ML18012A723

NRC Jan 2018 Training and Certification

ML18012A723
Person / Time
Issue date:	01/12/2018
From:	Ali Rezai NRC/NRR/DMLR/MPHB
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Rezai A, NRR-DMLR 415-1328
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Training and Certification Stephen Cumblidge NRC / Industry NDE Technical Information Exchange Meeting January 1618, 2018

UT Certification

• Currently, UT inspectors are certified via ASME Code Section XI Appendix VII

• Certifications are the responsibility of individual licensees

• Being certified as a Level II requires 800 hours0.00926 days <br />0.222 hours <br />0.00132 weeks <br />3.044e-4 months <br /> of Experience and a written examination

• A training program is described in Appendix VII Supplement I

Appendix VII

• Appendix VII is largely based on SNTTC1A, which was developed in 19631964

• The concept that hours of experience and written tests is commonly used in NDE worldwide, including ISO9712

Questions about Appendix VII

• It is unclear if using the number of experience hours and a written test is the most efficient or effective method to certify inspectors

• There is little guidance as to what constitutes experience

• Appendix VIII performance demonstration provides a final check that the inspectors possess the required talent

2011 Revision to Appendix VII

• In the 2011 Addenda, the number of hours required to achieve a Level II certification was reduced to 400 hours0.00463 days <br />0.111 hours <br />6.613757e-4 weeks <br />1.522e-4 months <br />, with a 320 hours0.0037 days <br />0.0889 hours <br />5.291005e-4 weeks <br />1.2176e-4 months <br /> being composed of laboratory training and a successful Appendix VIII Supplement 2 examination

- The revision provides a 90% reduction in experience required to obtain a Level II

- A weighing factor of 2.25 is given to laboratory practice

• In comparison, ISO9712 allows a 50% reduction in experience with training having a weighing factor of up to 7

Questions

• Is 80 hours9.259259e-4 days <br />0.0222 hours <br />1.322751e-4 weeks <br />3.044e-5 months <br /> of experience sufficient?

- More? Less? None?

• How important is experience vs. laboratory practice?

- Does this depend on the talents of the individual?

• How well does these numbers of hours match knowledge on training programs?

NRC Condition on Appendix VII

• In the 20092013 Rulemaking, the NRC imposed the following condition:

The use of Appendix VII Table VII41101 and Appendix VIII Subarticle VIII2200 of the 2011 Addenda and 2013 Edition of Section XI of the ASME BPV Code is prohibited. When using ASME BPV Code,Section XI editions and addenda later than the 2010 Edition, licensees and applicants must use the prerequisites for ultrasonic examination personnel certifications in Table VII41101 and Subarticle VIII2200, Appendix VIII in the 2010 Edition.

Reason for Condition:

• The impact of reduced training and nuclear power plant familiarization is unknown. The ASME BPV Code supplants training hours and field experience without a technical basis, minimum defined training criteria, process details, or standardization.

Technical Basis?

• This condition was not put in place because the NRC staff found the educed training to be insufficient, but because insufficient evidence had been given that the reduced hours would be effective

• If a technical basis for the revised Appendix VII is provided, the NRC would be open to removing the condition

• This condition will be open for public comments in the next rulemaking

ANDE

• ASME is developing a centralized training and certification program

• The ANDE program is more systematic and detailed than the program described in Appendix VII

• Many details remain to be finalized for ANDE

• The NRC will review the final program when it is completed

The NRC and UT Certification

• While the NRC has some questions about the use of experience hours to certify inspectors, the NRC has no safety concern with the conditioned Appendix VII UT certification system

• The NRC staff recognizes that a more structured training and certification program could be less expensive to licensees and be as effective

• Changes to the training and certification program would require a technical basis

NRC Research into Training

• The NRC has experts in Human Factors and Training

• These experts are conducting a literature review related to training NDE inspectors

• The results will inform future code and rulemaking actions related to Appendix VII

Path Forward

• The NRC has no plans to require any changes to training or certification programs

• The NRC is open to proposed changes to training and certification programs if a sufficient technical basis is provided

• The NRC will be open to public comments about the revisions to Appendix VII in the upcoming 20152017 rulemaking