Abstract: A method and apparatus for excitation and reception of ultrasonic plate waves in a workpiece in which the surface of the workpiece is acted upon by a high-frequency electromagnetic field excited by a system of flat radiators forming a comb-shaped structure and positioned discretely in the direction of radiation with a pitch divisible by the wave length. A magnetizing field, whose vector is parallel to the surface of the workpiece under test, is introduced into the workpiece in the area of the high-frequency electromagnetic field and the vector of the magnetizing field is arranged at an angle relative to the radiation direction with respect to the flat radiator array to excite transverse normal waves.