheme, by re-prioritising its strategy and implementing a digital transformation.


BINDT is developing an ‘Application Management’ system, which will align with the upgrade to the BINDT website. 


The application management system will improve the efficiency of application processing and allow PCN certificate holders to track the progress of their applications online. 

Electronic examinations are continuing to be rolled out to Authorised Qualifying Bodies (AQBs) and so far this has been very successful. This, linked with other measures BINDT has taken to tighten up the whole training and examination process, will provide for a more secure and efficient qualification process.

BINDT is still going through a transition to issue PCN certificates electronically, thus giving PCN certificate holders access to print/download their certification using their electronic devices and avoiding delays with postage.
Also in development is a system for the online submission of examination results notices, from the AQB directly to PCN, avoiding duplication of data entry, minimising the risk of errors and improving efficiency. 

In summary, users of the PCN Certification Scheme can expect the following improvements in the coming months:

  • Improved customer service
  • Additional resource to process applications and respond to queries
  • Application Manager system to track the progress of applications and renewals 
  • Online examinations
  • Electronic certificates
  • Online submission of results notices
  • Product Technology online training course
  • Update to Rail Sector scheme
  • Update to Weld Inspection scheme.

 

Ongoing verification of Basic Radiation Safety competence for PCN certification in RT – Mandatory notice


Due to global differences within requirements for radiation safety and the difficulties in PCN being able to establish parity between a specific country’s requirements for radiation safety when compared to the BINDT requirements for PCN Basic Radiation Safety (BRS), the BINDT Certification Management Committee (CMC) has mandated that candidates for initial PCN radiographic testing (RT) certification and subsequent revalidation of any issued PCN RT certificate shall be required to pass the PCN BRS examination as a means of proving competence for radiation safety.

 

Successful completion of the PCN BRS certification examination will verify to PCN that the candidate’s knowledge for radiation safety has met the minimum training and examination requirements for radiation safety, which shall be the satisfactory benchmark in terms of level of knowledge and understanding.

This rule will be enforced irrespective of the existence of other national or local regulations that normally apply in a given country and which may fall short of the above benchmark. 

This revised requirement is not intended to discredit either national or local regulations that apply at any given worksite and it is the responsibility of the person conducting industrial radiography to comply with all local/legal requirements and/or approved codes of practice.   

All candidates presenting for PCN RT certification shall be expected to be in compliance with this revised requirement by 1 March 2025. 

 

 

 

New contact emails for certification department


As part of its improvements to services, the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing has implemented some new contact details for the PCN team:


pcn.enquiries@bindt.org for general PCN enquiries

renewals@bindt.org for all PCN Level 1 and Level 2 applications
pcn.applications@bindt.org for any other PCN applications ie late, deferral or post experience.

 


 

Lost, stolen or withdrawn certificates


All employers, agencies and end-users are advised that PCN certificates are only valid when presented with a laminated wallet card bearing the image and signature of the certificate holder. 

Information on withdrawn/suspended certification:

At the discretion of the Certification Body, certification may be suspended/withdrawn in those situations whereby the Certification Body deems it necessary that a certification suspension/withdrawal is appropriate in line with PCN24/CP21 (Annex A – complaints, cheating and falsification applied penalties).

 

PCN number   Name    Suspension end date 
 212770    Erik Aulin    27 July 2025
 340366    Derajat Arianto    16 October 2025
 213191    Darren Thomson    19 March 2026
 304873    Mohd Nasir    10 February 2026
 313662    Damion Hartley    5 May 2026
 332973    Mark Jeffry Celis    6 June 2026
 336997    Rohith Tadakala    7 December 2026
 301251    Salim Agus    3 March 2027
 306704    Shahrilahzam Bin Maraideen    3 March 2027
 212298    Sebastian Lata    6 June 2027
 N/A    Ruslan Moh    14 February 2027
 N/A    Mohamad Mohaizzat Bin Mohktarr    20 July 2027
 317409    Nofa Setiawan    20 October 2029
 328804    Amber Neville    11 September 2029
 313844    Khairunniza Mohammed    26 September 2029
 101620    Alan Boyd    11 November 2029
 301347    Micheal Williams    28 March 2030
 337219    Andrei Prokopenko    Until Russian sanctions lifted
 343684    Sergei Vyrelkin    Until Russian sanctions lifted
 N/A    Lalitha Venkatesh    Permanent
 210063    Abdul Rahman    Permanent
 300332    Suman Dey    Permanent
 309098    Mohd Fadzil Anuar    Permanent
 302284    Francis Regis Joe    Permanent
 309672    G Venkataraman    Permanent
 313268    K V Sivaramakrishnan    Permanent
 317701    K Kumaran    Permanent
 315893    Mohd Ismail Dollah    Permanent
 325842    Biju Pappu    Permanent
 327730    Andrew Harvey (AKA A J Lourdes)    Permanent
 328063    P Muthu Kumar    Permanent
 329206    R Ganesh    Permanent
 329274    Venkaiah Vanka    Permanent
 329278    G Narayanaswamy    Permanent
 333686    C Thangachariman    Permanent

PCN FAQ page


PCN has a frequently asked questions page on the BINDT website, which can be found at: www.bindt.org/certification/general-information/frequently-asked-questions-faq

For any other PCN-related questions, email: pcn.enquiries@bindt.org





Verification of PCN applications


There is a high percentage of verification checks carried out on information submitted in support of PCN applications. In the event that a deliberate attempt to deceive is detected, severe penalties will be applied; please refer to document CP27 ‘Code of ethics for PCN certificate holders’, available at: www.bindt.org/downloads/cp27.pdf

If in doubt about the validity of the information you are providing, seek the advice of BINDT Certification Records Office staff at: pcn.enquiries@bindt.org 




Code of Ethics for PCN certificate holders


Individuals certificated within the PCN Scheme must recognise that personal integrity and professional competence are the fundamental principles on which their testing activities are founded. Accordingly, it is a condition of PCN certification that certificate holders shall abide by the PCN Code of Ethics (PCN document PCN24/CP27). All certificate holders agree to comply with this Code of Ethics at the point of application for examination, recertification and renewal.

Complaints and appeals, which are handled with extreme discretion and impartiality, can be submitted using PCN form PCN24/CP21 (www.bindt.org/downloads/pcn24-CP21.pdf).

The process for whistleblowing can be viewed by visiting: www.bindt.org/membership/for-individuals/guidance-on-whistleblowing





BINDT training and examination centre status


All up-to-date contact details for Authorised Qualifying Bodies (AQBs)/examination centres, new and continually approved, can be found at: www.bindt.org/downloads/PSL4.pdf

All up-to-date contact details for Approved Training Organisations (ATOs), new and continually approved, can be found at: www.bindt.org/education-and-training/bindt-approved-trainers



 

Approved PCN stamps


BINDT offers candidates the opportunity to purchase an approved form of stamp, which, when used in support of the usual signature, will positively identify the PCN certificate holder reporting the results of tests or authorising NDT instructions and procedures.

For an order form and further information on approved PCN stamps, see PCN document PCN24/PSL/66, which can be found at: www.bindt.org/downloads/PCN24/PSL66.pdf