Back to NDT Exchange Global Open Academy Showcase🎓 Academies Directory
RTLevel I & SafetyOnline / Self-Paced

Radiographic Testing (RT) & Radiation Safety Essentials

Comprehensive radiation physics, isotope properties (Ir-192, Co-60, Se-75), ALARA radiation safety compliance, and Image Quality Indicator (IQI wire & hole) sensitivity calibration per ASME Section V Article 2.

NDT Exchange Global Open Academy 32 Hours (Self-Paced) ASNT SNT-TC-1A / NRC 10 CFR Part 34 / ISO 9712
Total Tuition & Exam Fee
100% FREE
⚡ Start Free Learning (Instant Access)

💡 Plain-English Summary (In Layman's Terms)

Beginner Friendly
No prior physics or engineering degree required — here is what this technique actually does in the real world.

Just like a dentist or hospital takes an X-ray to look through your gums or bones, industrial radiography uses powerful X-rays or radioactive isotope pills to shoot through thick steel pipes and valves. Denser metal absorbs more radiation and looks white/gray on the film, while hollow bubbles or cracks let more radiation through and show up as dark black shadows. Because radiation is invisible and dangerous, safety and distance calculations are paramount.

What You Will Understand in Plain Terms:
✓Shadow Pictures: How invisible gamma rays and X-rays shoot through solid steel to reveal hidden interior voids.
✓Dark vs. Light: Why missing metal or holes show up dark on film, while dense inclusions (like tungsten) glow bright white.
✓ALARA Safety Rules: The life-saving formula of Time, Distance, and Shielding to keep yourself completely safe from radiation.
✓Wire IQI Standards: Proving your picture is sharp enough by confirming microscopic indicator wires are clearly visible.
Common Defects You'll Learn to Spot (Everyday Terms):
🔍 Internal Porosity (Air/gas pockets)🔍 Tungsten Inclusions (Dense flecks from TIG torch)🔍 Root Concavity (Sucked-back weld bottom)🔍 Slag Lines (Dark trapped flux tunnels)🔍 Burn-Through (Blown-out weld root)
Open ASME Section V Code Hub

Course Syllabus & Training Modules

Structured curriculum designed according to ASNT SNT-TC-1A & ISO 9712 requirements with layman explanations.
1

Nuclear Physics & Industrial Gamma/X-Ray Sources

💬 In simple terms: Where radiation comes from: radioactive isotope pellets and plug-in X-ray tubes

Fundamental radiation physics, radioactive decay, half-life, and isotope selection.

Gamma cameras vs. X-ray machines: Man-made electrical X-ray tubes vs. tiny radioactive metal pills
Key isotopes: Iridium-192 (the pipeline workhorse), Cobalt-60 (thick vessel beast), and Selenium-75
Half-life: Understanding how radioactive strength decays predictably over months
Inverse Square Law: Why doubling your distance cuts radiation exposure by a huge 75%
2

ALARA Radiation Safety & Regulatory Controls

💬 In simple terms: Staying 100% safe: barricades, lead shields, and personal radiation beepers

Operating and emergency procedures for open-field radiographic testing.

ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable): The three golden shields—Time, Distance, and Shielding
Shielding materials: How lead sheets and heavy concrete walls soak up gamma rays
Dosimeters & survey meters: The Geiger counters, rate alarms, and personal badges that track your dosage
Barricading the zone: Setting up warning yellow rope and flashing lights so the public stays safe
3

Film Radiography, IQIs & Image Quality

💬 In simple terms: Capturing clear pictures: film emulsions, lead screens, and wire quality checkers

Creating high-contrast, sensitive radiographs conforming to code specifications.

IQIs (Image Quality Indicators): Thin standard wires placed on the weld to prove the image is razor-sharp
Geometric unsharpness: Positioning source, object, and film so shadows don't get blurry
Film density & densitometers: Measuring how dark the film is using light-reading sensors
Lead backing screens: Absorbing scatter radiation bouncing off floors and walls behind the film
4

Digital Radiography (CR/DR) & Film Interpretation

💬 In simple terms: Reading the film: spotting weld flaws and switching to digital sensor screens

Reading real industrial radiographs and transition to phosphor plates and flat-panel arrays.

Digital radiography: Replacing wet chemical darkrooms with reusable digital phosphor screens (CR) and instant flat panels (DR)
Identifying defects on film: Slag lines, gas porosity clusters, lack of root penetration, and undercut shadows
False alarms & artifacts: Recognizing scratches, static electric marks, or water stains that look like defects
Code acceptance rules: Applying ASME Sec V and API 1104 pipeline rules to pass or reject the weld

Course Instructor

Dr. Marcus Sterling, DABR / Medical Physics

Certified NDT Level III inspector with over 15 years of field inspection and industrial training experience.

Hosting Academy

NDT Exchange Global Open Academy

Worldwide (Digital Learning)
admissions@ndtexchange.com
Connected Exam Engine

Practice RT Qualification Exam

Test your knowledge on 185+ verified questions, ASME/AWS code explanations, and SNT-TC-1A composite pass score calculator before sitting for your official academy exam.

Launch RT Exam Simulator