This paper proposes an RFECT probe equipped with a superconducting shield to shorten the distance between the exciter and the detector of the probe. Numerical simulations are carried out in axisymmetric configurations to clarify the effect of superconducting shield. The results of simulations imply that superconducting shields have advantages over a copper shield in its shield effect especially when the exciter is driven at a low frequency. An RFECT probe equipped with the superconducting shield is designed and fabricated with the aid of the numerical simulations. Experimental results confirm that the presence of superconductor shield shortens the distance between the exciter and the detector of the RFECT probe. © 2003 American Institute of Physics