NDT Report Review Checklist for Welding Inspectors

An NDT report is not just a document that says “accepted” or “rejected.” For welding inspectors, QA/QC inspectors, vendor inspectors and project quality teams, the NDT report is technical evidence that a specific weld was tested using the correct method, procedure, coverage and acceptance criteria.

A common mistake is to review only the final result status. But a professional NDT report review goes deeper. The inspector should confirm that the correct weld was tested, the correct NDT method was used, the required extent was completed, the technician was qualified, the acceptance criteria were correct and any repair or retest was properly documented.

This checklist explains what inspectors should verify before accepting an NDT report for weld inspection, final release or project dossier review.

For the full welding inspection workflow, including weld defects, NDT methods, WPS/PQR/WQT and inspector duties, see the complete welding and NDT inspection guide.

NTIA’s Welding and Non-Destructive Testing Training Course also covers NDT methods, report review, inspection documentation and QA/QC control for inspectors and technical teams.

Key Takeaways

• NDT reports must be reviewed for traceability, not only result status.
• Weld number, drawing reference and weld map must match the inspected item.
• Method selection should match the ITP, project specification and expected defect type.
• Coverage must be checked against the required NDT extent.
• Technician qualification and equipment calibration should be verified where applicable.
• Acceptance criteria must be clearly stated and relevant to the project.
• Repair and retest records must be traceable before final release.
• Final dossier review should confirm that all NDT reports are complete, signed and aligned with the inspection plan.

What Is an NDT Report?

An NDT report is a formal record of nondestructive testing performed on a weld, material or component. In weld inspection, it provides evidence that a specific weld was examined using a defined NDT method and evaluated against an approved acceptance requirement.

An NDT report may cover:

• VT / Visual Testing
• PT / Penetrant Testing
• MT / Magnetic Particle Testing
• UT / Ultrasonic Testing
• RT / Radiographic Testing

A good NDT report should make the inspection result clear, traceable and technically reviewable. It should show what was tested, how it was tested, who performed the test, what criteria were used and whether the result was accepted or rejected.

For a comparison of the main methods, read VT, PT, MT, UT and RT in weld inspection.

Why NDT Report Review Matters

NDT is often used as part of final weld acceptance. If the report is incomplete or not traceable, the weld may become difficult to release even if the physical test was performed.

Poor NDT report review can lead to:

• Wrong weld accepted
• Incomplete test coverage
• Incorrect acceptance criteria
• Unqualified technician performing the test
• Missing calibration evidence
• Unclear repair status
• Retest not documented
• Final dossier rejection
• Shipment or handover delays

For inspectors, NDT report review is not an administrative step. It is part of technical acceptance.

NDT Report Review Checklist

Before accepting an NDT report, inspectors should check the following items.

1. Project and Item Identification

The report should clearly identify the project, client, item and component being inspected.

Check for:

• Project name or number
• Client or contractor reference
• Item number or tag number
• Equipment or component description
• Purchase order or job number where applicable
• Report number and revision

This information connects the report to the correct project and prevents confusion during final dossier review.

2. Weld Number and Weld Map Reference

The NDT report must be traceable to the exact weld inspected. This is one of the most important checks.

Verify:

• Weld number or joint number
• Line number, spool number or drawing reference
• Weld map reference
• Location of the tested weld
• Welder ID where required
• Repair weld identification if applicable

If the weld number on the NDT report does not match the weld map, the report may not be acceptable for final release.

3. NDT Method and Procedure Reference

The report should state which NDT method was used and which approved procedure was followed.

Check:

• NDT method used
• Procedure number and revision
• Applicable code or project specification
• Technique used where applicable
• Surface condition requirements
• Test temperature or condition where relevant

The method should match the ITP and project requirements. For example, PT should not be accepted where MT or UT was specifically required unless a technical approval or project deviation exists.

For method selection logic, see how to choose the right NDT method for welds.

4. Required Coverage and Actual Coverage

NDT reports should show whether the required inspection extent was achieved.

Check:

• Required NDT percentage or extent
• Actual coverage completed
• Welds selected for testing
• Areas examined
• Scanning coverage where applicable
• Limitations or inaccessible areas

For example, if the ITP requires 10% RT or 100% UT for a weld category, the report and weld summary should support that requirement.

A report that says “accepted” is not enough if it does not prove that the required coverage was completed.

5. Technician Qualification

NDT should be performed by qualified personnel according to the applicable standard, project requirement or company procedure.

Check:

• Technician name
• Certification level
• NDT method qualification
• Certificate validity
• Employer or certifying body where required
• Signature or approval

The technician must be qualified for the method used. A person qualified for PT is not automatically qualified for UT or RT.

For welding documentation control more broadly, see WPS, PQR and WQT explained.

6. Equipment and Calibration Details

Some NDT methods require equipment details and calibration evidence to support the validity of the result.

Depending on the method, check:

• Equipment identification
• Serial number
• Calibration date
• Calibration due date
• Calibration block or reference standard
• Sensitivity setting where applicable
• Film or digital system details for RT where applicable
• Probe details for UT where applicable

Calibration evidence is especially important for UT, RT and other equipment-dependent methods. If calibration is missing or unclear, the reliability of the result may be questioned.

7. Surface Condition and Test Conditions

Surface condition can affect NDT reliability, especially for VT, PT, MT and UT.

Check whether the report confirms:

• Surface was clean and accessible
• Paint, oil, scale or contamination was removed where required
• Lighting was adequate for VT
• Surface temperature was suitable for PT where applicable
• Magnetization conditions were suitable for MT
• Couplant and contact were suitable for UT
• Access limitations were noted

If the surface condition was poor, the test result may not be reliable. Any limitation should be recorded clearly.

8. Acceptance Criteria

The NDT report must state the acceptance criteria used to evaluate indications.

Check:

• Applicable code or standard
• Project specification
• Acceptance level or class where applicable
• Client requirement where applicable
• Revision or edition where required

This is critical because the same indication may be acceptable in one project and rejectable in another. The inspector should not accept a report if the acceptance criteria are missing, unclear or wrong.

For common defect types that may appear in reports, see welding defects explained for inspectors.

9. Indications and Result Status

The report should clearly describe any indications found and the final result status.

Check:

• Indication type
• Indication location
• Indication size or length where applicable
• Quantity of indications
• Evaluation against acceptance criteria
• Accepted or rejected status
• Remarks or limitations

Avoid accepting vague statements such as “OK” without enough supporting information. The result should be technically understandable and traceable.

10. Repair and Retest Records

If a weld is rejected, the repair and retest process must be documented.

Check:

• Original rejected report
• Repair instruction or NCR reference
• Repair weld identification
• Excavation or repair confirmation where required
• Retest report number
• Retest method and coverage
• Final acceptance status

A weld should not be considered accepted only because it was repaired. The inspector should verify that the repair was retested and accepted according to project requirements.

11. Signatures and Approval

The final report should include required signatures and approvals.

Check for:

• Technician signature
• Reviewer or Level II/Level III approval where required
• Inspector review where applicable
• Client or third-party witness signature where required
• Date of testing
• Date of report issue

Missing signatures can create problems during final dossier review, even if the technical result is acceptable.

Common NDT Report Problems

Inspectors commonly find issues such as:

• Missing weld number
• Wrong drawing reference
• Unclear test coverage
• Incorrect NDT method
• Missing procedure number
• Wrong acceptance criteria
• Expired technician qualification
• Missing calibration details
• Unclear indication description
• Repair completed but retest missing
• Report not signed
• Weld map not updated
• Final dossier missing report pages

These issues should be corrected before final release. Waiting until the dossier stage often causes unnecessary delays.

Compact NDT Report Review Checklist

Use this short checklist before accepting an NDT report:

• Project and item identification are correct
• Weld number matches the weld map
• Drawing reference is correct
• NDT method matches ITP requirements
• Procedure number and revision are stated
• Required coverage is achieved
• Technician qualification is valid
• Equipment and calibration details are included where required
• Surface condition and limitations are recorded
• Acceptance criteria are correct
• Indications are clearly evaluated
• Repair and retest records are traceable
• Final result status is clear
• Signatures and approvals are complete

NDT Report Review Before Final Dossier Acceptance

Before final dossier submission, NDT reports should be checked against the full welding documentation package.

The inspector should confirm that:

• Weld maps are updated
• NDT summary is complete
• Rejected welds have repair and retest records
• All required reports are included
• Report numbers are traceable
• Welder IDs match qualification records where required
• ITP requirements are closed
• Final release documents are consistent

NDT reports should not be reviewed in isolation. They should connect to drawings, weld maps, WPS, welder qualifications, inspection reports, repair records and final release documents.

For wider inspection and training resources, see NTIA’s technical inspection training courses.

FAQ

What should be included in an NDT report?

An NDT report should include project and item identification, weld number, drawing or weld map reference, NDT method, procedure reference, test coverage, technician qualification, equipment and calibration details where applicable, acceptance criteria, indications, result status, repair requirements and signatures.

Why is weld number important in an NDT report?

The weld number connects the report to the exact weld inspected. Without correct weld number traceability, it may be unclear whether the required weld was actually tested.

Should inspectors only check whether the report says accepted?

No. Inspectors should also check method, coverage, procedure, technician qualification, calibration, acceptance criteria, indications, repair status and traceability.

What is NDT coverage?

NDT coverage refers to the amount or percentage of welds or weld length that must be tested. It may be defined by the ITP, project specification, code or client requirement.

What happens if an NDT report has the wrong acceptance criteria?

If the wrong acceptance criteria are used, the result may not be valid for the project. The report should be corrected or reviewed according to the correct project requirement.

Does an accepted NDT report mean the weld is fully accepted?

Not always. The weld may still require visual acceptance, documentation review, repair record closure, pressure testing or final dossier approval depending on the project requirements.

Conclusion

NDT report review is a critical part of welding inspection and final acceptance. A report should not be accepted only because it says “accepted.” It must be technically complete, traceable and aligned with the ITP, project specification and acceptance criteria.

Inspectors should verify weld number, method, procedure, coverage, technician qualification, equipment calibration, indications, repair status and approvals before final release.

A strong NDT report review helps prevent documentation gaps, wrong weld acceptance, incomplete repair control and final dossier delays.

For structured learning, NTIA’s Welding and Non-Destructive Testing Training Course covers NDT methods, welding inspection, defect recognition, report review and QA/QC documentation. You can also check upcoming dates in the NTIA training calendar.