ASME GD&T Exam Certification

If you’re researching the ASME GD&T Certification Exam, you’ve probably discovered that there are multiple exam versions, certification levels, and eligibility requirements, which can make it difficult to know where to start. 

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the organization that publishes the ASME Y14.5 Dimensioning and Tolerancing standard, offers the Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing Professional (GDTP) Certification program to recognize individuals who demonstrate proficiency in interpreting and applying GD&T principles. 

This guide focuses on the 2009 and 2018 versions of the GDTP certification exams. Each version includes two certification levels—Technologist and Senior. 

We’ll explain the differences between the 2009 and 2018 exams, outline the Technologist and Senior certifications, and help you determine which exam best fits your experience and career goals. For full details regarding GDTP certification, see ASME’s GDTP Applicant Information Handbook. 

Which GDTP Certification Is Right for You? 

Technologist vs. Senior 

Choosing the right GDTP certification starts with understanding how you use GD&T in your day-to-day work. 

The GD&T Technologist certification is designed for people who primarily interpret GD&T on engineering drawings created by others. The GD&T Senior certification is intended for people who apply GD&T to prints and are responsible for deciding the tolerances or controls to be used. 

While not an exhaustive list, the examples below highlight common roles that typically align with each certification. The most important factor when choosing between the Technologist and Senior exams is whether your role primarily requires you to interpret GD&T or apply it. 

The 2009 Exam vs the 2018 Exam 

In addition to choosing between the Technologist and Senior certification levels, you’ll also need to choose which version of the ASME Y14.5 standard your exam will be based on. 

For most people, the choice comes down to which version of the ASME Y14.5 standard your company uses. Links to apply online for the 2009 and 2018 GDTP certification exams are available on ASME’s GDTP Certification page.

*While this article focuses on the 2009 and 2018 GDTP certification exams, ASME still makes the 1994 exam available by special request. Unlike the 2009 and 2018 exams, the 1994 exam is not available through the standard online registration process. Information about requesting the 1994 exam can be found in the FAQ section of ASME’s GDTP Certification page.

Another change with the release of the 2018 exam is the eligibility requirement for the Senior certification. For both the 2009 and 2018 exams, the required work experience has been reduced from five years to three years, making the Senior certification accessible earlier in your career. 

Note: In addition to meeting the overall passing score shown above, you must also score at least 50% in each exam section.

Applying for the Exam & Recertification 

How to Apply:

1. Purchase application: Exam fees must be paid before you submit your application. Payment can be made by credit card online through ASME.org or by phone.  
2. Submit application: Within 24 hours, you’ll receive an email with instructions for accessing ASME-PC Connect, ASME’s certification management system. For step-by-step application instructions, refer to the ASME-PC Connect User’s Guide. 
3. Schedule your exam: After your application is approved, ASME will email you instructions for scheduling your exam. You’ll have 180 days from the date of approval to schedule your exam at a Prometric Testing Center. 

Maintenance of Certification:

After passing the GDTP exam, you’ll receive a certificate indicating both your certification level (Technologist or Senior) and the ASME Y14.5 standard edition (2009 or 2018) on which your certification is based. GDTP certifications are valid for three years from the date they are issued. 

When it’s time to renew, recertification may be completed without retaking the exam by documenting at least 24 months of relevant professional GD&T experience during your certification period. 

Exam Content 

While the test is never the same, below are some tables that give approximate distributions and the number of questions for the different subjects that will appear on the 2009 and 2018 versions of the Technologist and Senior exams. 

Preparing for the GDTP Certification Exam 

If you are interested in taking the GDTP exam, we can help. Our GD&T Expert Training Bundle provides an expert-level understanding of GD&T and covers many of the concepts you’ll encounter on the Technologist and Senior certification exams. 

Need help preparing for the exam? Reach out to us. We’ve helped many individuals study, prepare for, and pass their GDTP certification exams. 

We’ve also shared our experience taking the GDTP exams in our article, 2009 Technologist vs. Senior-Level GDTP Exam – Our Experience. Learn about our approach to studying, along with tactics that can help you prepare for test day.