NDT Training in Los Angeles, CA — Online & Onsite ASNT Courses
Self-paced online NDT training to ASNT SNT-TC-1A, open to candidates worldwide. Start any time.
Local price for your country, pay with your local card, and course access opens automatically.
Atlantis NDT delivers employer-based NDT training in Los Angeles, USA: ASNT Level III-led Level I and Level II courses, examinations and certification records issued under your company's SNT-TC-1A or CP-189 written practice. LA-based NDT training for aerospace (Boeing, Northrop Grumman), oil refining, and manufacturing sectors. Theory is self-paced online with ASNT NDT Level III support, and practicals run in the Practical NDT simulator and in person at your facility — there is no requirement to send technicians to a school.
Two training routes for Los Angeles, CA
I'm an individual technician
You want Level I or Level II in one method, or you are preparing for ASNT Level III. Theory is online and primarily self-paced, with access from the moment you enrol; your employer (or the employer you are joining) certifies you under its written practice, and the practical examination is administered by an ASNT Level III on real specimens. Send a course enquiry or read NDT training online first.
I'm training a company team
You need a crew trained, examined and certified to your SNT-TC-1A written practice, onsite at your facility or blended with online theory, with Level III oversight and an audit-ready file. See the SNT-TC-1A certification programme for NDT companies or request a company team training quote. We reply within one business day.
Employer-based certification under SNT-TC-1A
In the United States, NDT personnel are qualified and certified by their employer under a written practice that follows ASNT Recommended Practice SNT-TC-1A, or the ANSI/ASNT CP-189 standard. Atlantis NDT works inside that structure: an ASNT NDT Level III reviews or authors your written practice, delivers the classroom hours SNT-TC-1A recommends for each method and level, administers the general, specific and practical examinations, and signs the certification records your customers and auditors ask to see. See how ASNT certification works and SNT-TC-1A training and certification for employers.
Methods and levels delivered in Los Angeles
Level I and Level II courses in ultrasonic testing (UT, including thickness and shear-wave weld examination), phased array UT (PAUT), radiographic testing and film interpretation (RT), magnetic particle testing (MT), liquid penetrant testing (PT), visual testing (VT) and eddy current testing (ET), each built to the SNT-TC-1A training-hour tables and examined against your procedures on your equipment. Level I and Level II classroom hours follow the SNT-TC-1A recommendations for each method; Level III candidates are prepared for the ASNT Basic and Method examinations.
What a Los Angeles employer receives
A written practice reviewed or authored to SNT-TC-1A 2024 or CP-189, course records showing the hours delivered per technician, examination papers and graded practicals with the specimens used, a certification record per person per method, and a recertification calendar. The file is prepared to survive a customer audit — the question an auditor asks in Los Angeles is not where the technician trained but whether the employer's certification record is complete. Ongoing Level III oversight is available through outsourced ASNT Level III consulting.
Delivery in Los Angeles
Self-paced online theory with ASNT NDT Level III support, with practical sessions at your plant, yard or shop on your own equipment; for company teams, on-site training with Atlantis NDT bringing calibration blocks, reference specimens and examination materials. See employer-sponsored NDT training and NDT training across the US.
Talk to an ASNT Level III about training in Los Angeles
Send the methods, levels and head-count you need certified and, if you have one, your current written practice. An ASNT NDT Level III will map the training hours and examinations required and return a tailored proposal. Request a training proposal; we reply within one business day.
National programmes behind this Los Angeles, CA page
This page covers NDT training for employers and technicians in Los Angeles, CA. The national programmes live on their own pages: NDT training (every method and level, for candidates worldwide), NDT training online, SNT-TC-1A training and certification, SNT-TC-1A certification programme for NDT companies, ASNT Level III training and ASNT Level III consulting. Hours by method and level are in the training requirements matrix; practise on the Practical NDT simulator.
NDT training in Los Angeles: how it works for Los Angeles employers and technicians
Short answer: Atlantis NDT provides ASNT SNT-TC-1A-based NDT training for Los Angeles employers and technicians, delivered self-paced online or onsite at your shop, plant or hangar anywhere in the Los Angeles basin. We deliver classroom training; your employer's written practice governs on-the-job experience, general, specific and practical exams administered by an ASNT Level III, vision tests and certification. Level I and II courses cover UT, PAUT, TOFD, RT, MT, PT, VT and ET, plus Level III preparation.
Los Angeles has one of the most diverse NDT markets in North America. Aerospace, space launch and defence manufacturing stretch from El Segundo, Hawthorne and Long Beach to the Antelope Valley. Refineries cluster in the South Bay and around the harbour. The combined Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are among the busiest in the world. And because this is earthquake country, structural steel welding and inspection are taken unusually seriously. A technician here might work on rocket hardware one month and a refinery turnaround the next, which is why employers value technicians with strong fundamentals across several methods.
An important clarification: Atlantis training is based on ASNT SNT-TC-1A. Many aerospace and defence employers in Los Angeles qualify their NDT personnel to NAS 410 or their own prime-contractor requirements. We do not train or certify to NAS 410; our SNT-TC-1A courses suit commercial, industrial, energy and structural work, and can serve as a foundation that an aerospace employer then builds on under its own programme.
Atlantis has no physical training centre in Los Angeles. Training is delivered self-paced online and onsite at your facility under ASNT Level III oversight. Request a Los Angeles training quote; we reply within one business day.
ASNT Level I, II and III courses available in Los Angeles
Courses follow ASNT SNT-TC-1A and the ANSI/ASNT CP-105 topical outlines, covering principles, equipment, calibration, technique, code interpretation and reporting, with Level III preparation adding depth and the basic examination.
| Method | Levels | What Los Angeles employers use it for | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultrasonic Testing (UT) | I, II, III prep | Complete-joint-penetration welds in steel building frames to AWS D1.1 and D1.8, refinery thickness surveys, weld inspection on pressure equipment and bridges | Level I: employer entry requirements. Level II: Level I plus documented experience |
| Phased Array UT (PAUT) | I, II | Refinery piping and vessel welds, corrosion mapping, advanced weld inspection on heavy structural and industrial work | Conventional UT Level II strongly recommended |
| Time-of-Flight Diffraction (TOFD) | I, II | Flaw sizing in thick-wall pressure equipment and heavy fabrication | Conventional UT Level II strongly recommended |
| Radiographic Testing (RT) | I, II, III prep | Refinery and pipeline welds to ASME B31.3 and API 1104, castings, pressure vessel welds | California radiographer radiation safety certification required before handling sources |
| Magnetic Particle Testing (MT) | I, II, III prep | Structural steel and bridge welds, forgings, rotating equipment, port cranes and marine structures | Employer entry requirements |
| Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT) | I, II, III prep | Non-ferrous components, stainless welds, castings and machined parts | Employer entry requirements |
| Visual Testing (VT) | I, II, III prep | Structural weld inspection, refinery turnaround inspection, fabrication QA | Employer entry requirements |
| Eddy Current Testing (ET) | I, II | Heat exchanger tubes at refineries and power plants, surface crack detection, conductivity testing | Employer entry requirements |
For Los Angeles technicians targeting structural and building work, UT and MT are the priority. For refinery work, UT, RT, PAUT and ET. Book a Level III consultation if you need help deciding.
SNT-TC-1A certification path in Los Angeles, step by step
California does not issue a general NDT licence (radiation safety for radiographers is separate, below), and ASNT does not issue Level I or II certificates under SNT-TC-1A. The employer certifies:
- Employer written practice covering training, experience, exams and certification. See written practice development.
- Classroom training for the hours your written practice requires, delivered online or onsite. Recommended figures are in the training requirements matrix.
- On-the-job experience documented under qualified supervision.
- General examination on method principles.
- Specific examination on your employer's procedures and codes, such as AWS D1.1 or ASME Section V.
- Practical examination on real specimens, graded by a Level III or designated examiner.
- Vision examination at least annually.
- Certification by the employer after Level III review.
- Recertification per the written practice interval.
More detail: SNT-TC-1A training and certification.
Self-paced online or onsite NDT training for Los Angeles crews
Los Angeles traffic alone is a good reason to bring training to your people. A cohort drawn from the South Bay, the San Fernando Valley and the Inland Empire can lose hours a day to commuting. Atlantis offers:
- Self-paced online theory for theory and Level III preparation. See online NDT training.
- Onsite at your facility anywhere in the region, using your equipment, specimens and procedures, under ASNT Level III oversight.
- Blended, theory online, practicals and exams onsite.
We schedule around refinery turnarounds, construction milestones and production programmes. Ask about onsite training for your Los Angeles crew; we reply within one business day.
Where NDT technicians work in Los Angeles
Aerospace, space and defence
Southern California is one of the world's leading aerospace and space manufacturing regions, with launch vehicle, satellite, aircraft and defence programmes concentrated in El Segundo, Hawthorne, Long Beach, Torrance and Palmdale, and a large supplier base of machine shops, heat treaters, platers and composite fabricators. NDT methods include PT, MT, ET, UT and RT on forgings, castings, welds and composites. Most of this work requires NAS 410 or prime-contractor qualification, which the employer manages; Atlantis training is SNT-TC-1A-based and we do not claim otherwise.
Industrial versus aerospace careers: choosing a route
Technicians in Los Angeles often ask whether they should start in industrial NDT or aim straight for aerospace. The honest answer is that the two tracks share the same physics and much of the same technique, but they are governed differently. Industrial, energy, structural and port work in the region is largely performed under SNT-TC-1A written practices, where classroom training, experience and exams build toward employer certification. Aerospace primes and their suppliers usually run their own NAS 410 programmes, with their own training and examination rules and a strong emphasis on specific parts, specifications and technical data. A solid SNT-TC-1A foundation in PT, MT, UT and ET makes a technician easier to train under either system, and many people move between the two over a career. If you are an employer weighing whether SNT-TC-1A training fits your programme, a short Level III consultation is the quickest way to find out before you commit a cohort.
Refining
Several major refineries operate in the South Bay and harbour area, alongside terminals and pipelines serving them. Turnarounds bring UT, PAUT, RT, ET, MT, PT and VT to ASME and API requirements. Owner-user inspection programmes use API 510, 570 and 653 inspectors; those are separate certifications that Atlantis does not train to.
Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach
The twin ports generate work on cranes, wharves, marine structures, tanks and vessels, with MT, UT and VT on welded steel exposed to marine conditions.
Seismic structural steel
After the 1994 Northridge earthquake revealed fractures in welded steel moment-frame connections, seismic welding requirements tightened considerably. Structural steel work in Los Angeles follows AWS D1.1 and the seismic supplement AWS D1.8, with UT on complete-joint-penetration welds and MT as key methods. Building projects also require special inspection under the building code, overseen locally by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety and other jurisdictions; special inspector registration is separate from NDT certification.
Bridges, rail and infrastructure
Caltrans, Metro rail and freeway projects create bridge and structural steel inspection demand, following AWS D1.5 for steel bridges.
Power and utilities
Generating stations and utilities in the region need ET on condenser and heat exchanger tubing and UT on piping and components during outages.
Radiography licensing in California
California is an NRC Agreement State. Industrial radiography is licensed and regulated by the California Department of Public Health, Radiologic Health Branch. California requires industrial radiographers to hold recognised radiation safety certification, for example through ASNT's industrial radiography radiation safety personnel programme or an accepted Agreement State certification, together with required training, on-the-job experience and dosimetry, and to work under a licensed company with a radiation safety officer. Atlantis RT courses teach the NDT method; the state radiation safety requirement is separate and runs through your employer's licensed programme. Confirm current rules with CDPH before handling a source.
What Los Angeles employers typically ask for
- SNT-TC-1A Level II in UT and MT for structural work, with complete records.
- Refinery contractors: UT, RT, PAUT, ET and ASME/API code knowledge.
- Aerospace employers: NAS 410 qualification under their own programme.
- Radiation safety certification for RT crews, per CDPH rules.
- Some employers also ask for welding inspector or special inspector credentials; Atlantis does not train to those.
For pay context, see the NDT salary guide.
Seismic weld inspection: what Los Angeles structural NDT technicians need to know
Structural steel is one of the most distinctive parts of NDT work in Los Angeles, and it is a strong entry point for new technicians. In the 1994 Northridge earthquake, many welded beam-to-column connections in steel moment frames fractured, often at the root of complete-joint-penetration welds. The investigations that followed reshaped how these connections are designed, welded and inspected, and led to the seismic welding requirements now found in AWS D1.8 alongside AWS D1.1. For NDT technicians, that history explains why UT and MT on structural welds in Los Angeles are taken so seriously.
On a typical Los Angeles building project, the NDT work looks like this:
- UT on complete-joint-penetration welds. Beam flange to column welds, column splices and other demand-critical welds are examined with ultrasonic testing, using the scanning patterns and acceptance criteria in AWS D1.1 as modified by the seismic requirements for the project.
- MT on welds and base metal. Magnetic particle testing is used on fillet and partial-penetration welds and on areas where backing bars or weld tabs have been removed, looking for surface cracks.
- VT throughout. Visual inspection of fit-up, weld profile and finished welds is required on every connection.
- Documentation. Reports go to the engineer of record and the building official's special inspection process, so clean, traceable records matter as much as technique.
Two credentials are often confused here. NDT certification under SNT-TC-1A qualifies a technician to perform UT or MT for their employer. Special inspector registration, required by building jurisdictions such as the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, is a separate process that the inspection agency manages. Atlantis provides the NDT training and certification support; it does not handle special inspector registration.
Structural work is also a good foundation for a wider career. The UT skills learned on thick structural welds carry straight over to refinery piping, pressure vessels and later PAUT, and the MT skills transfer to port cranes, bridges and heavy equipment. If your agency or fabrication shop needs UT and MT Level II technicians for seismic projects, ask about structural UT and MT training for your Los Angeles team.
Level III services and written practices for Los Angeles NDT companies
Many Los Angeles fabricators, inspection firms and suppliers need Level III support without a full-time hire. Under SNT-TC-1A, an outside Level III can be designated. Atlantis provides:
- Written practice development: see written practice development.
- Procedures referencing AWS D1.1/D1.8, ASME and API.
- Examinations prepared and graded by a Level III.
- Audit support for customer and quality-system audits.
- Corporate training programmes: see corporate NDT training.
Read SNT-TC-1A training and certification, then book a Level III consultation.
Practise before the practical exam
The Practical NDT 3D simulator lets trainees practise 12 method families in twelve workplaces, including NDT lab, welding workshop, aircraft hangar, oil and gas site and storage tank. Los Angeles trainees will find the welding workshop, aircraft hangar and oil and gas scenarios close to local work.
The simulator is practice only and does not replace hands-on training or the practical exam on real specimens.
Your instructor
Training is led by Anoop Rayavarapu, ASNT NDT Level III and founder of Atlantis NDT, who oversees course content, examinations and certification support for Los Angeles clients. Level III candidates can review ASNT Level III training.
Frequently asked questions about NDT training in Los Angeles
How do I get NDT certified in Los Angeles?
Your employer certifies you under SNT-TC-1A after classroom training, documented experience, general, specific and practical exams administered by a Level III, and a vision test. Atlantis provides the training and outside Level III services.
Can I take NDT training online in California?
Yes. Theory and Level III preparation are available self-paced online; practicals are completed onsite. See online NDT training.
Is there an Atlantis NDT school in Los Angeles?
No. Atlantis has no physical training centre in Los Angeles; we train online and onsite at your facility.
How long does UT Level 2 training take?
It depends on your written practice. Recommended hours and experience are listed in the training requirements matrix.
Do I need a license for radiography in California?
Yes. California requires industrial radiographers to hold recognised radiation safety certification and work under a CDPH-licensed company. This is separate from NDT certification in RT.
What does NDT training cost in Los Angeles?
We quote on request, based on method, level, group size and delivery format. Request a Los Angeles training quote; we reply within one business day.
Is ASNT certification recognised by Los Angeles employers?
SNT-TC-1A is widely used in structural, refinery, port and industrial work. Aerospace and defence employers usually require NAS 410 qualification under their own programme.
Do you offer NAS 410 training for aerospace?
No. Atlantis training is SNT-TC-1A-based. Our courses can build method fundamentals, but NAS 410 qualification is managed by the aerospace employer.
Which method is most useful for structural steel work in Los Angeles?
UT for complete-joint-penetration welds and MT for surface inspection, both applied to AWS D1.1 and D1.8.
Can you train our crew onsite?
Yes, anywhere in the Los Angeles region, under ASNT Level III oversight. See corporate NDT training.
Does my company need a written practice?
Yes. SNT-TC-1A requires it before certification. See written practice development.
How do I prepare for the UT Level II exam?
Use UT Level 2 practice questions and the Practical NDT simulator alongside structured training.
Is NDT certification the same as being a special inspector in Los Angeles?
No. SNT-TC-1A certification qualifies you to perform NDT methods for your employer. Special inspector registration for building projects is a separate process run through the building jurisdiction and the inspection agency. Many structural technicians hold both.
Can I start in structural NDT and move into refinery work later?
Yes. UT and MT skills built on structural welds transfer directly to refinery piping and pressure equipment. You would add code knowledge such as ASME Section V and B31.3, and often RT, PAUT or ET, under your new employer's written practice.
Ready to plan? Get a training quote or browse all NDT training programmes.
Part of NDT training in California, NDT training in the USA and the wider NDT training programme at Atlantis NDT.
Practise between sessions
Free practice tests and downloadable question packs show where you stand, and Practical NDT lets you practise scans on a 3D simulator before the practical examination.
Start NDT training any time of year
Enrolment is open throughout the year. Courses are primarily self-paced, so you can join at any time and work through the learning material around your schedule.
- Monthly starts
- Portal access opens the moment you enrol, at any time of year.
- Level III support
- Level III support is available throughout the year for course clarifications. Confirm the contact method and arrangements when you enrol.
- Practical arrangements
- Practicals are done in the Practical NDT simulator and in person at your employer’s facility, on its equipment and parts. Simulator practice supports training; it does not replace supervised experience, the practical examination or employer certification.