ASNT NDT III UT exam-day guide
ASNT NDT III UT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID the provider specified when you registered. Name on the ID should match your registration name; confirm acceptable ID types with the provider.
Admission/authorization documents
Bring your exam authorization or scheduling confirmation and any admission letter the provider issued. Confirm the required documents with the provider.
Approved calculator
Bring a basic scientific calculator if permitted. Confirm the provider's calculator policy (allowed models, memory/communication restrictions) before test day.
Reference standards and code documents
Some practical/III exams are open-book for codes and standards. Confirm with the provider which documents are permitted and whether you must supply your own or they are furnished.
Personal UT instrument familiarity
If the practical portion uses your own or a furnished flaw detector, know the basic menu navigation, display, and calibration functions in advance. Confirm equipment arrangements with the provider.
Method-appropriate PPE and work attire
For hands-on practical stations, wear safety glasses, closed-toe shoes, and clothing suitable for a lab/shop setting. Confirm any site-specific PPE requirements with the provider.
Written procedure review notes
Bring your own study notes only if the provider permits notes at practical stations; otherwise leave them at home. Confirm the notes/reference policy with the provider.
Travel and lodging logistics
Know the test site location, parking, check-in time, and arrival buffer. Confirm check-in time and site access with the provider.
Rest, food, and hydration plan
Plan a normal night's sleep, a light meal, and water. Practical exams can run long; confirm the day's schedule and break policy with the provider.
Scratch paper and writing instrument
Bring pencils/pens and scratch paper only if the provider allows them. Confirm allowed materials with the provider.
Medical/accessibility accommodations
If you need accommodations, request them well before test day. Confirm the accommodation process and deadlines with the provider.
Backup plan for equipment failure
If you bring your own instrument, verify batteries, cables, transducers, and couplant beforehand. Confirm the provider's policy on instrument failure during the exam.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's candidate handbook and admission requirements; confirm ID, documents, calculator, and reference-document rules. Do a final review of calibration, scanning, and data-recording steps for the practical stations. Pack your bag and confirm travel.
Do a light review only; avoid cramming new material. Lay out ID, authorization, calculator, PPE, and any permitted references. Confirm check-in time and route to the site. Get a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal meal, arrive early with a buffer, and check in. Re-read any instructions given at the site, listen carefully to examiner briefings, and ask clarifying questions about station setup before starting.
Read each station's instructions fully before acting. Set up and verify calibrations per the specified procedure, record readings and settings clearly, and manage time across stations. If equipment or instructions are unclear, ask the examiner rather than guessing. Review your recorded data before submitting each station.
Rules to check
Present the required photo ID and admission documents at check-in; confirm acceptable ID and document requirements with the provider.
Follow all site safety rules and examiner instructions, including PPE and equipment handling at practical stations.
Use only materials, calculators, and reference documents the provider permits; confirm the allowed-materials policy with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates about exam content during the exam, and follow the provider's policy on leaving and re-entering the testing area.
Ask the examiner for clarification on station instructions or equipment issues; do not improvise procedures that conflict with the specified method or procedure.
Record all required data, settings, and calibration information legibly; confirm the provider's scoring and partial-credit policy in advance.
Follow the provider's break policy; confirm whether breaks are scheduled, timed, or unrestricted before test day.
Report any equipment malfunction or safety concern to the examiner immediately; confirm the provider's policy on equipment failure and retesting.