ASNT NDT Level III Examinations
ASNT NDT Level III certification candidates are required to pass both the NDT Basic and a Method examination in order to receive the ASNT NDT Level III certificate.
A maximum of three examinations in any Method or the Basic examination is permitted within a two-year period.
- A candidate that fails the initial Basic or Method examination shall not be permitted to retake the examination for 30 days from the date of failure.
- A candidate that fails the Basic or Method examination for a second time shall not be permitted to retake the examination for 90 days from the date of failure.
- A candidate that fails the Basic or Method examination for a third time shall not be permitted to retake the examination for one year from the date of failure and must reapply as a new candidate. In no case, shall an individual be permitted to sit for an examination more than three times in a two-year period.
Exam Specifications
The table below lists the number of questions and time allowed for each exam. Clicking on an exam will take you to an abbreviated topical outline and reference page for that exam. For the full topical outlines and complete list of references, see the topical outlines listed in the American National Standard ANSI/ASNT CP-105, Standard Topical Outlines for Qualification of Nondestructive Testing Personnel.
To see the topical outline for each method, click on the link on each method that you are interested in. The below exams are all administered through computer-based testing.
Basic
Basic
- Administration of NDT personnel certification programs
- SNT-TC-1A, 2020 edition
- ASNT CP-189, 2020 edition
- General familiarity with other NDT methods
- Radiography (safety, X-ray, and isotope methods)
- Neutron radiography
- Ultrasonic testing
- Electromagnetic testing and flux leakage testing
- Liquid penetrant testing
- Magnetic particle testing
- Leak testing
- Acoustic emission testing
- Visual testing
- Thermal/infrared
- Training
- Develop training materials (e.g., study guides, worksheets, quizzes, test samples, manuals, etc.)
- Instruct trainees, Level I and Level II on theory of test method and practical application of test method
- Evaluate training procedures
- Materials echnology
- Fabrication and product
Acoustic Emission Testing ( AE )
Acoustic Emission Testing
- Instrumentation and Signal processing
- Cables
- Signal conditioning
- Signal detection
- Signal processing
- Source Location techniques
- Acoustic emission test systems
- Accessory techniques
- Advanced signal processing techniques
- Acoustic Emission Test Techniques
- Factors affecting test equipment selection
- Equipment calibration and setup for test
- Loading procedures
- Special test procedures
- Data display
- Noise sources and pre-test identification techniques
- Precautions against noise
- Data interpretation
- Data evaluation
- Reports
- Codes, Standards, Procedures, and Societies
- Guide-type standards (glossaries, calibration, etc.)
- Standardized/codified AE test procedures
- User-developed test procedures
- Societies active in AE
- Applications of Acoustic Emission Testing
Electromagnetic Testing ( ET )
Electromagnetic Testing
Eddy Current Testing
- Principles/Theory
- Equipment/Materials
- Techniques/Calibrations
- Interpretation/Evaluation
- Procedures
Remote Field Testing
- Remote Field Testing (RFT) Principles & Theories
- Codes and Practices
Alternating Current Field Measurement Testing
- Principles and Theory
- Equipment and Materials
- Interpretation and Evaluation of Signals
- Procedures
Thermal/Infrared Testing ( IR )
Thermal/Infrared Testing
- Principles/Theory
- Conduction
- Convection
- Radiation
- The nature of heat and heat flow
- Temperature measurement principles
- Proper selection of Thermal/Infrared testing
- Equipment/Materials
- Temperature measurement equipment
- Heat flux indicators
- Performance parameters of non-contact devices
- Techniques
- Contact temperature indicators
- Non-contact pyrometers
- Infrared line scanners
- Thermal/Infrared imaging
- Heat flux indicators
- Exothermic or endothermic investigations
- Friction investigations
- Fluid Flow investigations
- Thermal resistance (steady state heat flow)
- Thermal capacitance investigations
- Interpretation/Evaluation
- Procedures
- Safety and health
- Safety responsibility and authority
- Safety for personnel
- Safety for client and facilities
- Safety for testing equipment
Leak Testing ( LT )
Leak Testing
- Principles theory
- Physical principles in leak testing
- Principles of gas flow
- Proper selection of LT as method of choice
- Equipment/Material
- Leak testing standards
- Detector/instrument performance factors
- Vacuum pumps
- Bubble testing practices and techniques
- Absolute pressure testing equipment
- Absolute pressure hold testing of containers
- Absolute pressure leakage rate testing of containers
- Analysis of data for determination of accurate results
- Halogen testing equipment
- Helium mass spectrometer testing equipment
- Technique/Calibration
- Bubble test
- Pressure change/measurement test
- Halogen diode detector leak test
- Mass spectrometer leak testing
- Helium mass spectrometer vacuum testing by dynamic method
- Helium mass spectrometer vacuum testing by static method
- Interpretation/Evaluation
- Basic techniques and/or units
- Test materials and equipment effects
- Effects of temperature and other atmospheric conditions
- Calibration for testing
- Probing/scanning or measurement/monitoring
- Leak interpretation evaluation
- Acceptance and rejection criteria
- Procedures
- Leak testing procedures
- Leak testing specifications
- Safety and Health
- Safety considerations
- Safety precautions
- Pressure precautions
- Safety devices
- Hazardous and tracer gas safety
- Types of monitoring equipment
- Safety
Magnetic Flux Leakage ( MFL )
Magnetic Flux Leakage
- Principles/Theory
- Flux leakage theory
- Förster and other theories
- Finite element methods
- DC flux leakage/AC flux leakage
- Equipment/Materials
- Detectors
- Coils
- Factors affecting choice of sensing elements
- Read out selection
- Instrument design considerations
- Techniques/Standardization
- Consideration affecting choice of test
- Coupling
- Field strength
- Comparison of techniques
- Standardization
- Techniques – general
- Interpretation/Evaluation
- Flaw detection
- Process control
- General interpretations
- Defect characterization
- Standards
- Procedures
Magnetic Particle Testing ( MT )
Magnetic Particle Testing
- Principles/Theory
- Principles of magnets and magnetic fields
- Characteristics of magnetic fields
- Equipment/Materials
- Magnetic particle test equipment
- Inspection materials
- Technique/Calibrations
- Magnetization by means if electric current
- Selecting the proper method of magnetization
- Demagnetization
- Interpretation/Evaluation
- Procedures
- Safety and Health
Liquid Penetrant Testing ( PT )
Liquid Penetrant Testing
- Principles/Theory
- Principles of liquid penetrant process
- Theory
- Proper selection of PT as method of choice
- Liquid penetrant processing
- Equipment/Materials
- Liquid penetrant test units
- Methods of measurement
- Lighting for liquid penetrant testing
- Materials for liquid penetrant testing
- Testing and maintenance of materials
- Interpretation/Evaluation
- General
- Factor affecting indications
- Indications from discontinuities
- Relevant and Nonrelevant indications
- Procedures
- Liquid penetrant testing procedures, codes, standards and specifications
- Safety and Health
- Toxicity
- Flammability
- Electrical hazards
- Personnel protective equipment
- Right to know (MSDS)
- Disposal of used materials
Radiographic Testing ( RT )
Radiographic Testing
- Principles and Theory
- Equipment/Materials
- Electrically generated sources
- Particulate radiation sources
- Radiation detectors
- Techniques/Calibration
- Imaging considerations
- Film processing
- Viewing of radiographs
- Judging radiographic quality
- Exposure calculations
- Radiographic techniques
- Interpretation and Evaluation
- Procedures
- Safety and Health
- Exposure hazards
- Methods of controlling radiation exposure
- Operational and emergency procedures
- Dosimetry and Film Badges
Ultrasonic Testing ( UT )
Ultrasonic Testing
- Principles/Theory
- Equipment/Materials
- Techniques/Calibrations
- Contact
- Immersion
- Comparison of contact and immersion methods
- Remote monitoring
- Calibration (electronic and functional)
- Evaluation of base metal product forms
- Evaluation of weldments
- Evaluation of bonded structures
- Variables affecting test results
- Evaluation (general)
- Specific applications
- Codes/Standards/Specifications
Visual Testing ( VT )
Visual Testing
- Fundamentals
- Vision and light
- Ambient conditions
- Test object characteristics
- Equipment Accessories
- Magnifiers/microscopes
- Mirrors
- Dimensional
- Borescopes
- Video systems
- Machine vision
- Replication
- Temperature indicating devices and materials
- Chemical aids
- Surface comparators
- Lasers
- Applications and Requirements
- Raw materials
- Primary process materials
- Joining processes
- Fabricated components
- In-service materials
- Coatings
- Other applications
- Requirements
- Variables Affecting Results of interpretation/ Evaluations
- Equipment including type and intensity of light
- Material including the variations of surface finish
- Discontinuity
- Determination of dimensions (ie: depth, width, length, etc.)
- Sampling/scanning
- Process for reporting visual discontinuities
- Personnel (human factors)
- Documentation
- Safety