Study Materials

If Self Study is your path to certification whether it is NDT ASNT Level III or IRRSP then ASNTs book
store offers Study Guides, Questions and Answers Books, Training books and Handbooks that have the
body of knowledge for you to be successful in seeking your credentials. Pick your NDT Method and the
reference material best suited for you.

Level III Titles

Acoustic Emission Testing

NDT Handbook: Volume 6, Acoustic Emission Testing (146)

Supplement to Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A (Q&A Book) - Acoustic Emission Testing
Method (2032)
Eddy Current Testing

Level III Study Guide: Eddy Current Testing (2257)

NDT Handbook: Volume 5, Electromagnetic Testing (145)

Fundamentals of Eddy Current Testing (470)

Supplement to Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A (Q&A Book) - Eddy Current/Flux Leakage
Testing Method (2030)
Infrared and Thermal Testing

NDT Handbook, third edition, Volume 3, Infrared and Thermal Testing (143, 144CD, 144WCD)

NDT Handbook, second edition, Volume 9, Special NDT Methods (134A)

Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer (952)

ASNT Level III Study Guide Infrared and Thermal Testing Method (2265)
Leak Testing

NDT Handbook: Volume 1, Leak Testing (141, 141CD, 141WCD)

ASNT Level III Study Guide Leak Testing Method (2266)

All Four Leak Testing Methods - Supplement to Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A (Q&A Books)
Leak Testing Methods (2033A)
Magnetic Flux Leakage

The MFL Compendium: Articles on Magnetic Flux Leakage (212)

NDT Handbook: Third Edition, Volume 5, Electromagnetic Testing (145)

NDT Handbook: Third Edition, Volume 8, Magnetic Testing (148)

Supplement to Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A (Q&A Book) - Electromagnetic Testing

Method(2030)
Magnetic Particle Testing

Level III Study Guide: Magnetic Particle Testing, Second Edition (2253)

NDT Handbook: Third Edition, Volume 8, Magnetic Testing (148)

Supplement to Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A (Q&A) Book Magnetic Particle

Method,Second Edition (2027)
Liquid Penetrant Testing

Level III Study Guide: Liquid Penetrant Testing (2255)

NDT Handbook: Volume 2, Liquid Penetrant Tests (142, 142CD, 142WCD)

Supplement to Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A (Q&A Book) - Liquid Penetrant Testing Method,
Revised Edition (2029)
Radiographic Testing

Level III Study Guide: Radiographic Testing (2259)

NDT Handbook: Volume 4, Radiographic Testing (144, 144CD, 144WCD)

Supplement to Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A (Q&A Book) - Radiographic Testing

Method(2026)

Working Safety in Radiography (232)

Ultrasonic Testing

Level III Study Guide: Ultrasonic Testing (2261)

NDT Handbook: Volume 7, Ultrasonic Testing (147)

Supplement to Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A (Q&A Book) - Ultrasonic Testing Method (2028)

Ultrasonics: Fundamentals, Technology, Applications (341)

Visual Testing

Level III Study Guide: Visual and Optical Testing (2263)

NDT Handbook, 3rd Edition, Vol. 9, Visual Testing (149)

ASM Handbook Vol. 17, NDE and QC (105)

Supplement to SNT-TC-1A: VT (Q & A Book) (2034)

Materials and Processes for NDT Technology (2250)

Basic and Method Exams

ASNT NDT Level III certification candidates are required to pass both the NDT Basic and a method
examination in order to receive the ASNT NDT Level III certificate.

Exam Specifications
The table below lists the number of questions and time allowed for each exam. Clicking on an exam will
take you to an abbreviated topical outline and reference page for that exam. For the full topical outlines
and complete list of references, see the topical outlines listed in the American National
Standard ANSI/ASNT CP-105, Standard Topical Outlines for Qualification of Nondestructive Testing
Personnel.

Exam
NDT Basic
Nondestructive Testing
ET
Electromagnetic Testing
IR
Infrared/Thermal Testing
LT
Leak Testing

No. of
Items*

Time

Certification
Required for ASNT NDT Level

135

4 hrs

135

4 hrs

NDT only

90

2 hrs

NDT only

135

4 hrs

NDT only

90

2 hrs

NDT only

90

2 hrs

NDT and ACCP

135

4 hrs

NDT only

90

2 hrs

NDT and ACCP

135

4 hrs

NDT and ACCP

135

4 hrs

NDT and ACCP

III Certification

MFL
Magnetic Flux Leakage
Testing
MT
Magnetic Particle Testing
NR
Neutron Radiographic
Testing
PT
Liquid Penetrant Testing
RT
Radiographic Testing
UT
Ultrasonic Testing

VT
Visual Testing

90

2 hrs

NDT and ACCP

* Up to 20% of the examination items (questions) may be provisional questions that do

not count towards the examinees examination score but are included to develop
statistical data. These items are included as part of ASNTs efforts for continuous
examination improvement in accordance with industry-accepted psychometric principles.
The number of graded items still exceeds the minimum number of questions required by
industry certification standards.

Level III
NDT Basic
Topical Outline
This examination is 4 hours in length, having 135 questions of equal value.

Administration of NDT personnel certification programs

SNT-TC-1A, 2011 edition

ASNT CP-189, 2011 edition

General familiarity with other NDT methods

Radiography (safety, X-ray, and isotope methods)

Neutron radiography

Ultrasonic testing

Eddy current and flux leakage testing

Liquid penetrant testing

Magnetic particle testing

Leak testing

Acoustic emission testing

Visual testing

Thermal/infrared

Materials, fabrication, and production technology

Properties of materials, origin of discontinuities, and failure modes

Materials processing (casting, welding, forging, brazing, soldering, machining, heat treatment, surface
treatment, adhesive bonding, etc.)

Dimensional metrology

References
The number in parentheses following each reference is the ASNT catalog number.

Level III Study Guide: Basic (2251)

SNT-TC-1A (2011 edition) (2071)

Supplement to Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A: Complete Set of Supplements,

PlusRecommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A (2011 edition) (2192)

Materials and Processes for NDT Technology (2250)

ANSI/ASNT CP-189 (2011 edition) (2508)

NDT Handbook: Volume 10, NDT Overview (140)

ASM Handbook Vol. 17, NDE and QC (105)

About Radiographic Testing (RT)

Industrial radiography involves exposing a test object to penetrating radiation so that the radiation passes
through the object being inspected and a recording medium placed against the opposite side of that
object. For thinner or less dense materials such as aluminum, electrically generated x-radiation (X-rays)
are commonly used, and for thicker or denser materials, gamma radiation is generally used.

Topical Outline
This examination is 4 hours in length, having 135 questions of equal value.

Principles and Theory

Equipment/Materials

Electrically generated sources

Particulate radiation sources

Radiation detectors

Techniques/Calibration

Imaging considerations

Film processing

Viewing of radiographs

Judging radiographic quality

Exposure calculations

Radiographic techniques

Interpretation and Evaluation

Procedures

Safety and Health

Exposure hazards

Methods of controlling radiation exposure

Operational and emergency procedures

Dosimetry and Film Badges

References
The number in parentheses following each reference is the ASNT catalog number.

Level III Study Guide: Radiographic Testing (2259)

NDT Handbook: Volume 4, Radiographic Testing (144, 144CD, 144WCD)

Supplement to Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A (Q&A Book) - Radiographic Testing

Method(2026)

Working Safety in Radiography (232)