- Technicians and Technologists
- Non-Destructive Tester and Inspection Technician
- NOC #2261
Non-Destructive Tester and Inspection Technician
Adding force to a piece of equipment until it breaks certainly helps you to understand its strength – but it’s impractical and expensive, especially when you’re testing pipelines already buried underground. As a non-destructive tester, you use a variety of tests, tools and techniques to determine the integrity of a material or component without causing damage. Are you curious by nature? Do you like finding creative solutions to problems? If this sounds like you, you may want to learn more about becoming a non-destructive tester.
Non-destructive testers and inspection technicians conduct tests that provide information about the condition of materials and components (without destroying them) to determine defects and faults, and ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards. They operate radiographic, ultrasonic, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, eddy current and similar testing equipment to detect defects. They interact with other related trades and equipment operators. Non-destructive testers and inspection technicians use advanced sensing and imaging equipment such as X-rays, microscopes, thermometers, oscilloscopes and radiation detectors. They may also use analytical or scientific software.
I'm interested in a career in
- Sub-sector Exploration and production, Oil and gas services, Pipelines, Oil sands, Offshore
- Environment Primarily outdoor work
- Average Salary $51,000 to $92,000
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
In this occupation activities may include
- Making radiographic images to detect flaws in objects while leaving objects intact
- Mapping the presence of imperfections within objects using sonic measurements
- Conducting tests to ensure quality or detect discontinuities (defects) using ultrasonic, radiographic, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, eddy current and other non-destructive testing methods.
- Interpreting or evaluating test results in accordance with applicable codes, standards, specifications, or procedures
- Documenting non-destructive testing (NDT) methods, processes or results.
Education
- This occupation requires completion of two years of an approved post-secondary science or engineering program.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
- Asbestos Safety
- H2S Alive®
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Fall protection
- Confined space entry
- Respirator fit testing
- Pipeline construction safety training
Licensing
- Welding inspector certification by the Canadian Welding Bureau is available in three levels and may be required by employers.
- Non-destructive testing certification by Natural Resources Canada is available in three levels and is usually required by employers
- Boiler and pressure vessel, process pipelines and above-ground storage tank inspector certification is available from the American Petroleum Institute.
- Industrial Radiographers using a radioactive isotope must pass an examination to be recognized as a certified exposure device operator by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily outdoor work
- Physical work
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Work away from home/in camps
You are methodical. You enjoy performing tasks that require precision, analysis and patience. You have excellent hand-eye coordination, and strong communications skills. You keep up to date with changing technology.
- Attention to detail
- Computers and electronics
- Engineering and technology
- Operation and control
- Quality control analysis
- Complex problem solving
- Public safety and security
- Equipment selection
- Troubleshooting
- Document use
- Sub-sector Emissions reduction
- Environment Primarily outdoor work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading Minor
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Refocus
A non-destructive tester and inspection technician making a career change from oil and natural gas to the emissions reduction sub-sector of cleantech may need to complete some minor upskilling to make a successful transition. Updating knowledge of emissions detection technology, equipment, regulations and reporting may be required.
In addition to the activities below, other work activities in cleantech may include:
- Completing computerized finite element analysis (FEA), to predict how a product reacts to real-world forces such as vibration, heat, fluid flow and other physical effects. (emissions reduction)
In this occupation activities may include
- Making radiographic images to detect flaws in objects while leaving objects intact
- Mapping the presence of imperfections within objects using sonic measurements
- Conducting tests to ensure quality or detect discontinuities (defects) using ultrasonic, radiographic, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, eddy current and other non-destructive testing methods.
- Interpreting or evaluating test results in accordance with applicable codes, standards, specifications, or procedures
- Documenting non-destructive testing (NDT) methods, processes or results.
Education
- This occupation requires completion of two years of an approved post-secondary science or engineering program.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
- Asbestos Safety
- H2S Alive®
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Fall protection
- Confined space entry
- Respirator fit testing
- Pipeline construction safety training
Licensing
- Welding inspector certification by the Canadian Welding Bureau is available in three levels and may be required by employers.
- Non-destructive testing certification by Natural Resources Canada is available in three levels and is usually required by employers
- Boiler and pressure vessel, process pipelines and above-ground storage tank inspector certification is available from the American Petroleum Institute.
- Industrial Radiographers using a radioactive isotope must pass an examination to be recognized as a certified exposure device operator by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to cleantech include:
- Shiftwork/variable work hours (emissions reduction)
- Travel required (emissions reduction)
- Primarily outdoor work (emissions reduction)
- Physical work (emissions reduction)
- Less formal organizational structure (emissions reduction)
- Temporary/project-to-project work (emissions reduction)
- Freelance/contract opportunities (emissions reduction)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture(emissions reduction)
- Safety-sensitive environment (emissions reduction)
- Transition to a similar level (emissions reduction)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily outdoor work
- Physical work
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Work away from home/in camps
You are methodical. You enjoy performing tasks that require precision, analysis and patience. You have excellent hand-eye coordination, and strong communications skills. You keep up to date with changing technology.
- Attention to detail
- Computers and electronics
- Engineering and technology
- Operation and control
- Quality control analysis
- Complex problem solving
- Public safety and security
- Equipment selection
- Troubleshooting
- Document use
