Bill M, I think you answered your own question. The last sentence of SNT-TC-1A section 4.3.1 states that "The NDT Level I should recieve the necessary instruction and supervision from a certified NDT Level II or III individual". I've heard this argument before with various CWI's who came into my plant and sat there watching me do the scan and wrote that time off as UT training with their company. Their purpose was to be a state representitive witnessing the qualified Level II conducting the ultrasonic inspection. They were not there as a Level I conducting the inspection and most definately were not qualified under my companys in house practice. Primarily I work with bridge code, D1.5 and our written practice is written to comply with the code requirements. The 2002 edition in section 6.1.3.4 paragraph (2) states "NDT Level I working under the direct supervision of an individual qualified for NDT Level II". I think the key word hear is "working" not "watching". My companys in house practice does not recognize any testing hours for SNT-TC-1A purposes other than actual time worked. I'm not saying that other companys in house practices are the same, if they are comfortable with watching for qualifying hours and wrote that into their procedure or practice then, okay. In my opinion, the level one should be pushing the transducer in order to learn the scanning technique so they know when they have good surface contact. They should know how to identify a faulty cable or faulty transducer, set up the equipment etc. These are things you can not learn by just watching. Put it into this perspective, you didn't learn how to drive a car by watching a movie! No, you got in the drivers seat banged up a fender or two and then some where down the road you got pretty good at driving it. Have a Great Day! MR