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17-3029.01 - Non-Destructive Testing Specialists


Test the safety of structures, vehicles, or vessels using x-ray, ultrasound, fiber optic or related equipment.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
70,100
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
69,900
Estimate
Change in Employment
-200.0
Estimate
Change in Employment %
-0.2%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Supervise or direct the work of non-destructive testing trainees or staff.
  • Produce images of objects on film, using radiographic techniques.
  • Document non-destructive testing methods, processes, or results.
  • Map the presence of imperfections within objects, using sonic measurements.
  • Make radiographic images to detect flaws in objects while leaving objects intact.
  • Visually examine materials, structures, or components for signs of corrosion, metal fatigue, cracks, or other flaws, using tools and equipment such as endoscopes, closed-circuit television systems, and fiber optics.
  • Interpret or evaluate test results in accordance with applicable codes, standards, specifications, or procedures.
  • Identify defects in solid materials, using ultrasonic testing techniques.
  • Select, calibrate, or operate equipment used in the non-destructive testing of products or materials.
  • Conduct liquid penetrant tests to locate surface cracks by coating objects with fluorescent dyes, cleaning excess penetrant, and applying developer.
  • Prepare reports on non-destructive testing results.
  • Interpret the results of all methods of non-destructive testing (NDT), such as acoustic emission, electromagnetic, leak, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, neutron radiographic, radiographic, thermal or infrared, ultrasonic, vibration analysis, and visual testing.
  • Examine structures or vehicles such as aircraft, trains, nuclear reactors, bridges, dams, and pipelines, using non-destructive testing techniques.
Supplemental
  • Evaluate material properties, using radio astronomy, voltage and amperage measurement, or rheometric flow measurement.
  • Develop or use new non-destructive testing methods, such as acoustic emission testing, leak testing, and thermal or infrared testing.
  • Identify defects in concrete or other building materials, using thermal or infrared testing.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Education and Training
  • 76%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Mathematics
  • 72%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Production and Processing
  • 70%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 69%
    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.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 66%
    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.
 English Language
  • 66%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 65%
    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.
 Administration and Management
  • 64%
    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
  • 63%
    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.
 Clerical
  • 59%
    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.
 Design
  • 57%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Mechanical
  • 55%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Chemistry
  • 54%
    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 methods.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 53%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Law and Government
  • 52%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Building and Construction
  • 52%
    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 50%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Sound generating and measuring equipment
  • Acoustic emissions systems
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Acoustic testers
  • Neutron detectors
  • Radiation detection badges
 Electrical measuring and testing equipment and accessories
  • Amp meters
  • Capacitance testers
  • Digital oscilloscopes
  • Gauss meters
  • Handheld accelerometers
  • Two-channel oscilloscopes
  • Volt meters
 Viewing and observing instruments and accessories
  • Binocular polarizing microscopes
  • Binoculars
  • Charge-coupled device CCD cameras
  • Fluorescent microscopes
  • Inspection endoscopes
  • Magnifying glasses
  • Metallurgical microscopes
  • Portable microscopes
  • Scanning electron microscopes SEM
  • Stereo microscopes
  • Telescopes
  • X ray microscopes
 Lamps and lightbulbs
  • Black lights
 Audio and visual equipment
  • Closed circuit television systems
 Non destructive examination equipment
  • Computer assisted tomography CAT inspection equipment
  • Eddy current inspection equipment
  • Gamma ray testing equipment
  • Microwave meters
  • Ultrasound inspection equipment
  • X ray equipment
 Length and thickness and distance measuring instruments
  • Depth gauges
  • Digital micrometers
  • Fiber optic strain sensors
  • Height gauges
  • Laser alignment tools
  • Precision rulers
  • Vernier calipers
  • Width gauges
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Light and wave generating and measuring equipment
  • Digital refractometers
  • Infrared thermographic scanners
  • Light meters
 Cameras
  • Digital video cameras
 Lifting equipment and accessories
  • Electric hoists
 Electrochemical measuring instruments and accessories
  • Electrical conductivity meters
 Radar and sonar systems and components
  • Ground penetrating radar GPR systems
 Dispensing tools
  • Handheld sprayers
 Tanks and cylinders and their accessories
  • Immersion tanks
 Metals and metallurgy and structural materials testing instruments
  • Load indenters
  • Schmidt rebound hammers
  • Vibration analysis equipment
  • Windsor probes
 Measuring and layout tools
  • Measuring tapes
 Transducers
  • Piezoelectric sensors
 Power tools
  • Power drills
 Laboratory ovens and accessories
  • Recirculating hot air drying ovens
 Temperature and heat measuring instruments
  • Remote reading electronic thermometers
 Surveillance and detection equipment
  • Timing equipment
 Meteorological instruments
  • Velocity meters
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Industry specific software
  • Autodesk AutoCADHOT
  • Dassault Systemes CATIAHOT
  • Fractal Concept SoftScan
  • GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies Rhythm UT
  • National Instruments DAQ Assistant
  • National Instruments NI Motion Assistant
  • National Instruments NI Vision Builder for Automated Inspection AI
  • Visualization Sciences Group VSG Avizo Fire
 Information exchange software
  • IBM NotesHOT
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Data management and query software
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Visualization Sciences Group VSG Open Inventor
 Business function specific software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Microsoft ProjectHOT
 Development software
  • National Instruments LabVIEWHOT
 Finance accounting and enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • SAPHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
 Advanced
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
 Programs
Mountain Empire Community College
 Programs
New River Community College
 Programs