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1.1 This guide contains good practices for the selection, training, qualification, and professional development of personnel performing analysis, calibration, physical measurements, or data review using nondestructive assay equipment, methods, results, or techniques. The guide also covers NDA personnel involved with NDA equipment setup, selection, diagnosis, troubleshooting, or repair. General guidelines for the selection, training, and qualification of NDA auditors are included as well, but at a lower level of detail due to the variability of the personnel’s responsibilities performing this functions. Selection, training, and qualification programs based on this guide are intended to provide assurance that NDA personnel are suitably qualified and experienced personnel (SQEP) to perform their jobs competently. This guide presents a series of options but does not recommend a specific course of action.

This standard guide does not address the qualifications per se of an NDA Manager. However, it is expected that the NDA Manager is familiar with NDA techniques, and can make informed decisions on the acceptability of the assay results. If an NDA Manager does not have adequate technical qualifications in the NDA field, they are recommended to undergo training to gain familiarity in this area.

An NDA Manager with no relevant NDA experience should have access to a Senior NDA Professional who will give guidance for all technical decisions such as applicability and limitation of methods, reasonableness of results, needed upgrades and advantageous development investments.

4.1 The process of selection, training and qualification of personnel involved with NDA measurements is one of the quality assurance elements for an overall quality NDA measurement program.

4.2 This guide describes an approach to selection, qualification, and training of personnel that is to be used in conjunction with other NDA Quality Assurance (QA) program elements. The selection, qualification and training processes can vary and this guide provides one such approach.

4.3 The qualification activities described in this guide assume that NDA personnel are already proficient in general facility operations and safety procedures. The training and activities that developed this proficiency are not covered in this guide.

4.4 This guide describes a basic approach and principles for the qualification of NDA professionals and technical specialists and operators. A different approach may be adopted by the management organization based on its particular organization and facility specifics. However, if a variation of the approach of this guide is applied, the resulting selection, training, and qualification programs must meet the requirements of the facility quality assurance program and should provide all the applicable functions of Section 5.

4.5 This guide may be used as an aid in the preparation of a Training Implementation Plan (TIP) for the Transuranic Waste Characterization Program (TWCP).

4.6 This guide describes education and expertise guidance for NDA auditors due to the importance and complexity of proper oversight of NDA activities.