Engineering Procedure

SAEP-1142 18 February 2020

Qualification of non-Saudi Aramco NDT Personnel
Document Responsibility: Nondestructive Testing Standards Committee

Contents
Summary of Change(s) [Rev. 11 Feb. 2020] ........... 2
1 Scope ................................................................ 3
2 Conflicts and Deviations ................................... 3
3 References........................................................ 3
4 General ............................................................. 4
5 Training ............................................................. 5
6 Qualification Examinations ................................ 6
7 Certification ....................................................... 8
Appendix A - Acceptable NDT Certification
Programs............................................ 9
Appendix B - Individual Certification
Methods/Techniques ........................ 10
Appendix C - Saudi Aramco Mandatory
NDT Verification Examinations ......... 11
Appendix D - NDT Level III Personnel
Qualification Requirements .............. 12
Revision History ..................................................... 13

Previous Issue: 4 December 2014 Next Revision: 18 February 2025

Contact: (mudaibih) Page 1 of 13
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 Document Responsibility: Nondestructive Testing Standards Committee SAEP-1142
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Next Revision: 18 February 2025 Qualification of non-Saudi Aramco NDT Personnel

Summary of Change(s) [rev. 11 Feb. 2020]

Paragraph Change Type

No. Technical Change(s)
Number (New, Modification,..)

1, 3, 4.4, 4.6, 4.9,

5.7, 5.8, 6.1, 6.4.3,
1 Modification Editorial changes for clarity.
6.5, 6.6, Appendices
A, B, and C
Deleted “ASNT SNT-TC-1A” as it is a
2 3.2 Deletion
recommended practice not a standard.
Clarification changes for stating specific
3 4.2, 4.3 Modification
requirements of coverage IK/OOK.
Addition of new changes to facilitate improvement
4 4.7, Appendix D Addition
opportunities in ANDT LFC.

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1 Scope

This Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure (SAEP) establishes the minimum training,
examination, qualification, and certification requirements of contractor, subcontractor,
consultant, or other non-Saudi Aramco personnel performing, interpreting, or otherwise
affecting the results of Nondestructive Testing (NDT) operations during purchase,
construction, or maintenance of plant and equipment being purchased, constructed, or
operated for Saudi Aramco. Also, it provides minimum requirements for development
of NDT employer’s NDT personnel certification procedure.

2 Conflicts and Deviations

Any conflicts between this document and other applicable Mandatory Saudi Aramco
Engineering Requirements (MSAERs) shall be addressed in writing to the EK&RD
Coordinator.

Any deviation from the requirements herein shall follow internal company procedure
SAEP-302, Waiver of a Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement.

3 References

The requirements contained in the following documents apply to the extent specified in
this procedure.

3.1 Saudi Aramco Document

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure

SAEP-302 Waiver of a Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American National Standards Institute / The American Society for Nondestructive

Testing, Inc.
ANSI/ASNT CP-105 Standard Topical Outlines for Qualification of Nondestructive
Testing Personnel
ANSI/ASNT CP-189 Qualification and Certification of NDT Personnel

International Organization for Standardization

ISO 9712 Nondestructive Testing - Qualification and Certification of
NDT Personnel
ISO 17024 Conformity Assessment - General Requirements for Bodies
Operating Certification of Persons (2012 Edition)

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ISO/TR 25107 Nondestructive Testing - Guidelines for NDT Training

Syllabuses

4 General

4.1 This procedure shall cover all or any of NDT methods and techniques and shall include,
but not be limited to, those listed in Appendix B.

4.2 Any organization (referred to as employer in this SAEP) supplying, employing or

delegating NDT personnel shall have NDT certification procedure covering NDT
personnel training, experience, qualification, and certification. For in-Kingdom (IK)
NDT activities, this NDT personnel certification procedure shall meet or exceed the
minimum requirements of ANSI/ASNT CP-189 and/or ISO 9712 plus the additions and
clarifications outlined in this SAEP. This SAEP does not specifically address the
detailed requirements for Out-of-Kingdom (OOK) NDT. However, OOK NDT
certification procedures shall be written to a recognized program in accordance with
Appendix A.

4.3 The employer’s NDT personnel qualification certification procedure shall be submitted
to Saudi Aramco Inspection Technical Support Division (ITSD/NDT Services Section)
of the Inspection Department (ID) for review and approval prior to the commencement
of any NDT activities. For IK including Saudi Arabia territorial waters activities, at the
request of Saudi Aramco, employer’s NDT Level II personnel, as well as any
individuals interpreting or influencing the interpretation of NDT results shall take and
pass Saudi Aramco practical verification examination.

4.4 All documentation shall be prepared in English language.

4.5 Personnel responsible for performing, interpreting or affecting the results of NDT
operations shall be certified to a minimum of Level II as per the certifying employer’s
NDT personnel certification procedure.

4.6 The NDT personnel certification procedure shall include and specify the qualification /
certification requirements for both conventional and advanced NDT methods and
techniques that are provided by the employer as services.

4.7 All NDT procedures and documentations shall be prepared by a certified NDT Level III
personnel. For NDT techniques that do not have Level III certification, the individual
shall have a NDT Level III in the method and minimum Level II in the technique in
accordance with Appendix D requirements.

4.8 Principal NDT Level III personnel shall be officially assigned by a written letter from
the employer, i.e., the owner or his representative such as general manager. The letter
shall include the main duties of the principal NDT Level III.

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4.9 Principal NDT Level III shall be responsible for developing and approving all NDT
documentations, training and certification programs.

4.10 The principal NDT Level III shall officially assign other NDT Level IIIs within his
organization.

4.11 Obtaining NDT Level III services through an outside agency is acceptable. It is the
responsibility of the employer to evaluate the services provided by the agency and
ensure their compliance to this SAEP and applicable international standards and codes
referenced within this SAEP. Obtaining NDT Level III services through individuals
who don’t have official representation, i.e., commercially, is not acceptable and shall be
through direct employment of the NDT Level III individual(s).

5 Training

5.1 Training programs for any NDT method shall include at least the body of knowledge
shown in ANSI/ASNT CP-105 or the body of knowledge in ISO/TR 25107.

5.2 The minimum required hours for training and experience shall be as shown in Appendix
A of ANSI/ASNT CP-189 or Tables 2 and 3 of ISO 9712 in the NDT method being
certified.

5.3 For NDT techniques that are not included in either ANSI/ASNT CP-189 or ISO 9712,
the employer shall develop required training programs and certification requirements.
These requirements shall be included in the employer’s NDT personnel certification
procedure.

5.4 If the current employer has not administered the training being claimed for
qualification, or the experience being claimed for qualification was not gained with the
current employer, the current employer shall verify the claimed training and/or
experience in writing from the previous employer(s) and retain the verification on file.
Any claimed training or experience that cannot be verified and documented shall be
considered invalid. The sum of claimed trainings and experiences obtained through
different employers is acceptable if it is meeting the minimum training and experience
requirements of ISO 9712 and ANSI/ASNT CP-189.

5.5 The employer’s NDT instructors shall be assigned officially and in writing by the
principal NDT Level III. The NDT instructors shall meet the minimum requirements
specified in ANSI/ASNT CP-189.

5.6 The employer shall establish the NDT training documentations and records in
compliance with the requirements of ISO 9712 and ANSI/ASNT CP-189. The principal
NDT Level III shall be responsible for the verification and accuracy of these documents
and records.

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5.7 Saudi Aramco shall have the right to request submission of, or be granted access to, any
and all training, experience, qualification, and certification records pertaining to NDT
personnel. This applies to any organization covered under the scope of this document.
Note: Saudi Aramco, at its own discretion, shall have the right to request NDT employers’
instructors and examination proctors to take and pass the Saudi Aramco NDT
qualification examination(s) in the applicable NDT methods and/or techniques.
The examination(s) can be written, practical, or both.

5.8 At the end of each training course, NDT technicians shall take and pass a final
examination including practical, specific and general sections covering the course
material to receive credit for the training and training period as a pre-requisite for the
method certification examination. The training final examination shall not be
considered as the method examination. All examinations shall be graded using red ink.

5.9 All training exams and attendance records, i.e. hours, shall be reviewed and approved
by employer’s principal NDT Level III. For computer based exams, principal NDT
Level III shall sign on printed copy of the exam.

5.10 The employer shall have one page training certificate that fulfill the training record
requirements addressed in ANSI/ASNT CP-189, Section 9.2.2. Attendance sheet shall
not be accepted as evidence of training completion. Sample certification form shall be
attached to employer’s NDT personnel certification procedure.

5.11 Training certificates obtained through third party training organizations that comply
with ISO 9712 and ISO/TR 25107 shall waive the requirements stated in 5.10.

6 Qualification Examinations

6.1 Access to qualification materials shall be limited and the qualification examinations
shall be maintained in secure files. The principal NDT Level III shall be responsible of
control and security of NDT examination materials and resources. Training course
materials and examinations shall be available for review and evaluation by Saudi
Aramco Inspection Technical Support Division (ITSD/NDT Services Section) of the
Inspection Department (ID).

6.2 Written Examination

6.2.1 Written qualification examinations shall contain questions covering at least the
body of knowledge of ANSI/ASNT CP-105 or ISO/TR 25107 in the method
being examined.

6.2.2 For NDT techniques that are not included in either ANSI/ASNT CP-189 or
ISO 9712, the employer shall develop the required qualification programs and
certification requirements. These requirements shall be included in the employer’s
NDT personnel certification procedure. Training and experience hours shall be
identified using guidelines of ANSI/ASNT CP-189 and/or ISO 9712.

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6.2.3 Questions used in general examinations for Level I and Level II personnel shall
be similar in type and difficulty to those published by ASNT. Questions shall
not be used verbatim from the ASNT published lists or other resources, e.g.,
internet sites. Examinations shall be established from a database of questions
that ensures that no two candidates receive more that 25% of identical questions
during any individual examination session.

6.2.4 Specific examinations shall be tailored to NDT techniques listed in Appendix B.

The specific examination shall also cover experience and knowledge of
recognized standards and codes for the technique being used.

6.3 Practical Examinations

6.3.1 The employer shall establish adequate inventory of practical examination test
samples, considering all provided NDT services for both methods and
techniques.

6.3.2 Each practical examination test sample shall have a unique serial number and
associated certified answer key document.

6.3.3 Access to the practical examination test samples and their answer keys shall be
limited to and controlled by the employer’s principal NDT Level III. Access to
delegated NDT Level III shall be documented through official letter issued and
signed by the principal NDT Level III.

6.4 Visual Acuity Examinations

6.4.1 Vision examination(s) shall be performed annually. The examinations shall be

documented and retained in the individual files.

6.4.2 Vision examination shall be conducted in accordance with ANSI/ASNT CP-189

or ISO 9712. Vision examinations form shall be prepared and attached to the
written practice.

6.4.3 Saudi Aramco shall have the right, at its own discretion, to request employer’s
NDT personnel taking Saudi Aramco verification examination(s), to pass a
visual acuity verification examinations administered by Saudi Aramco.

6.5 Saudi Aramco shall have the right, at its own discretion, to request employer’s NDT
Level II personnel, as well as any individuals interpreting or influencing the
interpretation of NDT results, to take and pass Saudi Aramco qualification verification
examination(s), written and/or practical. The verification examination shall be
administered by Saudi Aramco.

6.6 Saudi Aramco shall have the right, at its own discretion, to request employer’s
NDT Level III personnel to take and pass Saudi Aramco qualification verification

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examination(s), written and/or practical, for NDT Level III. The verification examination
shall be administered by Saudi Aramco.

7 Certification

7.1 NDT Level I and II certifications shall be issued as per the requirements of
ANSI/ASNT CP-189 and/or ISO 9712.

7.2 NDT certification format shall be developed and approved by the employer’s principal
NDT Level III. Copy of the approved certification format shall be included in the
employer’s written practice.

7.3 Individual NDT methods may be subdivided into specialized techniques as listed in
Appendix C. Performance qualification may be required in each of the applicable
specialized techniques at the discretion of Saudi Aramco Inspection Department.

7.4 Limited certifications in NDT techniques are acceptable providing the training and
experience requirements are established as per ANSI/ASNT CP-189 and ISO 9712.

7.5 Personnel performing or evaluating NDT results shall be certified, at least to Level II, in
the NDT method or specialized technique being used.

7.6 NDT certification validity shall not exceed 5 years.

7.7 If the employer accepts third party internationally recognized NDT certification then,
this shall be clearly addressed in the employer’s NDT personnel certification procedure.

7.8 Recertification

7.8.1 Level I and Level II personnel shall be recertified every five (5) years in
accordance to the employer's NDT personnel certification procedure. The
recertification shall be based on taking and passing written and practical
examination. Recertification by demonstration of experience is not acceptable.

7.8.2 The employer recertification program shall meet the recertification requirements
as stated in ANSI/ASNT CP-189 and/or ISO 9712.

7.8.3 For third party issued NDT certifications, the recertification requirements shall
be as per the requirements of ISO 9712.

7.8.4 NDT Level III personnel shall be recertified by employer through verification of
the individual's NDT Level III certificate validity in each method for which
recertification is sought.

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Appendix A - Acceptable NDT Certification Programs

The following Certification Programs for NDT personnel are acceptable:

 ANSI/ASNT CP-189
 ISO 9712
 ASNT Central Certification Program (ACCP).
 Personnel Certification for NDT (PCN) Certification Scheme.
 Certification Scheme for Welding and Inspection Personnel (CSWIP).
 Other NDT certification schemes meeting the requirements of ISO 17024.
Note: Supporting documents for NDT certification schemes shall be submitted to Saudi Aramco
Inspection Technical Support Division/NDT Services Section of the Inspection Department
(ID) for evaluation and acceptance.

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Appendix B - Individual Certification Methods/Techniques

Training and Certification shall be required in the following methods and techniques. This list
shall be subject to revision at any time and reference should be made to the NDT Standards
Committee for the latest revision:
 Visual Testing (VT)
 Magnetic Particle Testing (MT)
 Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT)
 Radiographic Testing (RT) (Manual and Automated)
 Radiographic Testing Film Interpretation (RTFI)
 Ultrasonic Testing (Automated Corrosion Mapping, i.e., ambient/high temperature and
SWC/HIC)
 Ultrasonic Testing (Automated Pipeline Girth Weld Inspection)
 Ultrasonic Shear Wave Testing (Plate and Pipe - Manual)
 Ultrasonic Shear Wave Testing (Branch Connection (TKY) - Manual)
 Ultrasonic Testing Phased Array (Manual and Automated Phased Array)
 Ultrasonic Testing [Time of Flight Diffraction (ToFD)]
 Ultrasonic Thickness Testing (UTT)
 Electro Magnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT)
 Eddy Current Testing
 Remote Field Eddy Current Testing
 MFL Tubing Testing
 MFL Tank Floor Testing
 Alternating Current Field Measurement (ACFM)
 Infrared Testing (IR)
 Acoustic Emission Testing (AET) (Tank Floors and Loading Arms)
 Acoustic Emission Testing (AET) (Valve Leakage)
 Acoustic Emission Testing (AET) (Pressure Retaining Systems)
 Ultrasonic Testing Guided Wave Inspection (UTGW)

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Appendix C - Saudi Aramco Mandatory NDT Verification Examinations

MUT Manual UT (Shear Wave)

ToFD Time of Flight Diffraction
UTDI Ultrasonic Testing Data Interpreter
ACFM Alternating Current Field Measurement
ECT Eddy Current Testing
RFT Remote Field Testing
RTFI Radiographic Testing Film Interpreter
RT** Radiography Testing
UTGW Ultrasonic Testing Guided Wave
AUT-P/L Automated Ultrasonic Testing Pipeline Girth Weld Inspection
AE Acoustic Emission - Tanks, Loading Arms and Valve Leakage
MFL-Tube Magnetic Flux Leakage Tube Examination
PAUT Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing
MFL Magnetic Flux Leakage
IRIS Internal Rotary Inspection System
LOTIS Laser Optic Tube Inspection System
EMAT Electro Magnetic Acoustic Transducer
SLOFEC Saturated Low Frequency Eddy Current
DRT/CRT Digital RT/ Computerized RT
AUTCM AUT Corrosion Mapping, Ambient/High Temperature
AUT SWC/HIC AUT Stepwise Cracks/Hydrogen Induced Cracks
MFL-Tank Magnetic Flux Leakage Tank Floor Examination

Notes:
1. Other NDT techniques that are not listed in the above table may require Saudi Aramco qualification
examination. Saudi Aramco Inspection Technical Support Division (ITSD/NDT Services Section)
of the Inspection Department (ID) shall be consulted in case the NDT technique sought for
qualification is not listed.
2. The NDT verification examination result should indicate the area of application on the NDT
approval such as;

 Plate/Shell; Piping; Pipeline; Nozzle; Branch connections, i.e., T, K, and/or Y; General

 Others (needs to be specified)
**Commentary Note:
Only RT technicians who are working directly under the supervision of Saudi Aramco
Operating Facilities, and provided through an NDT contract shall take and pass RT
verification examination.

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Appendix D - NDT Level III Personnel Qualification Requirements

NDT Method/Technique NDT Level III Requirements

MFL Level III or ET Level III, and Manufacturer Training on the
MFL Tank Floor
MFL Tank Floor System
ET Level III and Manufacturer Training on Tube Inspection
RFT Tube
System
MFL or ET Level III, and Manufacturer Training on Tube
MFL Tube
Inspection System
ET Level III and Manufacturer Training on Tube Inspection
ECT Tube
System
UT Level III and Manufacturer Training on Tube Inspection
IRIS Tube
System
AUTCM UT Level III and Manufacturer Training on AUT System
AUT SWC/HIC UT Level III and Manufacturer Training on AUT System
ToFD Level III, or UT Level III and PCN ToFD Level II (or
ToFD
equivalent)
PAUT Level III, or UT Level III and PCN PAUT Level II (or
PAUT
equivalent)
AUT-P/L UT Level III and PCN AUT Level II (or equivalent)
EMAT UT Level III and Manufacturer Training on EMAT System
Acoustic Tube Test AE Level III, or UT Level III and Manufacturer Training on ATT
(ATT) System
AE AE Level III and Manufacturer Training on AE System
UTGW UT Level III and Manufacturer Training on UTGW System
DRT/CRT RT Level III and Manufacturer Training on DRT/CRT System
VT VT Level III
MT MT Level III
PT PT Level III
RT RT Level III
UT UT Level III
IR IR Level III

Note: The above NDT methods/techniques shall be listed in one of the following recognized Level III
Certification Programs:
• ASNT, ACCP, PCN, and CSWIP Level III certifications are considered equivalent.
• NDT certification scheme(s) other than the above mentioned shall be submitted to Saudi
Aramco Inspection Technical Support Division/NDT Services Section of the Inspection
Department (ID) for evaluation and acceptance.

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Revision History
11 February 2020 Major revision to clarify and address areas of improvement identified by NDT Standards
Committee. The changes are outlined below:
 Affirm accepting internationally recognized third-party certification programs.
 Align and adapt new changes in international NDT standards to facilitate improvement
opportunities in Advanced NDT Long Form Contract (LFC).
4 December 2014 Revised the Next Planned Update, reaffirmed the content of the document, and reissued
as major revision.

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