ASNT NDT vs ASNT 9712 vs employer Level II certification

Route 1: employer certification under SNT-TC-1A

SNT-TC-1A is a recommended practice. ASNT's advisory of 11 June 2026 calls it an employer-based system: an employer writes its own procedure for qualifying and certifying its people, and the employer issues the certification.

What that means for you:

• Your employer decides what training, experience and exams count. Your employer's written practice is the rulebook.
• The certification belongs to that employer. Another company will usually want to see its own process applied to you, or a credential from outside.
• A training company cannot issue SNT-TC-1A certification on its own. ASNT's advisory says institutes may provide training, and may provide exams for an employer when the employer's written practice allows it. A certificate from a school that mentions SNT-TC-1A is evidence of training, not a certification decision by an employer.

Route 2: ASNT NDT Level II

This is the central program that exams like ours prepare you for. ASNT's comparison page describes it as a two-part certification: a General computer-based exam plus Specific computer-based exams for one or more methods. The program page says ASNT checks your training and experience before you test.

ASNT recommends this program if you will take your hands-on practical exams through an employer-based program or another resource. In other words, ASNT writes the written exams and your employer still handles visual acuity, practical and job-specific exams under its written practice.

Pick this route when:

• Your employer already runs a written practice and wants ASNT's written exams as part of it.
• You want a credential that is not tied to one employer's paperwork.
• You are doing your practical work on the job and want the written side done and portable.

Route 3: ASNT 9712 Level II

ASNT 9712 is a separate program. Per ASNT's 9712 page, it meets the international ISO 9712 standard, and it has more parts: written exams plus hands-on practical exams and an instruction-preparation exam. The comparison page says to choose it if you want to work as a contractor in more than one country, or to show an employer outside their internal program what you can do.

It costs more and takes more steps, because the practical exam is part of the package. Its fees and eligibility are different from ASNT NDT Level II, so do not reuse numbers between the two. The cost article covers the ASNT NDT fees only.

Side by side

How to choose in four questions

1. Does your employer certify its own people? If yes, ask for the written practice and the list of exams it accepts. That decides your first step.
2. Which written exam does it accept? Many employers accept ASNT's General and Specific exams for the written portion. Ask, and get the answer in writing.
3. Will you work outside one company or one country? If so, compare the 9712 program with the central ASNT NDT route.
4. Which method? Training and experience requirements differ by method. The requirements guide lists them, and which method to certify in first helps if you have not chosen.

Reading a certificate or a training flyer

Before you pay a provider, check what the paper will say. A course certificate records attendance. An employer certification records a decision by that employer. An ASNT credential can be looked up on ASNT's public database, and our verification guide shows how. The free course article explains why a certificate from a free course is not the same thing as certification.

ASNT also runs an employer-based certification accreditation program that audits a company's written practice. That accredits the company's system. It does not mean any one person holds an ASNT credential.

What to do next

If you are on the ASNT NDT route for UT, the written General exam is the part you can prepare for now. Take the free 10-question UT check. It needs no signup, explains every answer and shows which topics to drill first. The course adds timed practice exams and a study plan built from your exam date, and Echo, the study assistant inside it, can explain a question you missed. See the plans when you are ready for more than a first look.

FAQ

Is ASNT NDT Level II the same as ASNT 9712?

No. ASNT runs both, but they are different programs with different exam parts. The NDT program uses written exams from ASNT and leaves practical exams to your employer. The 9712 program includes a hands-on practical exam and meets the ISO 9712 standard.

Can a training school certify me under SNT-TC-1A?

Not on its own. ASNT's June 2026 advisory says SNT-TC-1A certification is issued by employers. A school can train you and can give exams for an employer when the employer's written practice permits it.

Which route do employers prefer?

It depends on the employer, and ASNT does not publish a preference. Ask the employer you want to work for what it accepts before you choose.

Sources

• Compare ASNT Certifications in Nondestructive Testing, ASNT, read 26 October 2026.
• ASNT NDT Level II Certification, ASNT Certification Services, read 26 October 2026.
• ASNT 9712 Level II Certification, ASNT Certification Services, read 26 October 2026.
• Advisory on SNT-TC-1A Certification Practices and Use of ASNT Credentials, ASNT, 11 June 2026.