PCN NDT Radiographic Testing Level 2 Exam exam-day guide
PCN NDT Radiographic Testing Level 2 Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo ID
Bring a passport or photocard driving licence with a name that matches your booking exactly. needs_review - confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a second form of ID is required.
Appointment letter or booking confirmation
Keep a printed or downloaded copy showing the date, start time, venue and examination parts. It speeds up check-in and settles any confusion about which papers you are sitting.
Up-to-date vision certificate
PCN certification requires documented near-vision acuity, with colour perception tested at the required interval. needs_review - confirm whether the centre already holds a valid record or expects you to bring the certificate on the day.
Glasses or contact lenses
If you rely on correction to read film detail, the technique sheet or the report form, bring it and mention it at check-in. Tell the examiner early if near vision is difficult so reading arrangements can be adjusted.
Pens, pencil, eraser and short ruler
Bring at least two black or blue pens for the report and a pencil for planning. Films are identified with the markers supplied at the workstation, not with your own pen.
Non-programmable calculator
Useful for exposure, density and geometric unsharpness calculations. needs_review - confirm with the provider whether calculators are permitted, which types are allowed, and whether one is issued.
Site PPE
Safety footwear and eye protection are normally required in a radiography bay or exposure enclosure, and a lab coat may be specified. needs_review - confirm exactly what the centre supplies and what you must bring yourself.
Personal dosimeter
Dosimeters and survey meters are normally issued and controlled by the test centre. needs_review - confirm whether you must bring an employer-issued dosimeter or wear only the one provided on site.
No unauthorised reference material
Codes, standards, personal notes and textbooks are normally provided or prohibited. needs_review - confirm whether any part of the practical is open-book and which documents are placed at the workstation.
Travel and arrival plan
Aim to arrive 30 to 45 minutes early to allow for reception, site induction and a radiation safety briefing. Check parking, public transport and any site access restrictions in advance.
Watch and phone plan
A simple wristwatch helps you pace the practical. Smart watches and phones usually stay outside the work area; confirm the storage arrangement when you check in.
Plan the day
Confirm the booking in writing: date, start time, venue, which parts you are taking and what the centre provides. Check that your vision certificate is valid and arrange a test immediately if it is not, because certification cannot proceed without it.
Re-read the requirements you will be asked to follow: source-to-film distance, kV, mA and time selection, film class, screens, IQI type and placement, density limits, film identification and processing. Practise writing a complete report from a set of radiographs, including acceptance or rejection against stated criteria.
Pack ID, confirmation, pens, calculator, glasses, PPE and any permitted documents. Plan the journey and check the weather. Do light revision of formulas and processing variables, avoid learning new material, and get a full night's sleep.
Eat properly and arrive early. At reception, present ID and confirmation, complete any induction, collect your dosimeter and listen to the safety briefing. Ask where PPE, survey meters, cassettes, viewers and processing facilities are located.
Read the written instruction and the report form from beginning to end. Identify the number of exposures required, the acceptance criteria and every reporting field. Check that the workstation has the specified source, films, screens, IQIs, markers and processing chemicals before exposing anything.
Set up geometry and identification markers carefully, calculate the exposure, and confirm the IQI is visible and density is within limits before dismantling the set-up. Keep a rough log of the technique parameters actually used so the report is accurate.
Assess films on the viewer under the specified conditions, record all discontinuities with their locations and sizes, compare against the acceptance criteria, and complete every field legibly. Describe the technique actually used, not the one originally planned.
Check identification on all films, verify that calculations and units in the report are correct, sign and date it, and hand in films and paperwork as instructed. Ask the examiner before leaving whether anything must be returned or the area cleaned.
Rules to check
Carry valid photo ID at all times; if it does not match the booking you may be refused entry. needs_review - confirm the accepted ID types and any additional security requirements with the provider.
Mobile phones, smart watches and other connected devices must be switched off and stored as directed. Do not use them or keep them on your person in the work area.
Work independently. Do not discuss techniques, films, results or report wording with other candidates during the test or during breaks.
Ask the examiner before leaving the work area for a break, and follow any escort or radiation-safety procedure. Confirm the centre's break policy at the start of the day.
Follow all site safety instructions: obey controlled-area barriers and warning signals, wear your issued dosimeter, and do not operate X-ray or gamma equipment until authorised by the supervising radiographer.
If equipment fails, a film is damaged through no fault of yours, or an instruction is ambiguous, stop and report it to the examiner immediately. Do not improvise around a fault, and ask for the issue to be noted.
Scoring: the practical is graded against the specified acceptance criteria and reporting requirements, and each part of the Level 2 examination must normally be passed. needs_review - confirm pass marks, the retake window and whether any marks are carried forward with the provider.