Non-Destructive Tester (NDT)

Non-Destructive Tester is the newest program of the apprenticeships offered today. Even though it is a new program, the field of non-destructive testing has been in existence for better than 50 years. It is the science whereby a product or material can be inspected for defects and various discontinuities without damaging or destroying the intended use of the product or material. An apprentice is trained and certified as a Level II inspector in five methods of non-destructive testing. The five test methods are magnetic particle (MT), liquid penetrant (PT), ultrasonic (UT), eddy current (ET), and radiography (RT). Each method requires a combination of formal classroom training in conjunction with documented on-the-job experience. The methods are used on a variety of work assignments that include both commercial and naval product lines. In addition to these qualifications, the apprentice will attend the Welding School and become familiar with gas metal arc welding and shielded metal arc welding processes. A rotation experience through the Materials Test Lab provides an opportunity to learn strength properties of materials and metallography including the study of material defects or discontinuities and failure analysis. The apprentice also learns various destructive testing methods such as hardness, tensile, elongation and ductility tests. A rotation through the Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Department's technical group gives the apprentice an opportunity to get involved with equipment evaluations, researching and developing new inspection methods, and troubleshooting material or failure problems utilizing NDT methods.