ASNT Certification
The American Society for Nondestructive Testing provides the most widely recognized NDT certification programs in North America.
About ASNT Certification
ASNT (the American Society for Nondestructive Testing) governs the most widely recognized NDT personnel certification framework in North America, and there are three distinct pathways whose differences matter for both employability and code compliance. Under SNT-TC-1A — ASNT’s recommended practice — the employer certifies the individual against the employer’s own written practice; training hours, experience hours, and examinations are administered by or on behalf of the employer, and the certification is valid only while the individual stays with that employer. SNT-TC-1A is a guideline, not a mandate: the employer’s written practice is the controlling document. ANSI/ASNT CP-189 is a national consensus standard with stricter, non-negotiable minimums for training, experience, and examination, and many regulated sectors (commercial nuclear, certain DOT and government contracts) invoke it directly because it removes the employer discretion SNT-TC-1A allows. The ASNT Central Certification Program (ACCP) and the ASNT NDT Level III program are third-party certifications administered by ASNT itself; the credential belongs to the individual and is portable between employers, which is why ASNT NDT Level III is treated as the industry benchmark. Examinations are structured as a Basic exam plus one or more Method exams; candidates generally must score at least 70% on each section, with a composite of at least 80% required for Level III. Near-vision and color-perception acuity tests are required and re-verified annually, and certifications are typically valid for five years before recertification.
Certification Levels
Level I - Performs specific calibrations, tests, and evaluations to written instructions under the supervision of Level II or III personnel, and records results.
Level II - Sets up and calibrates equipment, interprets and evaluates results against codes and specifications, prepares written instructions, and supervises Level I trainees. Most working field inspectors hold Level II in one or more methods.
Level III - Establishes and approves techniques and procedures, interprets codes, standards and specifications, administers examinations, and certifies Level I and II personnel. The highest individual qualification.
Requirements
- Documented classroom training hours per method and level (e.g. UT Level II commonly requires about 80 hours; specifics vary by method and by SNT-TC-1A vs CP-189)
- Minimum on-the-job experience hours accrued per method and level
- Basic exam plus method-specific written examination (general + specific), and a practical examination for Levels I and II
- Minimum 70% on each exam section, with an 80% composite required for Level III
- Annual near-vision (Jaeger J-1/J-2) and color-contrast vision verification
- SNT-TC-1A: employer written-practice authorization. CP-189: prescribed national minimums. ACCP / NDT Level III: third-party ASNT examination producing a portable credential.
Exam Topics
Applicable NDT Methods
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What is ASNT Certification (ASNT)?
ASNT (the American Society for Nondestructive Testing) governs the most widely recognized NDT personnel certification framework in North America, and there are three distinct pathways whose differences matter for both employability and code compliance. Under SNT-TC-1A — ASNT’s recommended practice — the employer certifies the individual against the employer’s own written practice; training hours, experience hours, and examinations are administered by or on behalf of the employer, and the certification is valid only while the individual stays with that employer. SNT-TC-1A is a guideline, not a mandate: the employer’s written practice is the controlling document. ANSI/ASNT CP-189 is a national consensus standard with stricter, non-negotiable minimums for training, experience, and examination, and many regulated sectors (commercial nuclear, certain DOT and government contracts) invoke it directly because it removes the employer discretion SNT-TC-1A allows. The ASNT Central Certification Program (ACCP) and the ASNT NDT Level III program are third-party certifications administered by ASNT itself; the credential belongs to the individual and is portable between employers, which is why ASNT NDT Level III is treated as the industry benchmark. Examinations are structured as a Basic exam plus one or more Method exams; candidates generally must score at least 70% on each section, with a composite of at least 80% required for Level III. Near-vision and color-perception acuity tests are required and re-verified annually, and certifications are typically valid for five years before recertification.
Who issues the ASNT certification?
ASNT is issued and recognised by American Society for Nondestructive Testing.
What are the requirements for ASNT?
Key requirements include: Documented classroom training hours per method and level (e.g. UT Level II commonly requires about 80 hours; specifics vary by method and by SNT-TC-1A vs CP-189); Minimum on-the-job experience hours accrued per method and level; Basic exam plus method-specific written examination (general + specific), and a practical examination for Levels I and II; Minimum 70% on each exam section, with an 80% composite required for Level III; Annual near-vision (Jaeger J-1/J-2) and color-contrast vision verification; SNT-TC-1A: employer written-practice authorization. CP-189: prescribed national minimums. ACCP / NDT Level III: third-party ASNT examination producing a portable credential..
What does the ASNT exam cover?
Exam topics include: Principles and physics of each NDT method; Equipment setup, calibration, and reference-standard use; SNT-TC-1A, ANSI/ASNT CP-189, and applicable code and standard interpretation; Discontinuity detection, characterization, and acceptance-criteria evaluation; Materials, fabrication, and product technology (Basic exam); Procedure and written-instruction preparation; Reporting, documentation, and radiation/equipment safety.
How long is ASNT valid?
ASNT certification is valid for 5 years (ACCP), employer-defined (SNT-TC-1A), after which renewal or recertification is required.
Which NDT methods does ASNT apply to?
ASNT applies to: UT, RT, MT, PT, ET, VT, AE, IR.
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