Overview
CEN ISO/TS 25108:2018 (Non‑destructive testing - NDT personnel training organizations) specifies requirements and recommendations for organizations that train NDT personnel. Its primary purpose is to harmonize and maintain the general standard of NDT training, and to establish minimum requirements for structured training that makes trainees eligible for qualification examinations and third‑party certification under recognized standards.
This Technical Specification (TS) supersedes ISO/TR 25108:2006 and is intended for provisional application across CEN member bodies.
Key topics and requirements
The standard outlines organizational, instructional and technical elements a training provider must address, including:
- Training management
- Appointment of responsible managers for overall training centre operations and quality management.
- Quality management system
- A documented QMS to ensure consistent and effective delivery (ISO 9001 is cited as an example).
- Curriculum and course materials
- Development of curricula, course outlines and course notes that define aims, learning outcomes, lesson plans and assessment methods.
- Student induction and assessment
- Clear pre‑course requirements (math, materials, safety), published fees, schedules, and defined evaluation criteria for theoretical and practical competency.
- Training staff and instructors
- Defined competence requirements for instructors and supporting training staff, with training and evaluation of effectiveness.
- Facilities, equipment and specimens
- Appropriate classrooms, laboratories, NDT equipment and representative test specimens to support hands‑on learning.
- Records and technical library
- Maintenance of training records and access to technical references.
- Delivery modes
- Guidance on distance education and e‑learning as permitted modes of delivery (Annex B addresses e‑learning).
- Annexes
- Informative guidance on holdings (stocks of specimens/equipment) and e‑learning best practices.
Practical applications and who uses it
CEN ISO/TS 25108:2018 is intended for:
- NDT training organizations designing and delivering courses for radiography, ultrasonic testing, magnetic particle, penetrant, eddy current, visual testing and other NDT methods.
- Course developers and instructors who need to align curricula with certification pathways.
- Certification and accreditation bodies assessing eligibility of candidates for third‑party certification (see ISO 9712).
- Industry training managers and HR teams specifying supplier requirements for NDT competence development.
- Organizations implementing blended learning who require guidance on e‑learning and distance education for NDT.
Related standards
- ISO 9712 - Qualification and certification of NDT personnel (certification framework).
- ISO/TS 25107 - NDT training syllabuses (detailed syllabus requirements).
- ISO/TS 18173 - NDT general terms and definitions.
Keywords: NDT, non‑destructive testing, NDT training organizations, ISO/TS 25108:2018, NDT personnel, training curriculum, certification, quality management.
