ASNT NDT Level III Examinations

Basic and Method Exams

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.

Level III Reference Materials for Exam Preparation

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.

Exam	No. of Items*	Time	Certification
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	135	4 hrs	Required for ASNT NDT Level III & ACCP Level III Certification
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	135	4 hrs	NDT Only
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	135	4 hrs	NDT Only
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	90	2 hrs	NDT Only
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	135	4 hrs	NDT Only
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	90	2 hrs	NDT Only
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	90	2 hrs	NDT and ACCP
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	90	2 hrs	NDT and ACCP
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	135	4 hrs	NDT and ACCP
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) Interpretation/Evaluations Evaluation of base metal product forms Evaluation of weldments Evaluation of bonded structures Variables affecting test results Evaluation (general) Procedures Specific applications Codes/Standards/Specifications Safety and Health	135	4 hrs	NDT and ACCP
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	90	2 hrs	NDT and ACCP

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