diff --git a/src/nt/nttable.cpp b/src/nt/nttable.cpp
index 6dc9006..abede47 100644
--- a/src/nt/nttable.cpp
+++ b/src/nt/nttable.cpp
@@ -203,6 +203,11 @@ PVStringArrayPtr NTTable::getLabels() const
     return pvNTTable->getSubField<PVStringArray>("labels");
 }
 
+StringArray const & NTTable::getColumnNames() const
+{
+    return pvNTTable->getStructure()->getFieldNames();
+}
+
 PVFieldPtr NTTable::getColumn(std::string const & columnName) const
 {
     return pvNTTable->getSubField("value." + columnName);
diff --git a/src/nt/nttable.h b/src/nt/nttable.h
index 20ede95..683ec35 100644
--- a/src/nt/nttable.h
+++ b/src/nt/nttable.h
@@ -256,6 +256,13 @@ public:
      */
     epics::pvData::PVStringArrayPtr getLabels() const;
 
+    /**
+     * Get the column names for the table.
+     * For each name, calling getColumn should return the column, which should not be null.
+     * @return The column names.
+     */
+    epics::pvData::StringArray const & getColumnNames() const;
+
     /**
      * Get the PVField (column) for a field that follows the label field.
      * @param columnName The name of the column.