Initial RequirementsLevel IIIInitial Qualification RequirementsEducation and ExperienceASNT Level III applicants must satisfy one of the following eligibility criteria:Graduated from a minimum four-year college or university curriculum with a degree in engineering or a physical science, plus one year (12 months) of experience in nondestructive testing in an assignment comparable to that of an Level II in the applicable test method(s), as defined in ASNT's Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A, latest edition; orCompleted with passing grades at least two full academic school years of engineering or a physical science study at a university, college, or technical school, plus two years (24 months) of experience in nondestructive testing in an assignment comparable to that of an Level II in the applicable test method(s), as defined in ASNT's Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A, latest edition; orFour years (48 months) of experience in an assignment at least comparable to that of a Level II in the applicable test method(s), as defined in ASNT's Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A, latest edition.

NDT Level III ExaminationsBasic and Method ExamsASNT 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.Exam SpecificationsThe 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.ExamNo. of Items*TimeCertification

NDT BasicNondestructive Testing1354 hrsRequired for ASNT NDT Level III Certification

ETElectromagnetic Testing1354 hrsNDT only

IRInfrared/Thermal Testing902 hrsNDT only

LTLeak Testing1354 hrsNDT only

MFLMagnetic Flux Leakage Testing902 hrsNDT only

MTMagnetic Particle Testing902 hrsNDT and ACCP

NRNeutron Radiographic Testing1354 hrsNDT only

PTLiquid Penetrant Testing902 hrsNDT and ACCP

RTRadiographic Testing1354 hrsNDT and ACCP

UTUltrasonic Testing1354 hrsNDT and ACCP

VTVisual Testing902 hrsNDT and ACCP

* Up to 20% of the examination items (questions) may be provisional questions that do not count towards the examinees examination score but are included to develop statistical data. These items are included as part of ASNTs efforts for continuous examination improvement in accordance with industry-accepted psychometric principles. The number of graded items still exceeds the minimum number of questions required by industry certification standards.

Refresher CoursesASNT offers refresher courses based on the same Body of Knowledge to which the ASNT NDT Level III examinations are written. See the ASNT Refresher Course pages to learn more. Examination ResultsPersonnel that fail an examination will be sent an analysis sheet showing the percentage of questions missed in each major category of the Body of Knowledge for that examination. Personnel that successfully complete all qualification examinations will be sent an ASNT Level III wall certificate and wallet card showing the applicable test methods but will not receive an analysis sheet.

Certification at the American Society for Nondestructive TestingLevel IIINDT BasicTopical OutlineThis examination is 4 hours in length, having 135 questions of equal value. Administration of NDT personnel certification programs SNT-TC-1A, 2011 edition ASNT CP-189, 2011 edition General familiarity with other NDT methods Radiography (safety, X-ray, and isotope methods) Neutron radiography Ultrasonic testing Eddy current and flux leakage testing Liquid penetrant testing Magnetic particle testing Leak testing Acoustic emission testing Visual testing Thermal/infrared Vibration analysis Materials, fabrication, and production technology Properties of materials, origin of discontinuities, and failure modes Materials processing (casting, welding, forging, brazing, soldering, machining, heat treatment, surface treatment, adhesive bonding, etc.) Dimensional metrologyReferencesThe number in parentheses following each reference is the ASNT catalog number. Level III Study Guide: Basic (2251) SNT-TC-1A (2011 edition) (2071) Supplement to Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A: Complete Set of Supplements, Plus Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A (2011 edition) (2192) Materials and Processes for NDT Technology (2250) ANSI/ASNT CP-189 (2011 edition) (2508) NDT Handbook: Volume 10, NDT Overview (140) ASM Handbook Vol. 17, NDE and QC (105)Refresher CourseASNT offers an NDT Basic Refresher Course based on the above topical outline.

NDT Level III Personnel Qualification Certification for UT - Ultrasonic Testing OutlineAbout Ultrasonic Testing (UT)Ultrasonic testing uses the same principle as is used in naval SONAR and fish finders. Ultra-high frequency sound is introduced into the part being inspected and if the sound hits a material with a different acoustic impedance (density and acoustic velocity), some of the sound will reflect back to the sending unit and can be presented on a visual display. By knowing the speed of the sound through the part (the acoustic velocity) and the time required for the sound to return to the sending unit, the distance to the reflector (the indication with the different acoustic impedance) can be determined.Topical OutlineThis examination is 4 hours in length, having 135 questions of equal value. 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 HealthReferencesThe number in parentheses following each reference is the ASNT catalog number. Level III Study Guide: Ultrasonic Testing (2261) NDT Handbook: Volume 7, Ultrasonic Testing (147) Supplement to Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A (Q&A Book) - Ultrasonic Testing Method (2028) Ultrasonics: Fundamentals, Technology, Applications (341)Refresher CourseASNT offers a UT Refresher Course based on the Body of Knowledge outlined above.