NDT Level 1 vs 2 vs 3: The Difference at Each Level

NDT Level 1 vs Level 2 vs Level 3 at a glance

Level I: performing to instructions

A Level I technician carries out specific calibrations, tests and recordings following written instructions, typically with a Level II or III directing the work. You learn the equipment, the handling and the record keeping. A Level I does not usually decide what a result means, and the call on acceptance sits with someone higher.

Level I is a useful place to build experience days, because the experience requirement for Level II is measured in days spent working in the method under qualified supervision.

Level II: setting up and deciding

A Level II sets up and calibrates equipment, performs the examination, interprets and evaluates results against the applicable code or specification, and reports them. A Level II can also guide Level I technicians on the job.

The jump from I to II is judgment. You are no longer following a recipe, so you need to know why the procedure says what it says. Level II exams reflect that. The ASNT General exam is 50 questions in 2 hours and the Specific exam is 40 questions in 2 hours, and both test why a technique is chosen and how a result is read, rather than which button to press. For the UT math behind that reasoning, see the math refresher.

Level III: owning the program

A Level III is responsible for the procedures, the techniques and the qualification side of an NDT program. Typical duties include writing and approving procedures, setting up and evaluating examinations, and training or examining Level I and II personnel. Level III often covers several methods and carries responsibility across jobs rather than within one.

The route and exams for Level III differ from Level II and depend on the program, so check ASNT's pages and your employer's written practice rather than assuming the Level II numbers carry over. This article does not list Level III requirements, because they belong with the program that issues the certificate. For ASNT's own program, the ASNT NDT Level III certification guide sets out the exams, eligibility and fees.

NDT Level 2 vs Level 3: the main differences

Level 2 vs Level 3 comes down to whose procedure it is. A Level II applies a written procedure to one job at a time: set up, examine, interpret, report. A Level III writes and approves that procedure, qualifies the people who use it and answers for the results across jobs, often in several methods. The ASNT Level 2 vs Level 3 routes differ as well. A Level II candidate documents training and experience days for a method and sits its General and Specific exams, with the practical handled by the employer, while Level III has its own route set by the certifying program. For most technicians Level II comes first, and it is the level that puts you in charge of your own inspections.

What your Level also depends on: the route

"Level II" can mean ASNT NDT Level II, ASNT 9712 or employer certification under a written practice. Two people can both say Level II and hold different things. The route comparison explains the three, and the requirements guide lists the ASNT figures for each method: for example, UT asks for 12 training days, 120 days in the method and 229 days of total NDT experience, while PT asks for 2, 30 and 58.

Levels also apply per method. Holding Level II in PT does not make you a Level II in UT, and each added method has its own training, experience and exams.

How to tell which level a posting wants

Read the verbs. "Performs tests per written instructions" points to Level I. "Sets up, calibrates, interprets and reports" points to Level II. "Develops procedures, qualifies personnel, reviews results" points to Level III. Titles can mislead, so the duties tell you more than the label.

Also read the certification language. A posting that names ASNT, or names certification under the company's written practice, tells you which route to prepare for. If the posting is unclear, ask in the interview which exams and which route they recognize, so you do not study for the wrong one.

How the levels show up in jobs and pay

Postings sort themselves by level. Trainee and Level I roles teach the work, Level II roles run it, and Level III roles manage it. Pay tends to rise with each step, but it also moves with method, shift, travel and location, so compare actual postings for your area. The pay guide lists the BLS benchmark and the posted ranges with their sources, and the career path article covers where Level II roles are found.

If you are at Level I now

You are closer than it feels. The two things between you and Level II are the experience record and the exams. Start by collecting your training certificates and a signed work log, then look at what the General exam asks for your method. Our UT General guide, MT field direction guide and PT exam guide show the topics.

The free 10-question check shows exactly which areas to study first, so you can see how far a Level I background takes you before you put a date on the calendar. Take the free UT check, then choose your plan with the UT study plan or the MT and PT plan.

FAQ

What is the difference between NDT Level 1 and Level 2?

Level I performs tests following written instructions, usually under direction. Level II sets up, calibrates, performs, interprets, evaluates and reports to a procedure. The change is from following steps to making and explaining decisions.

What is the difference between NDT Level 2 and Level 3?

Level II applies procedures to jobs. Level III is responsible for the procedures and the program: writing and approving them, and qualifying and training the people who use them. Level III requirements depend on the certifying program, so check ASNT or your employer.

Which NDT level do most jobs ask for?

Level II, because it is the first level that can run an inspection from setup to report without direction. Trainee and Level I roles teach the work and Level III roles manage it. Read the duties in each posting to confirm which level it wants.

Do I have to be Level I before Level II?

The ASNT Level II requirements in our guide list training and experience days and do not list a Level I certificate. Your employer's written practice may set its own steps, so ask what yours requires.

Is Level II in one method valid for all methods?

No. Each method has its own training, experience and exams, so Level II in PT covers PT only. Adding a method widens the jobs you qualify for, and which method to certify in first helps you choose.