Opportunities for career advancement
How do I advance in my profession?
Your advancement in the profession depends largely on a combination of certification, qualification and the experience gained in your work.
Certification
in the NDT field implies that a practitioner has acquired appropriate
training and experience in a particular NDT method and has passed a
practical test to show proficiency.
Practical skills are acquired by 'in-house' training and/or by short courses run by technical colleges, specialist training establishments, or by manufacturers of equipment. This training must be supplemented by experience.
People with certificates are frequently working in industry with particular processes, inspection companies and larger user organisations and with appropriate experience can reach very senior positions.
On the other hand, qualification implies the attainment of a given level of knowledge with a demonstration of practical skill.
Quite often, many senior people in the NDT profession have initial qualifications in engineering (mechanical, electrical, civil, structural), metallurgy, physics, biology or chemistry and have been 'converted' to NDT.
Although at present there are few courses devoted entirely to a specialist qualification in NDT, several units have been written for BTEC programmes in Fabrication and Metal Technology.
Through a combination of qualifications and experience you can reach responsible and interesting positions in most organisations.
There is no clearly defined method of advancement within such a variety of organisations. The choice is yours, and The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing is here to help you.
Click here for more information on certification in NDT and CM methods.
Click here for more information on education and training in NDT and CM.
