Latest Pressure Vessel Inspector Certification: The National Board

Early last year the National Board announced a new inspector certification program providing both new and seasoned employees the opportunity to receive recognized credentials for their expertise. This program, the Pressure Equipment Inspector (PEI), is a first of its kind.

The PEI was designed for a few reasons; (1) to enhance an individual’s knowledge of the inspection process associated with boilers and pressure vessels, (2) to allow individuals performing inspections to receive a certification recognizing their scope of work, and (3) as a way to assist individuals as well as organizations in improving the overall quality and safety of pressure equipment by having a better understanding of proven, reliable, and uniform inspection methods.1 Inservice and new construction are the two areas of inspection recognized under the program, and an individual can hold either one or both of these certifications.

To qualify for the PEI certification, an individual must attend and complete the National Board’s inservice and/or the new construction inspection course, take the final exam and earn a passing score, and provide a minimum of three years of qualifying experience. Then an online application must be completed and submitted for approval via the National Board website. Upon approval, a certificate and PEI ID card will be issued.

It is important to understand that the PEI will not be certified to perform the required ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code inspections or those required by the National Board Inspection Code.

To learn more about the new National Board PEI certification, visit the National Board website at www.nationalboard.org.

¹ The Pressure Equipment Inspector, Today's Boiler, Spring 2013, http://digital.bnpmedia.com/display_article.php?id=1384242