NDT Training in Martinez, CA — Online & Onsite ASNT Courses

NDT training in Martinez: how it works for Martinez employers and technicians

Short answer: Atlantis NDT trains Martinez technicians to ASNT SNT-TC-1A Level I, II and III in UT, PAUT, TOFD, RT, MT, PT, VT and ET. Theory runs self-paced online or onsite at your facility in Contra Costa County, the practical is done on real specimens under an ASNT Level III, and your employer certifies you under its written practice. There is no Atlantis classroom in Martinez; the course comes to your crew instead.

That model fits the Carquinez Strait refinery belt. Refinery inspection departments and the contractors who serve them plan their year around turnarounds, and the people who most need a Level II upgrade are the same people who are booked solid when a unit comes down. Running theory in self-paced online modules, then doing the practical block at your shop or in a clean area at the plant, keeps your crew close to the work instead of sending them to a schoolhouse hundreds of miles away. The sections below go further than the summary above: method by method, the certification steps, California's licensing rules for radiography crews, the real local training options, and the questions Martinez technicians and supervisors actually ask.

If you already know what you need, request a Martinez training quote. We reply within one business day.

SNT-TC-1A at a glance for Martinez crews

Before the method detail, here is the whole certification structure on one screen. Every Martinez employer that certifies to ASNT SNT-TC-1A works through the same five building blocks. What changes from company to company is the number of hours and the exam content, because those are set in each employer's written practice.

ASNT Level I, II and III courses available in Martinez

Every course below follows the ASNT SNT-TC-1A framework and is built to slot into your company's written practice. Level I and Level II courses cover theory, equipment, technique and code acceptance criteria. Level III preparation covers the Basic exam and the method exams. The table maps each method to the work Martinez employers actually do.

The exact classroom hours and experience hours for each method and level are in our SNT-TC-1A training requirements matrix. We point you there rather than quoting figures on this page because your written practice can set requirements above the recommended minimums, and the number that counts in an audit is the one in your document. Method-level detail is on the UT Level 2 course, phased array training and RT Level 2 course pages.

Method spotlight: UT, PAUT and TOFD for Carquinez Strait refinery work

If one method family defines NDT work in Martinez, it is ultrasonics. Refinery fixed-equipment programmes run on thickness data: corrosion monitoring locations on piping circuits, shell and head readings on vessels, and repeat surveys that feed remaining-life and inspection-interval calculations. A UT Level II who can set up correctly, recognise a doubling or a laminar reading, and report to the procedure without second-guessing is the backbone of that programme.

Phased array and TOFD sit on top of that. During a turnaround, a unit can be full of other trades, and every radiography shot means clearing an area and stopping work. Encoded PAUT and TOFD let an inspection contractor examine welds volumetrically while other crafts keep working nearby, and they leave a recorded data file that a Level III or the owner's inspector can review later. That is why Bay Area contractors ask for PAUT-qualified Level IIs, and why our PAUT course spends serious time on scan plans, focal laws, encoder set-up and data review rather than only on theory.

The corridor also has a newer angle. Two of the four big Contra Costa refining sites have been converted from crude to renewable diesel and renewable fuels. Process changes like that can bring different corrosion and cracking concerns than the units were first designed for, which puts more weight on baseline thickness surveys, corrosion mapping and well-documented repeat inspections. We do not claim to know any operator's internal findings; the point for a trainee is simply that corrosion-mapping skills and clean data management are worth having in this market.

Practical training uses real specimens that match the work: piping welds with known flaws, step wedges and corroded plate for thickness work, and calibration blocks used in industry. For an employer cohort we can build the practical around specimens from your own shop, so the practical exam reflects what your people actually examine.

SNT-TC-1A certification path in Martinez, step by step

SNT-TC-1A is a recommended practice, which means certification belongs to your employer, not to a school. Here is the route a Martinez technician follows:

1. Your employer's written practice. The company documents how it trains, examines and certifies NDT personnel, including hours, exam content and pass marks. If you do not have one, a Level III writes it (see written practice development).
2. Formal classroom training. You complete the classroom hours your written practice requires for the method and level, self-paced online or onsite in Contra Costa County.
3. On-the-job experience. You log supervised experience in the method. Keep the log signed and dated; refinery owners and auditors check it.
4. General examination. A written theory exam on the method.
5. Specific examination. A written exam on your employer's procedures, equipment and the codes and specifications you work to.
6. Practical examination. You examine real specimens, record results and report to a procedure. A Level III administers and grades it.
7. Vision test. Near-vision and colour contrast, repeated at least annually.
8. Certification. Your employer certifies you in writing. Recertification follows the interval and method set in the written practice.

Hours by method and level are in the training requirements matrix. For the full employer-side programme, see SNT-TC-1A training and certification.

Radiography licensing, site access and regulation in Martinez

Radiography crews face extra rules on top of SNT-TC-1A. California is an NRC Agreement State, so the state rather than the NRC licenses radioactive materials used for industrial radiography. The programme sits with the California Department of Public Health, Radiologic Health Branch (CDPH RHB), under the radiation-control regulations in Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations. Since 2009, California has required radiographers to carry a recognised radiographer certification card, either ASNT's Industrial Radiography Radiation Safety Personnel (IRRSP) certification, a card from another Agreement State, or the state-issued identification. Radiographer trainers and the training programme sit on the company's radioactive-materials licence. Rules change, so confirm the current requirements directly with CDPH RHB before anyone works as a radiographer.

Two points matter for trainees. First, an SNT-TC-1A RT Level II certification is not the same thing as a radiographer certification card; you will usually need both. Second, X-ray tubes and isotope sources are regulated differently, so your employer's licence and registration paperwork decide what you may operate. Our general radiation-safety reading is in the NDT radiation safety guide.

Site access is the other gate. Refinery marine terminals on the Carquinez Strait handle crude and product ships, and waterfront facilities regulated under the Maritime Transportation Security Act generally require a TSA Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) for unescorted access to secure areas. Ask your employer or the site whether your assignment needs one; plan for it early, because enrolment takes time. Refineries also run their own contractor safety orientation, drug and alcohol testing, and permit-to-work training.

Contra Costa refineries operate under unusually close regulatory scrutiny. California's refinery process safety management rule (Cal/OSHA, Title 8 section 5189.1) and Contra Costa County's Industrial Safety Ordinance both put weight on mechanical integrity, damage-mechanism reviews and documented inspection. For an NDT technician that translates into one practical habit: write clean, complete, traceable reports, because they are read by more people than in most markets.

Where NDT technicians work in Martinez

Martinez is the county seat of Contra Costa County and sits in the middle of one of the densest refining clusters on the West Coast. The main NDT employers and asset owners within a short drive are:

• PBF Energy's Martinez Refinery, the former Shell plant, still a conventional crude refinery and the largest single source of inspection work in the city.
• Martinez Renewables, the Marathon and Neste joint venture at the former Marathon (Tesoro/Golden Eagle) refinery, converted to renewable fuels production.
• Chevron Richmond to the west, and Phillips 66 Rodeo Renewed, the Rodeo refinery converted to renewable fuels.
• Valero Benicia across the strait. Valero idled the refining units in early 2026 and ended fuel production there, keeping the site for fuel import, storage and distribution. Terminal, tank and decommissioning work continues, but the refinery is no longer a turnaround employer.
• Tank farms and fuel terminals along the strait and in Richmond and Pittsburg, plus the pipelines that feed them.
• Gas-fired power plants in the Pittsburg and Antioch area, and chemical and industrial-gas plants along the waterfront.
• Bridge and structural steel work on the Carquinez and Benicia-Martinez crossings and other Caltrans structures, plus ship repair in Vallejo.

The codes you will meet in this market are the usual refinery and fabrication set: ASME Section V for NDT methods, ASME Section VIII and B31.3 for pressure vessels and process piping, API 1104 for pipeline welding, and AWS D1.1 and D1.5 for structural and bridge steel. In-service inspection programmes reference API 510, 570 and 653 for vessels, piping and tanks. We teach the NDT methods those codes call for; the API inspector authorisations themselves are a separate scheme run by API, which Atlantis does not train for. Many corridor employers ask for both, which is why a strong UT Level II is often the first step towards a permanent inspector role.

For a deeper look at refinery-specific training content, see refining NDT training in Martinez and our broader oil and gas NDT training.

Local options compared: where Martinez technicians can train

People searching for NDT training in Martinez usually want a list, so here it is, honestly. Northern California has fewer dedicated NDT schools than Houston or Southern California, and the options do different jobs.

There is no single right answer. If you are an individual with no employer yet, a classroom school with a lab can make sense. If you are an employer with a crew in Contra Costa County, bringing the course to you usually costs less in lost time than sending people away.

Martinez, California and Bay Area pages

This page is one corner of a triangle. For the statewide picture, including every California city we cover and the state regulatory detail, see NDT training in California. For the employer side, the Level III and written-practice support that sits behind training, see NDT consulting in California and NDT consulting in San Francisco, which covers the Bay Area. Nearby, there are San Francisco NDT courses, NDT training in San Jose for South Bay manufacturing and semiconductor work, and Level III consulting in Sacramento for the Valley. For the whole region, see West Coast NDT training, and for the national directory, NDT training across the USA.

Self-paced online or onsite NDT training for Martinez crews

Atlantis runs three delivery modes, and most Martinez employers mix them:

• Self-paced online theory. Self-paced modules, with recorded material and quizzes between sessions. This covers the classroom portion of the method. See NDT training online.
• Self-paced online courses for your company. A private online class for your crew only, taken around shift patterns and turnaround windows.
• Onsite at your facility. A Level III comes to your shop or plant, teaches the practical block on your equipment and specimens, and administers exams under your written practice.

The practical portion cannot be done remotely under any credible written practice. You need real equipment, real specimens and a Level III watching. What online delivery does well is remove the travel and lost shifts from the theory portion. Timing matters in a refinery town: we plan cohorts away from spring and autumn turnaround peaks where possible, and we can split a course into blocks so people are not off the job for long stretches. For multi-site programmes see corporate NDT training.

Ask about onsite training for your Martinez crew and tell us methods, levels, headcount and your turnaround calendar.

Level III services and written practices for Martinez NDT companies

Training only counts if it lands in a sound certification system. Many smaller inspection companies in the Bay Area run on an outside Level III, and refinery owners audit contractor certification files before and during turnarounds. Atlantis provides:

• Written practice development and review to SNT-TC-1A, including method scope, hours, exam content and recertification rules. See written practice development and written practices for refining contractors.
• Level III of record and exam administration, including general, specific and practical exams. See ASNT Level III consulting services.
• Procedure writing and audit preparation for owner audits. See Level III audit support for refining.

An auditor will usually ask for the written practice, each technician's training record, experience log, exam records with scores, vision tests and the signed certification. We set those files up so they answer those questions on the first look. Book a Level III consultation if your files need work before the next audit.

Practise before the practical exam

Our Practical NDT simulator lets trainees practise 12 method families in 12 workplaces, including an NDT lab, a welding workshop, an aircraft hangar, an oil and gas site and a storage tank. The oil and gas site and the storage tank scenes are the closest match to refinery and terminal work around Martinez. Use it to rehearse set-ups, scanning patterns and reporting before you sit in front of a Level III.

It is practice only. It does not replace hands-on training on real equipment or the practical exam on real specimens, and no written practice should accept it as a substitute.

Your instructor

Atlantis training is led by Anoop Rayavarapu, ASNT NDT Level III and founder of Atlantis NDT. He oversees course content, practical examinations and the written-practice work that sits behind each certification. For advanced and ASNT Level III exam preparation, he leads the sessions directly.

Frequently asked questions about NDT training in Martinez

How do I get NDT certified in Martinez?

Under ASNT SNT-TC-1A, your employer certifies you. You complete classroom training, log supervised experience, pass general, specific and practical exams administered under a Level III, pass a vision test, and the employer signs your certification under its written practice. Atlantis delivers the training and exams; the certification is your employer's.

Is there an NDT school in Martinez?

There is no dedicated NDT school in Martinez itself. Los Medanos College in Pittsburg teaches process technology for plant operators, and the ASNT Golden Gate Section holds technical meetings in the Bay Area. Atlantis does not have a Martinez classroom either; we teach self-paced online or onsite at your facility.

Can I take NDT training online in California?

Yes, for the theory portion. Self-paced online modules cover the classroom hours, and the practical training and practical exam are done in person on real specimens, at your employer's site. Most California employers accept online theory as long as it meets their written practice.

How long does UT Level 2 training take?

It depends on your written practice. SNT-TC-1A recommends minimum classroom hours and experience hours for each level, and many employers set more. Experience time is usually the longest part. The recommended minimums are listed in our training requirements matrix.

Do I need a licence for radiography in California?

Yes. Your employer needs a radioactive-materials licence or X-ray registration from CDPH RHB, and you need a recognised radiographer certification card (ASNT IRRSP, another Agreement State card, or the California-issued identification) before working as a radiographer. Confirm current rules with CDPH RHB.

Do I need a TWIC card to work at Martinez refineries?

Often, if the work takes you into the secure area of an MTSA-regulated marine terminal or dock. Not every assignment needs one. Ask your employer or the site; apply early if it does.

What does NDT training cost in Martinez?

We quote on request because the price depends on method, level, group size, and whether the practical is onsite. We reply within one business day. Request a Martinez training quote.

Can I use the GI Bill or WIOA funding for NDT training?

Those programmes only pay for training from approved providers: GI Bill benefits need a VA-approved programme, and WIOA uses each state's Eligible Training Provider List. Atlantis does not claim either approval, so check the VA's WEAMS search and California's ETPL for approved options. The more common route in this market is employer-paid training, where your company funds the course as part of its written practice.

Is ASNT certification recognised by Martinez employers?

SNT-TC-1A-based employer certification is the normal standard for NDT personnel at refineries and inspection contractors in the corridor. Some roles also require API inspector authorisations or a CWI, which are separate schemes we do not train for.

Can you train our crew at our plant in Contra Costa County?

Yes. A Level III comes onsite for the practical block and exams, with theory online beforehand, scheduled around your turnaround calendar and shift patterns.

Has the Benicia refinery closure changed NDT work around Martinez?

Valero ended fuel production at Benicia in early 2026, so that site no longer runs refinery turnarounds. Terminal, storage and decommissioning work continues there, and the other refining sites along the strait still run inspection programmes. Strong UT and PAUT skills remain the most portable qualification in the area.

Can I prepare for ASNT Level III with Atlantis?

Yes. We run preparation for the ASNT Level III Basic and method exams, led by an ASNT Level III. See ASNT Level III training and practice question sets such as UT Level 2 practice questions.

Ready to plan? Request a Martinez training quote, browse all training programmes, or ask about the self-paced online course.