The PCN scheme, an internationally recognized scheme for the certification competence of NDT personnel, is accredited as meeting the requirements of European Standards EN 45013 and EN 473, and international standard ISO 9712.
Certificates of competence are valid for five years from issue, following a demonstration of qualification which includes specific periods of training and experience, and a thoroughly searching independent examination.
The scheme offers three levels of certification specific to industry sectors and NDT methods are defined as follows.
TESC International in collaboration with TWI offers the following PCN examinations.
Ultrasonic testing of aerospace materials, components and structures, welds and wrought products
Radiation safety and radiation protection
Radiography of aerospace materials, components and structures, aerospace welds (includes interpretation)
Interpretation of radiographs of welds (as a separate certificate)
Eddy current testing of aerospace materials, components and structures, castings, welds and wrought products
Magnetic particle testing of aerospace materials, castings, welds and wrought products
Liquid penetrant testing of aerospace materials, castings, welds and wrought products
PCN Requirements
In accordance with PCN Rules, on application for PCN examinations the information required from a candidate is:
- Type of test required (e.g. initial, retest, supplementary, five-year)
- Examination subject/level
- Proof of training (in accordance with the current PCN documentation e.g. end of course certificate from a validated course)
- Proof of experience (in accordance with the current PCN documentation e.g. documented evidence of on-the-job training for the relevant time period)
- Two passport photographs with your name clearly printed on the back
- Vision certificate (in accordance with current PCN documentation)
- Copies of previous PCN Result Notices or PCN Record of Certifications (if applicable)
- Current PCN qualifications/certificate numbers (if applicable)
- Deferral letter from PCN, if applicable, for late five-year renewal (if applicable)
- CP16 points record (for re-certification and supplementary)
PCN Scheme
The scheme offers three levels of certification specific to industry sectors and NDT methods.
Level 1 :
An individual certificated to Level 1:
Is qualified to carry out NDT operations according to a written instruction and under the supervision of Level 2 or 3 personnel.
Has demonstrated the competence to set up equipment, carry out the test, record and classify the results in terms of written criteria, and report on the results
Level 2
An individual certificated to Level 2:
Prepares written instructions
Is qualified to perform and direct NDT according to established procedures
Has demonstrated competence in the choice of test method and technique to be used, and in the assessment, characterisation and interpretation of test results.
Level 3
An individual certificated to Level 3:
Is qualified to direct any operation for which he is certificated
Has demonstrated a competence to interpret and evaluate test results according to applicable standards, codes and specifications
possesses the required level of knowledge to enable the selection of methods and techniques and to assist in the establishment of test criteria where non are otherwise available
Has also the ability to guide personnel below Level 3
Can establish and validate NDT instructions and procedures
PCN certification is also available in a number of sectors:
tube and pipe
aerospace
welds
castings
wrought products (forgings)
general engineering products (includes welds, castings and wrought products)
railway
TESC International in collaboration with TWI offers PCN examinations at permanent locations throughout Algeria.
To be eligible for Level 1 and Level 2 examination, candidates must have successfully completed, prior to making application for examination, a PCN approved course of structured training to the relevant PCN syllabus and satisfy relevant work experience requirements in accordance with document 'PCN/GEN Issue 3'.
To successfully complete examinations the candidate shall obtain a grade of at least 70% in each examination part and an overall composite grade (N) of at least 80%.
Certificates
PCN certificates are valid for a period of 5 years and can be renewed by examination or documentation.
For further information, please contact us.
Magnetic Particle Inspection
General Engineering
- Magnetic Particle Inspection: Level 1 Initial
Theory
- 30 Multiple Choice - General (45 mins)
- 20 Multiple Choice - Specific (30 mins)
Practical (2 hours)
- QA control check
- Test 2 specimens in accordance with instructions provided
- Report on pro-forma sheets
- Magnetic Particle Inspection: Level 2 Initial
Theory
- 30 Multiple Choice - General (45 mins)
- 30 Multiple Choice - Specific (45 mins)
Practical (Total time: 4 hours)
- QA control check
- Test of 3 specimens (wrought, cast or weld)
- Report findings on sheets provided
- Preparation of a detailed instruction
Aerospace
- Magnetic Particle Inspection: Level 1 Aerospace
Not offered by PCN
- Magnetic Particle Inspection: Level 2 Aerospace Initial
Theory
- 30 Multiple Choice - General (45 mins)
- 30 Multiple Choice - Specific (45 mins)
Practical (Total time: 4 hours)
- QA control check
- Testing of 2 specimens (aerospace products)
- Report findings on sheets provided
- Preparation of a detailed instruction
- Magnetic Particle Inspection: Re-Certification
General Engineering (Total time: 4 hours)
- QA control check
- Testing of 3 specimens (selected according to the certification sought)
- Report findings on sheets provided
- Preparation of a detailed instruction
Aerospace (Total time: 4 hours)
- QA control check
- Testing of 2 specimens (aerospace products)
- Report findings on sheets provided
- Preparation of a detailed instruction
Liquid penetrant inspection
General Engineering
- Liquid Penetrant Inspection: Level 1 Initial
Theory
- 30 Multiple Choice - General (45 mins)
- 20 Multiple Choice - Specific (30 mins)
Practical (Total time: 2 hours)
- QA control check
- Testing of 2 specimens in accordance with instructions provided
- Report on pro-forma sheets
- Liquid Penetrant Inspection: Level 2 Initial
Theory
- 30 Multiple Choice - General (45 mins)
- 30 Multiple Choice - Specific (45 mins)
Practical (Total time: 4 hours)
- QA control check
- Testing of 3 specimens (wrought, cast or weld)
- Report findings on sheets provided
- Preparation of a detailed instruction
Aerospace
- Liquid Penetrant Inspection: Level 1 Aerospace
Not offered by PCN
- Liquid Penetrant Inspection: Level 2 Aerospace - Initial
Theory
- 30 Multiple Choice - General (45 mins)
- 30 Multiple Choice - Specific (45 mins)
Practical (Total time: 4 hours)
- QA control check
- Testing of 2 specimens (aerospace products)
- Report findings on sheets provided
- Preparation of a detailed instruction
- Liquid Penetrant Inspection: Re-Certification
General Engineering (Total time: 4 hours)
- QA control check
- Testing of 3 specimens (selected according to certification sought)
- Report findings on sheets provided
- Preparation of a detailed instruction
Aerospace (Total time: 4 hours)
- QA control check
- Testing of 2 specimens (aerospace products)
- Report findings on sheets provided
- Preparation of a detailed instruction
Ultrasonic inspection
Welds
- Ultrasonic Inspection Level 1 Initial
Theory
- 40 Multiple Choice - General (1 hour)
- 20 Multiple Choice - Specific (30 mins)
Practical (Total time: 6 hours)
- Calibration of test equipment to comprise equipment checks, beam spread plot, parent metal examination
- Testing of 2 plate butt welds in accordance with instructions provided
- Report on pro-forma sheets
- Ultrasonic Inspection Level 2 Initial
Theory
- 40 Multiple Choice - General (1 hour)
- 30 Multiple Choice - Specific (45 mins)
Practical (Total time: 2½ hours / specimen, 1 hour for instruction)
- Calibration of test equipment (exempt if holding Level 1)
- Testing of 2 plate butt welds (1 if Level 1 holder) 3 pipe welds, 2 nozzles, 1 node as applicable
- Report findings on sheets provided
- Prepare an instruction for one of the specimens
Aerospace
- Ultrasonic Inspection: Level 1 Initial
Not offered by PCN
- Ultrasonic Inspection: Level 2 Initial
Theory
- 40 Multiple Choice - General (1 hour)
- 30 Multiple Choice - Specific (45 mins)
2 Options for Practical
1. Practical - Materials and Components (Total time: 6 hours)
- Calibration and functional checking of test equipment
- Inspecting 2 components selected by the examiner
- Reporting in accordance with the code provided, including calculations for sensitivity
- Prepare an instruction for one of the specimens
2. Practical - Materials Components and Structures (Total time: 6 hours)
- Calibration and functional checking of test equipment
- Inspecting 1 component and 1 structure selected by the examiner
- Reporting in accordance with the code provided, including calculations for sensitivity
- Prepare an instruction for one of the specimens
- Ultrasonic Inspection: Re-Certification
Welds (Total time: 2½ hours/specimen, 1 hour for instruction)
- Testing of 1 welded sample from each group for which certification is held
- Report findings on sheets provided
- Prepare an instruction for one of the specimens
Aerospace (Total time: 6 hours)
- Calibration and functional checking of test equipment
- Inspecting 2 samples of aerospace products selected by the examiner appropriate to the certification held.
- Reporting in accordance with the code provided, including calculations for sensitivity
- Prepare an instruction for one of the specimens
Radiographic inspection
Welds
- Radiographic Inspection: Level 1 Initial
Theory
- 40 Multiple Choice - General (1 hour)
- 20 Multiple Choice - Specific (30 mins)
- 30 Multiple Choice - Basic Radiation Safety (45 mins)
Practical (Total time: 8 hours)
- Testing 5 specimens from plate and pipe butt welds in accordance with instructions provided
- Examine and evaluate suitability of radiographs produced for interpretation
- Report significant areas in radiographs
- Radiographic Inspection: Level 2 Initial
Theory
- 40 Multiple Choice - General (1 hour)
- 30 Multiple Choice - Specific (45 mins)
- 30 Multiple Choice - Basic Radiation Safety (45 mins)
Practical (Total time: 18 hours)
- Testing 5 specimens from plate and pipe butt welds
- Process radiographs and report any significant areas in radiographs
- Prepare an instruction for one of the specimens
- Read, mark up and report on 12 radiographs
- Radiographic Interpreter: Initial
Theory
- 30 Multiple Choice - General (45 mins)
- 20 Multiple Choice - Specific (30 mins)
Practical (Total time: 3 hours)
- Read, mark up and report on 12 radiographs
- Radiographic Inspection - Welds - Re-certification
- Testing 3 specimens from plate and pipe butt welds
- Process radiographs and report any significant areas in radiographs
- Prepare an instruction for one of the specimens
- Read, mark up and report upon two radiographs from each metal group for which certification is held
- Radiographic Interpreter - Welds - Re-certification
- Read, interpret and report upon two radiographs for each metal group for which certification is held
Aerospace
- Radiographic Inspection: Level 1
Not offered by PCN
- Radiographic Inspection: Level 2 Initial
Theory
- 40 Multiple Choice - General (1 hour)
- 30 Multiple Choice - Specific (30 mins)
- 30 Multiple Choice - Basic Radiation Safety (45 mins)
3 Options for Practical
1. Practical Aerospace Welds (Total time: 10 hours)
- System and control functional checks
- Testing 2 weldments from light alloy, stainless steel and heat resistant alloys
- Process and report significant areas in radiographs accordance with code provided
- Prepare an instruction for one of the specimens
Total time: 7 hours - Read, mark up and report on 12 radiographs
Total time: 3 hours
2. Practical - Materials and Components (Total time: 8 hours)
- Calibration and functional checking of test equipment
- Inspecting 2 components selected by the examiner
- Reporting in accordance with the code provided, including calculations for sensitivity
- Prepare an instruction for one of the specimens
Total time: 5 hours - Interpret and report on 12 radiographs
Total time: 3 hours
3. Practical - Materials Components and Structures (Total time: 8 hours)
- Calibration and functional checking of test equipment
- Inspecting 1 component and 1 structure selected by the examiner
- Reporting in accordance with the code provided, including calculations for sensitivity
- Prepare an instruction for one of the specimens
Total time: 5 hours - Interpret and report on 12 radiographs
Total time: 3 hours
- Radiographic Inspection - Aerospace: Re-Certification
- Aerospace Materials Components
- Aerospace Materials Components and Structures
- Aerospace Welds
- Calibration and functional checking of test equipment
- Inspecting 1 sample selected by the examiner
- Process and report significant areas in accordance with code provided
- Prepare an instruction for one of the specimens and prove this by application
Total time: 3½ hours - Read, mark up and report on 2 radiographs
Total time: 30 minutes
- Radiation Protection to Supervisor level (supplementary to Basic Radiation Safety)
- Four questions requiring narrative answers
Total time: 2 hours
Eddy current inspection
- Eddy Current Level 1 Aerospace
Not offered by PCN
- Eddy Current Aerospace Level 2 Initial
Theory
- 40 Multiple Choice - General (1 hour)
- 30 Multiple Choice - Specific (30 mins)
2 Options for Practical
1. Practical Materials and Components
- Calibration and functional checking of test equipment
- Testing 2 aerospace components selected by the examiner from the categories Materials and Components
- Reporting in accordance with the code provided, including calculations for sensitivity
- Prepare an instruction for one of the specimens
Total time: 6 hours
2. Practical Materials Components and Structures
- Calibration and functional checking of test equipment
- Testing 2 aerospace samples by the examiner selected from the categories: Materials, Components and Structures
- Reporting in accordance with the code provided, including calculations for sensitivity
- Prepare an instruction for one of the specimens
Total time: 6 hours
- Eddy Current Inspection: Re-Certification (Total time: 6 hours)
- Calibration and functional checking of test equipment
- Testing 2 aerospace samples by the examiner selected from the categories: Materials, Components and Structures
- Reporting in accordance with the code provided, including calculations for sensitivity
- Prepare an instruction for one of the specimens
- Eddy Current Level 1 Wrought Products (Total time: 6 hours)
Theory
- 40 Multiple Choice - General (1 hour)
- 30 Multiple Choice - Specific (45 mins)
Practical
- Calibration and function checking of test equipment
- Surface testing of two variable geometry wrought products
- Reporting the results in a prescribed manner on pro-forma report sheets
- Eddy Current Level 2 Wrought or Tubular Products (Total time: 6 hours)
Theory
- 40 Multiple Choice - General (1 hour)
- 30 Multiple Choice - Specific (45 mins)
Options for practical
Option 1:
- Calibration and function checking of test equipment
- Surface testing of three variable geometry wrought products
- Reporting the results in a prescribed manner on pro-forma report sheets
Option 2:
- Calibration and function checking of test equipment
- Surface testing of three tubular wrought products
- Reporting the results in a prescribed manner on pro-forma report sheets.
Preparation of a written instruction to one of the practical samples.
(Candidates can attempt either of the above options for the practical exam).
- Eddy Current Wrought products: Re-certification
Level 1 and Level 2 candidates seeking re-certification will be required to undertake the practical examination as detailed below:
- Calibration and function checking of test equipment
- Surface testing of wrought (or tubular) products
- Reporting the results in a prescribed manner on pro-forma report sheets.