Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
Test the safety of various types of structures using x-ray, ultrasound, or fiber optic equipment.
Quick Facts
Wages: |
Median wages for the broader occupation, Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other, are
$33.04
/ hour.
|
Education: |
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On the Job: |
Typical Work Tasks
- Inspect equipment or systems.
- Inspect finished products to locate flaws.
- Test characteristics of materials or structures.
- Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.
Read more about the job
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Job Title Examples: |
Non-Destructive Testing Engineer
Predictive Maintenance Technician
Non-Destructive Evaluation Specialist
See more job title examples
|
View All Career Information
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
On the Job
Non-Destructive Testing Specialists test the safety of various structures, vehicles, or vessels. They use equipment such as x-rays, ultrasound, or fiber optics. They interpret test results and identify defects. They may also prepare reports.
Physical Demands
This career requires good eyesight.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Inspect equipment or systems.
- Inspect finished products to locate flaws.
- Test characteristics of materials or structures.
- Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.
- Document design or operational test results.
- Select tools, equipment, or technologies for use in operations or projects.
- Measure physical or chemical properties of materials or objects.
- Interpret design or operational test results.
- Operate industrial equipment.
- Calibrate scientific or technical equipment.
Typical Working Conditions
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Having face-to-face discussions.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- Frequent decision-making.
- Exposure to sounds or noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
- Working with a group or team.
- Meeting strict deadlines.
- Working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions.
- Standing.
- Responsibility for others' health and safety.
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Education & Credentials
This is a new or emerging specialty. The information on this page is based on the broader career that this specialty is part of,
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other.
Educational Requirements
Not available
Education level attained (national data)
Education Level Attained (national data)Education Level Attained | Percentage of workers in this occupation |
Less than high school diploma | 3.2 |
High school diploma or equivalent | 22.9 |
Some college, no degree | 31.1 |
Associate degree | 22.4 |
Bachelors degree | 16.8 |
Masters degree | 2.9 |
Doctoral (Ph.D) or professional degree | 0.6 |
Work Experience and Training Requirements
Nationally, this career typically requires:
- No related work experience for entry.
- Little or no on-the-job training to become competent.
Current Training Opportunities
Related Programs
Majors
Click on any of the Majors listed below to find out more about preparing for this
career.
Transfer Options
Enrolling in a community college can be a great place to start your four-year degree. While all 31 Minnesota State community colleges,
technical colleges and universities offer all or part of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum
(a 40-credit package of general education courses accepted for transfer to other state colleges and universities, the University of Minnesota,
and some private colleges and universities), not all two-year colleges offer degrees intended to transfer to a four-year bachelor's degree.
If you plan to transfer to obtain a four-year bachelor's degree, it is important to know which degree path is right for you:
- Associate of Arts (AA) degrees offered at community colleges are designed to transfer into liberal arts four-year majors.
- Associate of Science (AS) and Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) degrees offered at community and technical colleges transfer into specific four-year majors and will likely require completing additional general education courses at a university.
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees offered at technical and community colleges are not designed to transfer. They lead to immediate entry into the workplace.
- Diplomas and certificates offered at technical colleges are not designed to transfer. They lead to immediate entry into the workplace.
Talk to a transfer specialist as early as possible to determine the best associate degree for your goals. Be sure to review your Degree Audit Report (DARS) each semester to best prepare for transfer. Get more help understanding transfer using the tools below.
Helpful High School Courses
Examples of helpful classes that help you prepare for this career:
- Applied Math
- Blueprint Reading
- Computer Applications
- Drafting
- Electronics
- Geometry
- Industrial Technology
- Introduction to Business
- Physics
- Pre-Calculus
- Technical Writing
- Trigonometry
In Minnesota, your school may have developed a Program of Study in this career area.
A Program of Study is an academic and career plan developed by your high school to help move you towards a career
and college path. A Program of Study can help you:
- Select high school classes that prepare you for college and getting a job
- Understand how the classes you're taking in high school lead to a career
- Identify extra-curricular activities that are related to your career interest
- See what classes at your school offer early college credit that will save you time and money towards your college expenses
- Graduate from high school prepared for your next step toward the career you choose
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Skills & Knowledge
Most Important Skills for Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Controlling Quality—Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Reading—Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Learning New Things—Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Monitoring Performance—Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Listening—Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Making Decisions—Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Understanding How People Learn—Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Coordinating with Others—Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Evaluating a System or Organization—Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Most Important Knowledge Areas for Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Education and Training—Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Mathematics—Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Production and Processing—Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
- Engineering and Technology—Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- Administration and Management—Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Physics—Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
- Public Safety and Security—Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
- Chemistry—Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal m
- Clerical—Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
- Customer and Personal Service—Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Interests
Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:
- Realistic—Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Investigative—Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Learn more about your interests. Take the MnCareers Interest Assessment.
Describe Your Skills
This is a new or emerging career specialty. Skill statements are still under development.
Careers that Use Similar Skills
The following careers use skills, knowledge, and abilities that are similar to those used for Non-Destructive Testing Specialists.
View more careers in the Manufacturing cluster
View more careers in the Engineering and Technology pathway
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
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Jobs
Real-time job data provided by Gartner TalentNeuron
Job Title Examples
Non-Destructive Testing Engineer,
Predictive Maintenance Technician,
Non-Destructive Evaluation Specialist,
Non-Destructive Testing Inspector,
Non-Destructive Testing Technician,
Nondestructive Tester,
Predictive Maintenance Specialist,
Quality Engineer
Where Do Non-Destructive Testing Specialists Work?
Non-Destructive Testing Specialists often work in the following industries.
Similar Careers
Below are careers that use skill sets that are similar to Non-Destructive Testing Specialists.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.