NDT courses: Level II training by method
Non destructive testing courses are taught one method at a time: there is a UT course, a PT course, an MT course and so on, not one NDT course that covers them all. For Level II, ASNT asks for documented classroom training in each method you certify in, plus supervised experience and written exams. The courses themselves come in three forms: a public classroom course, an online or self-paced course, and training your employer runs or pays for. This guide sets out what a Level II course covers in each method, the training hours ASNT lists, and how the three forms differ, so you can compare a course against the training your employer's written practice asks for before you book it.
NDT courses by method
ASNT lists Level II training in days, and counts a day as at least 7 hours. The hours below are ASNT's day counts multiplied by seven, so read them as minimums. Training and experience hours by method converts the experience columns too and shows how to keep a log a supervisor can sign. We do not repeat that table here.
| Method | What a Level II course covers | ASNT training hours | Prep on Angle Beam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultrasonic (UT) | How sound travels in metal, instrument set-up and calibration, straight and angle beam scanning, and placing and sizing a flaw from the screen | 84 (12 days) | UT General exam guide and the free UT check |
| Liquid penetrant (PT) | Why penetrant enters surface-open flaws, choosing the penetrant type and removal method, and reading relevant, nonrelevant and false indications | 14 (2 days) | PT Level II exam guide and the free PT check |
| Magnetic particle (MT) | Magnetizing methods, field direction, particles and equipment, and evaluating indications on ferromagnetic parts | 21 (3 days) | Not covered here |
| Radiographic (RT) | Radiation sources, exposure, film or digital imaging, interpreting images and radiation safety | 84 (12 days) | Not covered |
| Visual (VT) | Vision requirements, lighting, tools and gauges, and recognizing and recording surface conditions | 28 (4 days) | Not covered |
Figures read from ASNT's NDT Level II page on 26 October 2026. If ASNT updates its table, the page wins. For how the methods differ in what they find, read NDT methods compared.
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Classroom, online or employer-run
- Public classroom course. A provider runs a fixed number of days, often with lab time on real equipment. Hands-on practice with a probe, a yoke or a penetrant line is the main reason to choose it. Cost is the course fee plus travel and time off.
- Online or self-paced course. Cheaper and flexible, and good for theory. Check that it states the method and the hours on its completion record, and ask whether your certifying body accepts it. A free course is covered in free NDT Level 2 courses with a certificate.
- Employer-run training. Under an employer's written practice (the SNT-TC-1A route), the employer sets the training tables and signs off the hours. If your employer certifies you, ask for the written practice before you book anything else, because the hours on your outside course must count under that document. ASNT central certification and employer certification compared explains the difference.
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What a course does and does not give you
A course puts training hours on your record and teaches the method. It does not give you the experience days ASNT also asks for, and a course certificate is not a Level II certificate. Passing the written exams is separate work, and that is where practice helps. For UT, what to expect in an ultrasonic testing class walks through a typical class, and UT Level II prep: price, renewal, refunds compares study options side by side.
What do NDT courses cost?
Course prices differ widely by provider, method, length and format. We have not sourced named provider price pages, so we give no price range here. Ask each provider for a written quote that lists the method, the hours on the certificate and anything extra, such as exam fees, materials and equipment time.
How to choose
- Decide your route first: ASNT central certification or your employer's written practice.
- Pick the method your job or your employer needs. If you are unsure, which NDT method to certify in first helps.
- Find the training hours your route requires for that method, then pick a course whose record shows the method and at least those hours.
- Start exam practice while your training and experience hours build. The free UT check and the free PT check take about ten minutes, need no signup and explain every answer.
For the full path from first course to certificate, read the NDT Level II requirements and steps.
FAQ
Is there one NDT course that covers every method?
Not for Level II. ASNT lists training days for each method separately, so you take a course per method. Some providers bundle several methods into one week or one package, but each method still needs its own hours.
How long is an NDT Level II course?
It depends on the method. At ASNT's day counts, PT is 2 days, MT is 3 days, VT is 4 days, and UT and RT are 12 days each. A day is at least 7 hours.
Can I take an NDT course online?
Online courses exist and work well for theory. What matters for certification is whether the course record shows the method and the hours, and whether your route accepts it. Check with ASNT or your employer's Level III before you pay.
Do I need a course to take the ASNT Level II exam?
ASNT lists documented training as part of eligibility, so you need training hours for the method. How those hours are delivered is a question for your route's rules.
Sources
Show the list
Figures read from ASNT's NDT Level II page on 26 October 2026. The hours are our arithmetic, seven hours per day. The "what a course covers" lines are our own plain-language summaries, not ASNT or SNT-TC-1A text.
- ASNT NDT Level II Certification, ASNT Certification Services: training days by method and the seven-hour day.
Facts checked 27 October 2026 against the sources listed above. If something has changed, tell us and we will correct it within 2 business days.
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From the blog
- NDT Level II training and experience hours by method
- Ultrasonic testing classes: what to expect
- What is ultrasonic testing, and how does a Level II use it?