ASNT NDT Level II exam-day guide
ASNT NDT Level II · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
The name on the ID must match your registration exactly (including middle name or suffix). Accepted ID types vary by test center - confirm with the provider in advance whether a driver's license, passport, or employer ID is acceptable, and whether a second form of ID is required.
Admission / authorization-to-test document
Bring a printed copy of your scheduling confirmation or authorization letter. Ask the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or whether an electronic copy on a phone is accepted, since many centers do not allow phones in the test room.
Vision examination record
SNT-TC-1A based programs require documented near-vision acuity, and some methods require color perception. Bring your most recent record if your provider asks for it. Confirm with the provider what documentation is required, who must sign it, and how recent it must be - do not assume.
Applicable procedures, standards, and specifications
Confirm with the provider which documents are supplied at the test station and which, if any, you must bring yourself. Edition/revision matters - a wrong revision can change acceptance criteria. Ask specifically which edition is used for grading.
Non-programmable calculator
Useful for thickness, coverage, and exposure-type calculations. Many centers prohibit programmable, graphing, or memory-enabled devices. Confirm permitted models with the provider before the exam.
Writing implements
Two pens, two pencils, eraser, permanent marker, and a straight edge if your method requires marking or plotting. Confirm whether highlighters or correction tape are permitted on answer sheets or data records.
PPE for the practical area
Safety glasses, work gloves, safety footwear, and hearing protection as the site requires. Requirements are site-specific - confirm with the provider so you are not turned away from the practical station.
Non-smart watch
Many practical stations run on a fixed clock and wall clocks may not be visible. Smart watches are almost universally prohibited; confirm whether any watch is allowed in the test area.
Water, snack, and any medication
Practical exams can run long. Access to personal items during the test is usually restricted, so ask the provider how food, water, and medication are handled before test day.
Directions, parking, and arrival logistics
Confirm the street address, building entrance, parking, and the provider's recommended arrival time (arriving early is almost always required for check-in). Do a route check the day before.
Leave prohibited items behind or plan storage
Phones, smart watches, cameras, and personal notes are typically not allowed in the test area. Assume your own study notes and reference books cannot be brought in unless the provider explicitly says otherwise.
Review the provider's practical test description
Ask for the candidate instructions or test description in advance so you know which techniques, calibration steps, and documentation will be evaluated. Practise the full sequence end to end on real equipment beforehand.
Plan the day
Re-confirm date, time, location, and arrival instructions in writing. Ask any remaining questions (ID, calculator, references supplied, PPE, break policy). Re-read your employer's written practice and the applicable SNT-TC-1A or CP-189 requirements for Level II duties, and re-read the specific procedures you will be tested on.
Do a full dry run with real equipment: equipment checks, calibration or standardization, scanning or exposure technique, data recording, evaluation against acceptance criteria, and the final report. Time yourself so you know your pace.
Assemble documents and PPE in one bag and confirm your vision record is current and properly signed. Protect your sleep schedule - do not plan late-night study for the last two nights.
Pack the bag from the checklist. Lay out ID, confirmation letter, and clothing that meets site PPE requirements. Check the route and expected travel time, and add a buffer.
Light review only: acceptance criteria, calibration intervals, technique variables, and the record-keeping steps you tend to forget. Stop early and get a full night's sleep - fatigue causes more practical failures than knowledge gaps.
Eat properly and arrive ahead of the provider's stated check-in time. Bring only approved items; plan where phones and bags will be stored. Present your ID and confirmation, and listen to the safety and conduct briefing.
Read the written instruction and the procedure before touching equipment. Confirm equipment calibration status and identification, set up and standardize exactly as the procedure states, and record data as you go rather than from memory.
Work at a steady pace and watch the clock per section. If an instruction is ambiguous, ask the examiner a clarifying question at the time - do not guess silently. If equipment is faulty or conditions are unsafe, stop and report it immediately.
Before handing in, re-check units, significant figures, sign-offs, dates, and that every required field on the record or report is complete. Incomplete documentation loses points even when the technique was correct.
Rules to check
Bring positive photo identification and be prepared to present it at check-in; the name must match your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted and whether a second form is required.
Bring only items the provider approves for the test area. Phones, smart watches, cameras, and personal reference material usually must be stored outside the room - confirm the exact list with the provider.
Follow the examiner's instructions and the site safety rules at all times. Unsafe acts, tampering with equipment, or disregarding an examiner's direction can result in removal from the exam.
No communication with other candidates during the test, and no discussion of exam content afterwards. Do not photograph or copy test materials, equipment setups, or acceptance criteria.
Break policy is set by the provider. Ask before test day whether breaks are scheduled or must be requested, whether the clock stops, and whether you may access food, water, or medication during the test.
If you believe a test condition was unfair or an equipment fault affected your performance, raise it with the examiner at the time and ask that it be documented. Complaints raised only after the fact are difficult to resolve.
Scoring criteria, passing thresholds, and any retest policy are defined by the provider and your employer's written practice. Confirm these in advance rather than relying on what other candidates tell you.
Report any conflict of interest, prior access to the test materials, or health condition that could affect your safety to the provider before the exam begins.