ASNT NDT III ET exam-day guide
ASNT NDT III ET · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID the provider requires for admission; the name must match your registration. Confirm accepted ID forms and name-matching rules with the provider.
Admission/authorization document
Bring your scheduling confirmation, authorization-to-test letter, or candidate number if the provider issues one. Confirm whether a printed copy is required.
Approved calculator
Bring a non-programmable calculator if permitted. Confirm the provider's allowed-models list and whether memory must be cleared; do not assume any model is acceptable.
Writing materials
Bring pencils and a pen for scratch work and any written/answer-sheet portions. Confirm whether scratch paper is supplied and whether personal paper is prohibited.
Reference materials (only if allowed)
Confirm in advance whether the ET III exam is open-book and which documents are permitted. Do not bring reference material unless the provider explicitly allows it.
Method-standard familiarity (mental prep, no materials)
Review the applicable eddy current method standard and your employer's written practice so you can answer procedure and qualification questions confidently. Bring nothing you are not permitted to bring.
Logistics plan
Confirm test location, arrival time, parking, and travel buffer with the provider. Arrive early; late arrival policies vary and may result in forfeiture.
Personal comfort items
Bring water and a light layer; confirm the provider's policy on food, drink, and personal items in the testing room.
Medical/accessibility accommodations
If you need accommodations, confirm approval and arrangements with the provider well before exam day.
Rest and readiness
Sleep, eat, and arrive rested. Review formulas and key concepts rather than cramming new material the night before.
Plan the day
Re-read the exam content outline and your weak areas. Work practice problems on ET principles (impedance, phase, frequency/penetration trade-offs), coil types, and signal interpretation. Confirm all logistics and required documents with the provider.
Verify calculator eligibility, ID requirements, and whether any reference materials are permitted. Resolve open questions with the provider now, not on exam day.
Light review only: skim formula sheets and summary notes. Pack your ID, admission documents, calculator, and writing materials. Confirm travel time and set alarms.
Eat a normal meal, arrive early, and re-check that you have your ID and required documents. Leave prohibited items (phones, smart watches, notes) secured per provider rules.
Read each question fully, watch for qualifiers (except, best, primary), and budget time so you can return to flagged items. Answer every question if there is no penalty for guessing; confirm the scoring rule with the provider.
If a question is ambiguous, choose the best-supported answer and note it mentally; do not stall. Use scratch work for calculations and check units (frequency, conductivity, phase angle).
Rules to check
Bring the ID and admission documents the provider requires; the name on your ID must match your registration. Confirm exact requirements with the provider.
Follow all proctor instructions on personal items. Phones, smart watches, and unauthorized notes are typically prohibited in the testing area; confirm the specific policy.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam and do not attempt to copy, share, or record exam content.
Confirm break policy in advance: whether breaks are scheduled, timed, or allowed at all, and whether you may leave the room.
Confirm whether the exam is open- or closed-book and which references, if any, are permitted before you bring anything.
Confirm the scoring and passing standard, whether unanswered questions count against you, and whether partial credit applies.
If you believe a question is defective or the environment is disruptive, note it and raise it with the proctor or provider through their stated process rather than debating during the test.
Report any testing irregularity or suspected security issue to the provider promptly; do not discuss exam content with others afterward.