ISO and ASNT Certification

At all Mobius Institute courses you may optionally take the certification exam.  We have developed an exam that follows the ISO 18436.2 standard, and the ASNT Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A.

If you pass the exam you will receive a certificate, like the certificate shown above.  You will also be added to the Mobius Institute registry (your name will appear on the Web site), and you will receive a silver keychain pendant and lapel pin.

Detailed information about the certification standards

Here is some important information about both standards and the exam format.  Click here to jump to the ASNT section.

Please note that you will be issued with a unique "student number" which will become your certification number.  You will be required to complete a short survey on the Mobius Institute Web site in order to document your previous work experience and any previous training taken with other training organizations.  Mobius Institute maintains student records in order to comply with the standards.

ISO 18436.2

The ISO 18436.2 exams follow the format listed below:

1. All of the questions are multiple choice (four options to choose from). 

2. You are required to perform some calculations, so you must bring a calculator.

3. The exam is "closed book", however you are provided with a booklet of standard tables, charts, formulae and basic reference material.

4. To quote from the standard: "Questions shall be of a practical nature, yet test the candidate on concepts and principles required to conduct machinery condition evaluations. The questions may involve the interpretation of charts and plots. Simple mathematical calculations may be required."

Re-examination

To quote the standard: "A candidate who fails to obtain the pass grade required for certification may be re-examined any number of times, provided that the re-examinations take place not sooner than 30 days after a previous examination. A certification body may use its discretion in allowing an earlier re-examination in the event that further training acceptable to the certification body concerned is undertaken. Candidates excluded for reasons of unethical behavior shall wait at least 12 months before reapplying.".

Prerequisites

There are prerequisites for each certification level.  It is undesirable for people without practical experience to hold Category II or higher certification levels.

To quote the standard: "Designation of a person as Category I is not a prerequisite for certification as Category II. However, certification of a person as Category III and Category IV requires previous certification at the lower category. At each higher classification category, the breadth and depth of experience is expected to be greater than at the previous lower category.".

You may take the Category III course and exam if you have previously taken a vibration training course with a recognized training company.  Please contact Jason Tranter for further details.

Period of validity

As per the standard, certification remains valid for five (5) years.  The exam can be re-taken at any time within the five years to extend the period of valid certification for an additional five (5) years.  If the analyst remains active in the field, then re-examination is not required.

Annual fees

As per the standard, annual fees are not charged in order to maintain the validity of your certification.

ASNT Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A

There is one very big difference between the ASNT and ISO certification standards; the ASNT certification is employer-based.  In summary, your employer must have an ASNT "written practice"; your employer must employ the services of a person certified to Level III; and if you begin work for another employer, you are no longer certified.

The following describes this process in greater detail:

Under the SNT-TC-1A Recommended Practice, it is the employer (or his outside agency) that provides certification for Levels I and II. If the employer has hired the services of an ASNT NDT Level III individual, it is that individual who will be assigned to administer the certification details in accordance with the employer’s written practice.  Mobius Institute has a written practice, and thus we can be contracted to deliver the training and certification under your employer's written practice.

There is overlap between the technical content and exam requirements for the ISO 18436.2 Category I, II, III, and IV courses and exams, and the ASNT Level I, II, and III courses and exams.

Please note that ASNT Level III exams may only be conducted by the ASNT.

The Mobius Institute "Entry Level" course meets or exceeds the requirements for the ISO 18436.2 Category I and the ASNT Level I training and exam.

However, due to the nature of the ASNT Level II training outline (and exam), it is required that both the "Intermediate" Category II and "Advanced" Category III courses be taken.  (It is common in the industry that two courses be taken to meet the requirements of ASNT Level II.)

Exam format and pass-mark

The ASNT Level I and II exams also use the multiple choice format. 

The exam must have a specified number of "general" questions and "specific" questions.  For example, for Level II it is 40 "general" questions and 60 "specific" questions.  ASNT requires a minimum 70% pass-mark in each section, and an average 80% mark over both sections.

Recertification

As per the Recommended Practice, certification remains valid for three (3) years.  The exam can be re-taken at any time within the three years to extend the period of valid certification for an additional three (3) years.

Annual fees

Annual fees are not charged in order to maintain the validity certification.

Proceeding with ASNT certification

If you do wish to be certified under the ASNT Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A for Vibration Analysis, please ask your employer's Level III representative to contact us.