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This paper offers information on the beginning of qualification/certification activities in Italy and data and indications on the experiences gained by Italian Institute of Welding (Certifying Body Accredited by Sincert, and then Accredia, and Notified CE, www.iis.it) and more recently by IIS CERT (Certifying Body Accredited by Accredia and Notified CE, www.iiscert.it), applying the standards EN 473, ISO 9712 and the directive 97/23/CE (PED) on qualification, certification and approval ofnon destructive testing personnel. Particularly information updated to 31 July 2012 are given and discussed on the activity of qualification/certification since January 2001 (starting year for the application of EN 473, second edition, and PED directive) with reference to the issued certifications and approvals and to their distribution in method and level. Furthermore, it is reported that at the beginning of 2011 IIS originated two branches, IIS CERT e IIS SERVICE, both totally owned and passed to the first one its activities of certification and approval. Instead IIS maintained the training, education and laboratory activities; all of them, together with research and development activities, will be transferred to a third IIS branch, IIS PROGRESS (www.iisprogress.it), which will officially start these activities at the beginning of 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]