Apparatus and method for field testing polymer insulators

A system and method for testing polymer insulators is provided. One embodiment includes applying a voltage to a grading shield that is oriented about a top region of a polymer insulator and to a high voltage lead of the polymer insulator; detecting a leakage current across the polymer insulator; determining a resistive current component from the detected leakage current; comparing the resistive current component to a predefined criteria; determining that when the resistive current component is greater than the predefined criteria when the applied voltage is applied, the polymer insulator has failed the test; and determining that when the resistive current component is less than or equal to the predefined criteria when the applied voltage is applied, the polymer insulator has passed the test.