Reference Guide

NDT Training Hour Requirements

SNT-TC-1A 2024 and NAS410 formal training hours by method and level, and how a compliant online program documents them.

Before any technician can be certified in a nondestructive testing method, the governing program requires documented formal training hours in that method. For most of industry the reference is ASNT SNT-TC-1A (a recommended practice your employer adapts into its written practice); for aerospace it is NAS410, whose requirements are mandatory. The two documents don't always agree, so NDT Academy designs every course to meet the stricter of the two.

Method	SNT-TC-1A 2024, Level I	SNT-TC-1A 2024, Level II	NAS410, Level I	NAS410, Level II	Direct to Level II	NDT Academy course
UT, Ultrasonic Testing	40 h	40 h	40 h	40 h	80 h	80 h
RT, Radiographic Testing	40 h	40 h	40 h	40 h	80 h	80 h
MT, Magnetic Particle Testing	12 h	8 h	16 h	16 h	32 h	32 h
PT, Liquid Penetrant Testing	4 h	8 h	16 h	16 h	32 h	32 h
ET, Eddy Current Testing	40 h	40 h	40 h	40 h	80 h	80 h
VT, Visual Testing	8 h	16 h	-	-	24 h	24 h
BASIC, NDT Basic (Level III Prep)	- h	- h	-	-	-	0 h
RS, Radiation Safety	- h	- h	-	-	-	0 h
API 510, API 510 Pressure Vessel Inspector	- h	- h	-	-	-	0 h
API 570, API 570 Piping Inspector	- h	- h	-	-	-	0 h
API 653, API 653 Aboveground Storage Tank Inspector	- h	- h	-	-	-	0 h
API 1169, API 1169 Pipeline Construction Inspector	- h	- h	-	-	-	0 h
CWI 9YR, CWI 9-Year Renewal	- h	- h	-	-	-	0 h
CWI 1104, Certified Welding Inspector, API 1104 Track	- h	- h	-	-	-	0 h
CWI D1.1, Certified Welding Inspector, AWS D1.1 Track	- h	- h	-	-	-	0 h
PMI, Positive Material Identification (PMI)	- h	- h	-	-	-	0 h
HT, Hardness Testing	- h	- h	-	-	-	0 h
CR, Computed Radiography Level II Add-On Formal Training	- h	24 h	-	24 h	-	24 h
DR, Digital Detector Array Radiography Level II Add-On Formal Training	- h	24 h	-	24 h	-	24 h

SOURCES: SNT-TC-1A 2024 TABLE 6.3.1A · NAS410 TABLE 1 (VERIFY AGAINST PURCHASED REV 6 TEXT) · "-" = NOT SPECIFIED BY THAT DOCUMENT. EMPLOYER WRITTEN PRACTICE GOVERNS.

How online training hours get documented

An auditor reviewing your qualification file wants three things: what was taught (a syllabus traceable to CP-105 topical outlines), how long you trained (an hour ledger), and evidence of comprehension (quiz and exam results). NDT Academy produces all three automatically:

Every lesson maps to numbered CP-105-2024 outline topics, verified at 100% coverage.
Training time is logged from active engagement only; idle and hidden-tab time never counts.
Knowledge checks, module quizzes, and level final exams record scores and dates.

Method-by-method notes

UT, RT, ET, 40 hours per level under both documents; the longest formal training requirements in common use. UT course, RT course, ET course.
MT, PT, NAS410 requires 16 hours per level, exceeding the SNT-TC-1A recommendation; our MT and PT courses are built to the 16-hour figure.
VT, SNT-TC-1A recommends 8/16 hours (L1/L2); NAS410 is silent on VT. VT course.
Radiation Safety, hours are set by your jurisdiction and license conditions, separate from RT method training. Radiation Safety course.

CWI 9-year recertification PDHs

Eligible to submit toward AWS CWI 9-year recertification under QC1 Section 16. Each contact hour of completed training may be documented as 1 PDH. AWS requires a certificate stating contact hours and a course description. We provide both. At least 20 of the 80 PDHs must fall in the last 3 years of the 9-year period. Final credit is determined by the AWS Certification Department.

Dedicated recertification course: CWI 9-Year Renewal, 80 PDH. Method contact hours you can document (VT, PT, MT, RT, UT):

VT, Visual Testing: 24 contact hours
MT, Magnetic Particle Testing: 32 contact hours
PT, Liquid Penetrant Testing: 32 contact hours
UT, Ultrasonic Testing: 40 contact hours per level
RT, Radiographic Testing: 40 contact hours per level

Eddy Current is not named in the AWS B5.1 NDE subject list. You may still submit it; AWS decides.

FAQ

Who sets NDT training hour requirements?

Your employer's written practice sets the binding numbers, guided by SNT-TC-1A (ASNT's recommended practice) for general industry and mandated by NAS410 for aerospace. NDT Academy courses are designed to the stricter of SNT-TC-1A 2024 Table 6.3.1A and NAS410 Table 1 for each method and level.

What counts as a formal training hour?

Organized, documented instruction in the method, classroom, virtual, or structured self-paced study with records. On NDT Academy, hours accrue only during active engagement: idle time and hidden browser tabs pause the clock, and the resulting ledger lists date, lesson, and minutes for every entry.

What is direct-to-Level-II training?

When a trainee qualifies straight to Level II without holding Level I, SNT-TC-1A Table 6.3.1A Note 1 requires the combined Level I + Level II training hours. Our course totals record those combined figures per method.

Can NDT hours be documented as AWS CWI PDHs?

Yes, as distance learning under AWS QC1 Section 16. Each contact hour printed on your certificate of formal training may be documented as 1 PDH toward CWI 9-year recertification, for methods in the AWS B5.1 NDE subject areas (VT, PT, MT, RT, UT). AWS requires that certificate plus a course description. Final credit is determined by the AWS Certification Department. At least 20 of the 80 PDHs must fall in the last 3 years of the 9-year period.

Train to the stricter standard

Every course meets SNT-TC-1A 2024 and NAS410 hour requirements with margin.

Browse NDT Courses