Hiring a UT Level II technician is a high-stakes decision. This individual is not just a technician; they are an independent inspector, a frontline decision-maker, and a mentor to your junior staff. Their judgment directly impacts the safety and reliability of the components they inspect. A weak link at the Level II position introduces unacceptable risk to your operations.

Therefore, the interview process for a UT Level II must be significantly more rigorous than for a Level I. You need to move beyond basic knowledge and assess their analytical skills, interpretive ability, and professional judgment. This two-part interview kit is designed to do just that, helping you identify a technician who possesses the true competence the role demands.

Part 1: Targeted Interview Questions

These questions are designed to probe the candidate’s depth of knowledge, problem-solving skills, and understanding of their responsibilities as defined by standards like ASNT’s SNT-TC-1A.

Category 1: Technical Proficiency and Interpretation

A Level II must be able to interpret and evaluate results. These questions test their analytical capabilities.

1. Question: “Explain the purpose of creating a Distance Amplitude Correction (DAC) or Time Corrected Gain (TCG) curve. What is it compensating for, and how does it help you evaluate a flaw?”
   • What to Look For: A strong candidate will explain that DAC/TCG compensates for sound beam attenuation (the loss of sound energy over distance). They should state that it creates a reference line on the screen, allowing them to evaluate reflectors at different sound path distances against a common standard, which is essential for accurate flaw evaluation.
2. Question: “You are performing a shear wave inspection on a weld. On your A-scan, you see a signal that is very sharp, has a rapid rise and fall time, and ‘walks’ across the screen as you move the probe. What type of flaw might this indicate, and why?”
   • What to Look For: This signal is characteristic of a planar flaw, such as a crack or lack of fusion. An experienced tech will recognize these sharp, fast-rising signal dynamics as typical of a crack-like defect, which is often a more critical finding than volumetric flaws like porosity.
3. Question: “A procedure requires you to reject any flaw that exceeds 80% of your DAC reference level. You find an indication at 70% DAC, but it has all the characteristics of a crack. What is your next step?”
   • What to Look For: This is a critical judgment question. The correct answer is to not simply accept the flaw. A competent Level II would document the finding, note the crack-like characteristics, and immediately report it to a Level III or a supervisor for further evaluation. This shows they understand that procedures are a minimum standard and that their primary duty is to ensure component integrity.

Category 2: Procedural Knowledge and Code Familiarity

A Level II must understand and apply complex codes and standards.

1. Question: “You are asked to perform a UT inspection on a new component for which there is no detailed procedure. What are the first five things you need to know or do before you can even begin to develop a technique?”
   • What to Look For: Look for a systematic thought process. Key items should include: understanding the material type, the component geometry, the manufacturing process, the potential flaw types and locations, and, crucially, identifying the governing code or customer specification that contains the acceptance criteria.
2. Question: “When performing a weld inspection according to a code like AWS D1.1, why is it important to calculate the ‘skip distance,’ and how does it influence your scanning plan?”
   • What to Look For: They should explain that skip distance is the path the sound beam takes from the probe to the back wall and reflecting up to the top surface. It is critical for ensuring full weld volume coverage, as it dictates the required scanning area on the surface of the material.

Category 3: Leadership and Reporting

Level II technicians are mentors and the primary authors of the final inspection report.

1. Question: “A Level I technician you are supervising is having trouble performing a calibration. What are the steps you would take to coach them through it?”
   • What to Look For: A good answer involves mentorship, not just giving the answer. They should describe having the Level I re-read the procedure, demonstrating the correct step, then having the Level I perform it themselves to build confidence and competence.
2. Question: “You have just completed an inspection and found a rejectable, crack-like flaw. What are the essential pieces of information that must be included in your final report?”
   • What to Look For: The answer must be detailed. It should include not just the finding (e.g., “rejectable flaw”), but also its precise location (e.g., X, Y, and depth), its dimensions (length, height), its characterization (e.g., “planar, crack-like”), and a clear reference to the specific procedure and acceptance criteria used.

A rigorous interview process protects your reputation. Find candidates worthy of the challenge on NDT-Jobs.com.

Part 2: The Hands-On Practical Screen

This is a non-negotiable step for hiring a Level II. It validates that their skills are real and current. The test must be administered by a qualified NDT Level III.

Setup:

• Equipment: A UT flaw detector, a selection of transducers and wedges (e.g., 45°, 60°, 70°), standard calibration blocks (IIW, DSC), and a welded plate test specimen.
• Test Specimen: The specimen should contain multiple, realistic flaws of varying types and sizes (e.g., lack of fusion, slag inclusions, a root crack). Critically, it should contain some flaws that are acceptable and some that are rejectable according to the provided criteria.
• Reference Documents: A formal written procedure for the inspection and a clear, one-page acceptance criteria document (e.g., based on a simplified AWS or ASME code).

The Task (Under Observation):

1. Technique Setup: “Using the provided procedure, please select the appropriate equipment and perform a full DAC/TCG calibration for this 60-degree shear wave inspection.”
2. Inspection: “Perform a complete inspection of this weld according to the procedure. Be prepared to demonstrate your scanning plan.”
3. Evaluation and Reporting: “For every indication you find, please plot its location, evaluate it against these acceptance criteria, and fill out this inspection report form with its final disposition (accept or reject).”

What to Look For During the Practical:

• Calibration Efficiency: Are they confident and precise in their calibration, or do they struggle? A seasoned Level II should be able to perform a standard calibration smoothly.
• Systematic Scanning: Do they use a logical, overlapping scan plan that ensures 100% coverage of the required inspection volume?
• Interpretive Skill: Can they differentiate between geometric reflectors and actual flaws? Can they accurately characterize the indications they find?
• Correct Application of Acceptance Criteria: This is the most critical part. Do they correctly identify which flaws are rejectable and which can be accepted based only on the criteria provided? This tests their ability to make objective, code-based decisions.
• Professional Documentation: Is the final report clear, legible, and does it contain all the required information? The report is the product, and it must be professional.

Hiring a UT Level II is a matter of trust. By using this comprehensive interview kit, you can move beyond simply trusting a certificate and truly verify that your candidate has the skill, judgment, and professionalism to protect your assets and your reputation.

Ready to find an NDT professional you can trust? Post your job on NDT-Jobs.com today!