Become a NDT inspector

If you stop and think about it, almost everything we use in our daily lives is manufactured or manmade — and nothing manmade lasts forever. This is why everything manufactured must be inspected!

The men and women who perform these inspections are trained to use Nondestructive Testing (NDT) equipment and they are called NDT inspectors because the methods used will not harm the objects being inspected. They use specialized equipment like X-ray cameras and ultrasound machines to inspect the infrastructure of our modern world.

I have been an NDT inspector for over 17 years and have traveled around the U.S. inspecting nuclear power plants, pipelines, oil refineries, ships, buildings, cranes, automobile parts, missile guidance systems and many other things.

NDT inspectors are not required to have a degree, but they are required to have a high school diploma or GED and must complete a minimum amount of formal classroom training covering NDT theory and equipment use. NDT training is offered mainly at vocational schools, but there are a few community colleges around the country offering the training also. In most cases, the required training will be mostly hands-on and can be completed in less than a year.

There are actually several things that make the career of a NDT inspector unique. NDT inspectors can work in a variety of industries including aerospace, nuclear power, wind power, offshore, pipeline, automotive, manufacturing, defense and many more. Some NDT inspectors choose to work in one specific industry, like petrochemical or aerospace, while others may like the variety of working in several industries at the same time (I chose to work in multiple industries).

Inspectors can also choose to specialize in a specific NDT method they like, or they may perform all the methods. There are also opportunities to use automated and robotic equipment, perform inspections using rope access equipment and opportunities for travel.  Very few careers offer all the choices available to a NDT inspector.

According to a recent salary survey from Personnel Qualified for Nondestructive Testing (pqndt.com), entry level NDT Inspectors averaged $49,000-$52,000.

For anyone thinking about a career as a NDT inspector, consider the following:

• This is not an office job. You will not sit behind a desk and work on a computer. NDT inspection is a hands-on career and you will either be working outside or in an industrial warehouse.

• Take into consideration that NDT inspectors must pay close attention to the details and always take their job responsibilities seriously. After all, someone’s family will be flying in the jet plane after you have inspected it, maybe even your own!

• NDT is not a physically demanding job. Inspectors do not repair the flaws that their inspections reveal and rarely will they be required to lift or carry anything weighing more than 20–30 pounds.

• You do not need to earn a four-year degree to work in the field. NDT inspection is a great option for people not planning on the traditional college route.

NDT inspection is a great career choice for men and women looking for an exciting job that offers opportunities for travel and good income potential.

Mike Oden, is a NDT inspector and a graduate of The Ocean Corporation’s School of Nondestructive Testing in Houston (www.oceancorp.com).