NDT Level II certification under SNT-TC-1A: how it works, exams and requirements

NDT Level II certification under SNT-TC-1A is employer-based. SNT-TC-1A is a recommended practice from the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) that gives employers guidelines to train, examine and certify NDT personnel in all methods. So the certificate is issued by the company you work for, not by ASNT.

The written practice: the employer’s rulebook

An employer using SNT-TC-1A must write a written practice that describes in detail how its technicians are trained, examined and certified. The employer writes and approves it; it is not sent to ASNT for approval. SNT-TC-1A recommends classroom hours and months of experience for each level, so always check which edition your employer’s written practice follows.

The three Level II exams

SNT-TC-1A recommends at least 70% in each exam and 80% as the composite score. For Level III the exams are Basic, Method and Specific. ASNT offers the Level III Basic and Method exams, while the Specific exam stays the employer’s responsibility.

Vision requirements

NDT personnel must pass a near-vision test, usually every year, for example with a Jaeger chart. A colour discrimination test, for example with Ishihara plates, is also done at set intervals. If you need glasses or contact lenses to pass, you must wear them while inspecting.

Steps to a Level II certificate

1. Learn the theory of your method (MT, PT, UT, VT, ET or RT) until you understand its principles, equipment, techniques and codes.
2. Complete the training hours and work experience your employer’s written practice requires.
3. Pass the vision test.
4. Pass the General, Specific and Practical exams.
5. Your employer issues the certificate under its written practice.

SNT-TC-1A, ASNT ACCP and ISO 9712

Besides employer-based SNT-TC-1A, there are central certification schemes such as ASNT ACCP and ISO 9712. Under ISO 9712 the certificate is issued by a certification body, which in Indonesia is often a national certification body. The contract or client usually decides which scheme applies, so check before you register for an exam.

Prepare the theory with Highkey Academy

Highkey Academy’s online courses help you master the theory for your Level II exam: interactive lessons, equipment simulators, bilingual workbooks and question banks with mock exams. The online course is not an ASNT certification. Hands-on training and the Level II qualification exam, following SNT-TC-1A, take place in person at our Batam training centre. Learn it online, prove it offline. See all NDT courses.

Fact source: workbooks MT pp. 66–68; UT pp. 9–11; VT pp. 11, 45, 51; ET p. 91; PT pp. 46–47, 55.