CRI Practice Test PDF (Free Printable 2026)
Get ready for your CRI certification. Practice questions with step-by-step answer explanations and instant scoring. 📚
CRI Practice Test PDF – Free Printable Exam Prep
Preparing for the CRI exam? A printable CRI practice test PDF lets you review questions, test your knowledge offline, and build the exam readiness that timed, screen-based testing demands. Whether you are studying at home, commuting, or revisiting weak areas on paper, a printed practice test remains one of the most effective preparation formats available. This page provides a free PDF download and a structured study guide for the CRI examination. Practice with the free Certified Radiographic Interpreter practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (9 questions with answer explanations).
The CRI assessment tests candidates on the core competencies required for certification or qualification in the field. A strong preparation strategy combines repeated practice testing with targeted review of areas where accuracy falls below 70%. Use this PDF alongside the online CRI practice tests on this site for the most complete preparation experience — paper for review and annotation, online for timed simulation with instant scoring.
What the CRI Exam Covers
Candidates are tested across the primary knowledge domains that define competency in the CRI field. Each domain contributes a weighted percentage of the total scored questions. High-weight domains deserve proportionally more preparation time. The exam format is typically multiple-choice, and understanding the question structure — identifying the best answer rather than the first correct-sounding one — is as important as content knowledge.
Common high-priority areas include foundational theory, applied practice, regulations or standards governing the field, and scenario-based reasoning that tests judgment under realistic conditions. Review official exam content outlines from the certifying body to confirm current domain weights before your examination date, as content outlines are updated periodically.
How to Use This Practice Test PDF
Print the PDF, set a timer proportional to the number of questions, and complete each section without reference materials to simulate real exam conditions. After grading, categorize every incorrect answer by domain to build a targeted error log. Prioritize re-study in your weakest domains, then take an additional timed practice session to confirm improvement. Repeat the cycle until accuracy is consistently above 75% across all domains.
Free Certified Radiographic Interpreter Study Tools
Interactive Certified Radiographic Interpreter resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
- CRI Welding Processes & Techniques 1 — 9 questions with answer explanations
- Certified Radiographic Interpreter flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
- Certified Radiographic Interpreter study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
- Certified Radiographic Interpreter cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review
- The AWS CRI Code Knowledge Exam has 78 open-book multiple-choice questions on interpreting radiographs to AWS, API, ASME and ASTM standards. (aws-p-001-delivery.sitecorecontenthub.cloud)
- The AWS CRI General Knowledge Exam has 70 multiple-choice questions on welding, metallurgy, radiography theory, mathematics and film selection. (aws-p-001-delivery.sitecorecontenthub.cloud)
- Each of the three AWS CRI exam parts (General Knowledge, Code Knowledge and Practical) has a 3-hour time limit. (American Welding Society)
- To pass the AWS CRI exam, candidates must score at least 70% on each of the three parts and average at least 80% across all three. (American Welding Society)
- The AWS Certified Radiographic Interpreter (CRI) exam costs $1,005 for AWS members and $1,270 for non-members, and the non-member price includes a 3-year AWS Individual Membership. (American Welding Society)
- The AWS CRI package with the 5-day seminar and the exam costs $2,195 for AWS members and $2,460 for non-members. (American Welding Society)
- Retaking all three parts of the AWS CRI exam costs $745 for both members and non-members. (American Welding Society)
- Retaking a single part of the AWS CRI exam costs $385 per part for both members and non-members. (American Welding Society)
- AWS allows CRI candidates up to three reexaminations within three years of the original test date, and failed parts can be retaken alone if the overall average is still at least 80%. (American Welding Society)
Facts verified Oct 21, 2026 against American Welding Society. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
CRI Exam at a Glance
| Item | Detail | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (Code Knowledge Exam) | 78 open-book multiple-choice questions | aws-p-001-delivery.sitecorecontenthub.cloud |
| Number of questions (General Knowledge Exam) | 70 multiple-choice questions | aws-p-001-delivery.sitecorecontenthub.cloud |
| Number of questions (Practical (Film Interpretation) Exam) | 40 questions on at least 10 radiographs | aws-p-001-delivery.sitecorecontenthub.cloud |
| Time limit | 3 hours per part (3 parts) | American Welding Society |
| Passing score | 70% on each part and an 80% average | American Welding Society |
| Exam fee | $1,005 (AWS member) / $1,270 (non-member) | American Welding Society |
| Exam fee (Initial Seminar and Exam) | $2,195 (member) / $2,460 (non-member) | American Welding Society |
| Retake fee (All Parts) | $745 to retest all parts | American Welding Society |
| Retake fee (Per Part) | $385 per part | American Welding Society |
| Retake policy | Up to 3 reexaminations within 3 years | American Welding Society |
| Validity | 3 years | American Welding Society |
| Renewal | Renew at 3 and 6 years; Practical exam + vision test + activity | American Welding Society |
| Delivery | Paper-based, given by AWS the day after the seminar | American Welding Society |
Facts verified Oct 21, 2026 against American Welding Society. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
Study Strategy for the CRI Exam
Build Your Content Foundation First
Before attempting practice tests, ensure you have reviewed the official study materials for the CRI exam. Most certifying bodies publish a candidate handbook or content outline that lists exactly what knowledge is tested. Read this document first — it tells you not only what to study but also what to ignore. Allocate study time in proportion to domain weights: spend more time on high-weight domains and less on domains you already know well.
Practice Testing and Error Analysis
Once you have reviewed the content, move to practice testing. Each practice test session should be treated as a diagnostic: the questions you answer incorrectly are more valuable than the ones you answer correctly. Keep an error log organized by domain. After three to four practice tests, patterns in your errors will become clear. These patterns tell you exactly where to concentrate additional study effort.
Final Preparation Week
In the week before the CRI exam, focus on review rather than new learning. Take one full-length timed practice test to confirm readiness, then spend the remaining days reviewing your error log and reinforcing the concepts behind your most common mistakes. Avoid cramming new material in the final 48 hours — consolidation of existing knowledge is more valuable at that stage than attempting to add new content.
- ✓Download and read the official CRI candidate handbook or content outline
- ✓Identify exam domains and their approximate percentage weights
- ✓Complete a baseline practice test to establish your starting accuracy by domain
- ✓Build an error log: record every missed question by domain and reason for error
- ✓Study the highest-weight CRI domain first to maximize score impact
- ✓Take a second timed practice test after two weeks of study to measure improvement
- ✓Review answer explanations for every incorrect response, not just the correct answer
- ✓Simulate exam conditions: no notes, timed, single sitting per practice session
- ✓Confirm exam registration, location, ID requirements, and permitted materials in advance
- ✓Complete a final full-length practice test in the week before your exam date
Free CRI Practice Tests Online
After completing this PDF, take full online CRI practice tests at CRI practice test — instant scoring with explanations for every answer. Use both formats together: this PDF for offline review and annotation, the online tests for timed simulation with immediate feedback. Together they give you the most complete CRI exam preparation available on a single platform.
Sample Certified Radiographic Interpreter Practice Questions
Try these questions from our free Certified Radiographic Interpreter practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
Which test tool is used to verify the resolution capability of a radiographic imaging system?
- A. Densitometer
- B. Wire IQI or hole-type penetrameter
- C. Dosimeter badge
- D. Collimator test jig
Answer: B. Wire IQI or hole-type penetrameter
Wire IQIs and hole-type penetrameters assess the minimum detectable discontinuity size, confirming the system meets required sensitivity thresholds.
On a radiograph, a planar defect oriented parallel to the X-ray beam will appear:
- A. As a sharp, well-defined dark line
- B. As a diffuse, light area
- C. Completely invisible
- D. As a rounded dark spot
Answer: A. As a sharp, well-defined dark line
Planar defects such as cracks aligned parallel to the beam show maximum density contrast and appear as sharp dark lines.
In radiographic documentation, what does a 'reject' disposition require beyond just recording the indication?
- A. Immediate verbal notification only
- B. A nonconformance report or NCR must be generated per quality system requirements
- C. The radiograph must be destroyed to prevent misuse
- D. Only the customer signature is required to complete the reject disposition
Answer: B. A nonconformance report or NCR must be generated per quality system requirements
Rejected indications must be dispositioned through the quality system, typically requiring a nonconformance report (NCR) that tracks repair or acceptance by engineering.
How should CRI professionals handle confidential information related to advanced imaging techniques?
- A. Share freely with all colleagues for transparency
- B. Follow established protocols for data protection, access control, and disclosure in accordance with applicable regulations
- C. Store information without any security measures
- D. Delete all records after project completion
Answer: B. Follow established protocols for data protection, access control, and disclosure in accordance with applicable regulations
Confidential information must be handled according to established protocols, regulatory requirements, and professional ethics standards, including proper access control and disclosure procedures.
Take the full Certified Radiographic Interpreter practice test
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- pubs.aws.org — Exam information · verified Oct 2026
- aws.org — Test delivery, passing score, renewal, retake policy, time limit, score validity, fees, retake fee · verified Oct 2026
- aws-p-001-delivery.sitecorecontenthub.cloud — Exam format · verified Oct 2026