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Read this firstUT Level 2 General exam: topics and formatThe six UT Level 2 General exam topics, what to drill for each one, and 3 explained sample questions with answers, plus a free 10-question check.

Exam facts and requirements

35 resources

What is on the exam, who can sit it, what it costs and how to keep it.

UT Level 2 General exam: topics and formatThe six UT Level 2 General exam topics, what to drill for each one, and 3 explained sample questions with answers, plus a free 10-question check.
ASNT MT Level 2 exam guide: format, topics and feesASNT MT Level II General exam: 50 items in 2 hours, topic outlines before and after 15 Dec 2026, fees and eligibility.
The ASNT PT Level II exam: topics, format and choosing a PT methodThe ASNT PT Level II General exam topics, format and fees, plus a worked way to choose penetrant type, removal method and remover for a part.
The UT General outline change for exams after 5 February 2027See which ASNT UT General outline applies to your exam date, how the 5 February 2027 change affects you and how to update your study plan.
NDT Level 2 certification: requirements, steps and examsHow to get NDT Level 2 certified: ASNT or employer route, seven steps, training and experience by method, ASNT exam fees and a short FAQ.
NDT courses: Level II training by methodNon destructive testing courses run one method at a time. See what a UT, PT, MT, RT or VT Level II course covers, ASNT's training hours and how to choose.
ASNT central certification vs employer certification under SNT-TC-1AUnderstand ASNT NDT Level II, employer certification under SNT-TC-1A and ASNT 9712 before choosing training or exam preparation.
NDT Level II technician pay (BLS and posted salaries)A BLS wage benchmark for NDT specialists, three posted Level II pay ranges, and how method, location and certification requirements change the rate.
Level II exam prep for NDT service companiesPlan ASNT NDT Level II exam preparation for a technician team. See what each seat includes, the per-seat crew prices and how quotes and invoices work.
How to verify an ASNT NDT Level II certification onlineFind ASNT's certificate-holder search, distinguish employer-issued Level II records, and check the evidence behind an NDT certification claim.
ASNT NDT Level III certification: exams, eligibility, fees and renewalASNT NDT Level III certification: the Basic and Method exams, experience by education, member and non-member fees, five steps to apply and renewal.
The MT General outline change for exams after 15 December 2026Which ASNT MT Level II General topic list applies to your exam date, how the 10 earlier topics map to the 5 new domains, and what to add to your study.
ASNT NDT Level II exam day: booking, ID, calculator and retakesHow ASNT and Pearson VUE run the NDT Level II exams: booking, the two IDs, the on-screen calculator, retake waits and what ASNT says about scoring.
NDT methods compared: UT, MT, PT, RT, VT, ETCompare the six main NDT methods, UT, MT, PT, RT, VT and ET: what each detects, the materials it suits, its limits and which Level II exam covers it.
Skip distance: what it means and why it mattersSkip distance in ultrasonic testing: what half skip and full skip mean, a labelled diagram of the beam crossing a plate, and the mix-ups that cost points.
Near field: what it means and why it mattersNear field in UT: what it is, the N = D squared over 4 lambda formula, why amplitude is unreliable there, and how it differs from the dead zone.
Beam spread: what it means and why it mattersBeam spread in ultrasonic testing: how the beam widens in the far field, what controls the half angle, and why the edge convention changes the answer.
Attenuation: what it means and why it mattersAttenuation in ultrasonic testing: how scattering and absorption weaken a sound beam, why grain size and frequency matter, and how dB drops are read.
DAC curve: what it means and why it mattersWhat a DAC (distance amplitude correction) curve is in ultrasonic testing, how it is built from reference reflectors, and how a flaw echo is read.
Couplant: what it means and why it mattersCouplant in ultrasonic testing: why a liquid or gel layer is needed under a contact probe, how to pick one, and why it must match calibration.
Acoustic impedance: what it means and why it mattersAcoustic impedance in ultrasonic testing: Z = density times velocity, how the mismatch at a boundary sets reflection, and a worked steel-to-water example.
Critical angles: what it means and why it mattersFirst and second critical angles in ultrasonic testing: how Snell's law finds them, why shear wave probes work between them, and a worked wedge example.
Shear wave vs longitudinal wave: what it means and why it mattersShear waves versus longitudinal waves in ultrasonic testing: particle motion, velocities, wavelength at one frequency, and which one each probe uses.
Dead zone: what it means and why it mattersDead zone in ultrasonic testing: why echoes close to the surface get lost in the initial pulse, how it differs from near field, and how to shorten it.
Longitudinal vs circular magnetization: what it means and why it mattersLongitudinal versus circular magnetization in magnetic particle testing: how each field is made, which flaw direction each finds, and how to choose.
Wet vs dry magnetic particles: what it means and why it mattersWet versus dry magnetic particles: how each is applied, where each is used, how wet baths are kept in condition, and why wet or dry is not color.
Leakage field: what it means and why it mattersThe leakage field in magnetic particle testing: how a flaw pushes magnetic flux out of a part, what makes it strong or weak, and false indications.
Demagnetization: what it means and why it mattersDemagnetization after magnetic particle testing: why a residual field matters, the common methods, why circular fields hide, and how it is checked.
Yoke vs prods: what it means and why it mattersYoke versus prods in magnetic particle testing: how each makes its field, which flaws each shows, arcing risk, and the checks that go with each.
Dwell time: what it means and why it mattersDwell time in liquid penetrant testing: what it covers, what happens when it is too short or long, what sets it, and how it differs from development time.
Developer types: what it means and why it mattersPenetrant developer types: dry powder, water-suspendible, water-soluble and nonaqueous wet, how each is applied, and why the layer must stay thin.
Penetrant removal methods: what it means and why it mattersPenetrant removal methods compared: water-washable, lipophilic and hydrophilic post-emulsifiable, and solvent-removable, with steps and the risk of each.
Capillary action: what it means and why it mattersCapillary action in liquid penetrant testing: how a liquid is drawn into narrow openings, what wetting and surface tension do, and why cleaning matters.
Visible vs fluorescent penetrant: what it means and why it mattersVisible versus fluorescent penetrant: how each dye is seen, the lighting each needs, where each is used, and why parts are not switched between types.
NDT terms glossary: UT, MT and PT terms explainedPlain-English NDT glossary for ASNT Level II candidates: ultrasonic, magnetic particle and liquid penetrant terms, each with a drawing and a full page.

Study guides

6 resources

Work through one topic at a time, with the method and worked examples.

Ultrasonic testing formulas for UT Level II, worked examplesWavelength, near field, beam spread, Snell's law, skip distance, decibels and impedance for UT Level II, each with a worked example and its convention.
Angle beam ultrasonic testing: how it works on weldsAngle beam ultrasonic testing explained: how the wedge sends a shear wave into a weld, how to plan the scan and how to locate a reflector, with examples.
UT Level II training courses vs exam prep: what you getUT Level II exam prep and training options side by side: price, access, renewal, refund rule and question count, from each seller page, read 22 Oct 2026.
MT field direction and technique selectionBuild an MT study workflow from expected discontinuity direction to field direction, technique choice, process checks and a recorded result.
PT process control and indicationsA PT study workflow for checking process conditions, describing indications, identifying acceptance criteria and recording a traceable decision.
ASNT Level 2 study guide: UT, MT and PTAn ASNT Level 2 study guide for UT, MT and PT General exams: what to learn per method, and every guide, calculator and post in the order to use them.

Practice tests and drills

8 resources

Check yourself on questions, symbols and code look-ups, then see what to fix.

UT Level 2 practice test (free)Free UT Level II General practice: try the explained sample questions, take the free 10-question check and review each miss by topic.
MT Level II practice: a study routineFree MT Level 2 practice: 3 original sample questions with explained answers, practice by topic and a free 10-question check.
PT Level II practice: review by topicFree PT Level 2 practice: 3 original sample questions with explained answers, practice by topic and a free 10-question check.
NDT practice test by method (UT, MT, PT)Free NDT Level II practice tests by method: UT, MT and PT quizzes, one explained sample question each and a free 10-question check per General exam.
Penetrant testing quiz: PT Level 2 practice18 PT Level 2 practice questions on indications and technique, every answer explained.
UT Level 2 quiz: free ultrasonic practice18 UT Level 2 practice questions on physics, calibration and beam geometry, every answer explained.
NDT math practice: Level 2 drillTen fresh UT math problems a set, from wavelength to skip distance, with every step shown.
MT Level 2 quiz: magnetic particle practiceFree MT Level 2 quiz: 18 original magnetic particle questions on field direction, current, particles, demagnetizing and indications, each answer explained.

Tools and calculators

8 resources

Run the math your exam asks for and get the answer in seconds.

Skip distance calculator (angle beam, full and half skip)Half and full skip for any probe angle and thickness.
Snell's law calculator: refracted angle and critical anglesRefracted and critical angles across any two materials.
dB gain and amplitude ratio calculatorConvert dB gain, amplitude ratio and screen height in one place.
UT beam calculator: near-field length, beam spread and wavelengthNear field, beam spread and wavelength for your probe.
Acoustic impedance calculator for UT: Z, R and TDensity and velocity to Z, the share of intensity reflected and transmitted each way, and the dB loss.
Ultrasonic thickness calculator: thickness, velocity and transit timeFree ultrasonic thickness calculator: thickness, velocity or transit time from T = V × t ÷ 2, with zero offset, two-point calibration and a velocity fix.
Magnetic particle amperage calculator: coil, head shot and prodsMagnetizing current for coil, head shot and prod setups.
NDT study plan builder (UT, MT, PT)A week-by-week UT, MT or PT plan from your exam date and hours, built on the ASNT topic list for your date.