How Do I Get NDT-Certified in Aerospace?
A plain-language guide, based on the EN 4179:2026 standard. If you want to work in non-destructive testing (NDT) on aircraft parts, certification is not a simple "take a course and you're done". It's a controlled process, with clear steps, regulated at the European level by EN 4179. This article explains, step by step, what you have to do — and one essential thing many people don't know from the start: you cannot get certified without being employed.
What NDT means, in short
NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) means checking parts for hidden defects without damaging them. In aerospace, where an undetected crack can be fatal, these inspections are mandatory. Among the methods covered by the standard are penetrant testing (PT), magnetic particle testing (MT), ultrasonic testing (UT), radiographic testing (RT), eddy current testing (ET), infrared thermography (IRT) and shearography (ST).
The four certification levels
The standard defines several levels. In short, in order of responsibility:
- Level 1 (and Level 1-Limited): performs the inspection according to work instructions and documents the results. May decide accept/reject only if explicitly permitted.
- Level 2: sets up the equipment, interprets and evaluates the results, decides accept or reject, and may instruct trainees and Level 1 personnel.
- Level 3: holds the technical responsibility — selects the methods, approves the procedures, instructs and examines personnel. For Level 3 you must already be certified Level 2 in that method.
Before any of these comes the trainee status: a person in training, who accumulates experience only under the direct supervision of a Level 2 or 3. The trainee does not make accept/reject decisions and does not work independently.
The road to certification — step by step
- You get employed. This is the mandatory starting point (see the box below).
- Visual acuity examination. You must pass a (near) visual acuity test and a colour perception test. Repeated annually.
- Formal training. You complete the required course hours for the method and level. For example, for Level 2 with no prior Level 1: 32 hours for PT, up to 80 hours for UT, ET or RT. This is exactly where we can help you — see the section at the end.
- Practical experience. You accumulate hours of real work in the method, under supervision. For example, for Level 2 with no prior Level 1: 400 hours for PT, 800 hours for UT/ET/RT.
- The examinations. You take a general (theoretical) exam, a specific one (about the employer's procedures) and a practical one (on real specimens). For Level 3 a basic examination is added as well.
- Certification. If you have passed everything, your employer issues the certification in writing.
The key point: no employer, no certification
Under EN 4179, certification is a written declaration issued by the employer confirming that you have met the requirements of the standard. In other words, the certificate is not given to you by a school or a training centre — it is given to you by your employer.
The standard says it explicitly: "individuals cannot qualify themselves", and the employer "is solely responsible for the certification of its own employees and cannot certify for another employer".
What's more, even the required practical experience must be gathered in the working environment, under the direct observation of a certified colleague. That is practically impossible without a job.
The only exception is self-employed individuals: they can certify themselves, but only if they have their own written procedure and have been qualified by another certified Level 3. So you still can't "just sit an exam" on your own, without the framework of an organisation.
The full requirements for Level 1 and Level 2
The tables below show the minimum training and experience requirements for the five methods we offer — penetrant testing (PT), magnetic particle testing (MT), radiography (RT), ultrasonics (UT) and eddy current (ET). There are two routes to Level 2: either you are already certified Level 1 in that method, or you certify directly at Level 2 (in which case the requirements are higher, because they also cover what Level 1 would have involved).
Minimum training hours (course)
| Method | Level 1 | Level 2 (with prior Level 1) | Level 2 (without prior Level 1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penetrant testing (PT) | 16 | 16 | 32 |
| Magnetic particle testing (MT) | 16 | 16 | 32 |
| Radiography (RT)* | 40 | 40 | 80 |
| Ultrasonics (UT) | 40 | 40 | 80 |
| Eddy current (ET) | 40 | 40 | 80 |
Minimum practical experience hours
| Method | Level 1 | Level 2 (with prior Level 1) | Level 2 (without prior Level 1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penetrant testing (PT) | 130 | 270 | 400 |
| Magnetic particle testing (MT) | 130 | 400 | 530 |
| Radiography (RT)* | 200 | 600 | 800 |
| Ultrasonics (UT) | 200 | 600 | 800 |
| Eddy current (ET) | 200 | 600 | 800 |
* The RT values are for radiography with film OR without film (digital). For both techniques (film and non-film) the hours rise to 60/60/120 training and 220/780/1000 experience.
In addition to the hours above, for any method and level the same general requirements apply: visual acuity examination (annual), a general theoretical exam, a specific one (on the employer's procedures) and a practical one on real specimens, with a minimum of 70% on each exam and an average of at least 80%. All hours are minimums and may be higher if the employer's written procedure requires it.
Source: EN 4179:2026, Tables 1 and 3.
How you pass the exams
You must score a minimum of 70% on each individual exam and an average of at least 80% to be eligible. In the practical exam you must find all the defects indicated by the examiner. If you fail, you receive additional training and may re-examine (with new questions) within a maximum of 6 months.
After certification: how you keep it
- Recertification: at most every 5 years, through a specific and practical examination.
- Visual acuity examination: annually.
- Annual competence verification: the employer confirms that you are still capable.
- Watch out for breaks: certification is suspended if you don't work in the method for 12 consecutive months, and is revoked after 24 months or if your employment ends.
In short
To get certified in aerospace NDT you have to go through, in order: employment → visual acuity examination → training → supervised experience → examinations → certification issued by the employer. The step everything depends on is employment: without an employer to train you, supervise your experience and issue your certificate, certification is simply not possible.
The training part: this is where we can help
Formal training — step 3 above — is the part where we, NDT Dynamics, come in. We are an NDT training centre for aerospace, EN 4179 and RO-NANDTB authorised. We run courses for all five methods — penetrant testing (PT), magnetic particle testing (MT), radiography (RT), ultrasonics (UT) and eddy current (ET) — at Levels 1, 2 and 3, face-to-face, online or hybrid. We work with either a single trainee or a whole team, without waiting for a group to fill up, and the training is anchored in real practice. Get in touch — we'd be glad to talk.
Informative article, written on the basis of the EN 4179:2026 standard (Aerospace series — Qualification and approval of personnel for non-destructive testing). The concrete figures and requirements may vary depending on the employer's written procedure and local regulations.