NDT or CWI?

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Anyone in the NDT or CWI field? Looking for some insight on both fields. I looked into the NDT school in Nebraska which only takes a year to complete. Someone suggest I should go for CWI which I don't know much about. I would like switch over from welding field to either one. Been welding for a aerospace for 1yr already and kind of losing interest.-2 speedglas 9002x + Adflo-Miller Dynasty 200DX-HH 210 Mvp
Reply:you're supposed to have 5 years in the business to become a CWI. I say go for the NDT, then get your CWI, most places want a CWI with NDT's anyway.
Reply:I don't know enough about the situation in the USA concerning NDT personnel but in Europe working for an NDT company sort of sucks.Your working schedule will most likely be inconsistent with lots of work being performed after hours since NDT (especially x-ray) is usually done at the end of the day after the crews have finished working.The pay is not that great either but you will be able to work lots of overtime.However I agree with TimmyTIG, I am the head of the industrial inspections division in a notified body and almost all of my inspectors are at least level 2 in RT, UT, PT,MT and VT. As a welding inspector you will likely be required to review radiographs and witness other type of NDT being performed.My advice to you is gain a little more experience before venturing into the inspection field. Most of the worst inspectors I have met are guys that have non-existent or very little experience working in construction.
Reply:Originally Posted by taz00I don't know enough about the situation in the USA concerning NDT personnel but in Europe working for an NDT company sort of sucks.Your working schedule will most likely be inconsistent with lots of work being performed after hours since NDT (especially x-ray) is usually done at the end of the day after the crews have finished working.The pay is not that great either but you will be able to work lots of overtime.However I agree with TimmyTIG, I am the head of the industrial inspections division in a notified body and almost all of my inspectors are at least level 2 in RT, UT, PT,MT and VT. As a welding inspector you will likely be required to review radiographs and witness other type of NDT being performed.My advice to you is gain a little more experience before venturing into the inspection field. Most of the worst inspectors I have met are guys that have non-existent or very little experience working in construction.
Reply:#rd TimmyTig's suggestion.Martin MC Weld TechAWS-CWIAWS-CWEwww.linkedin.com/pub/martin-cramer/20/b36/940/
Reply:If I go towards the NDT field wouldn't I still need the 5 yrs of experience to be a CWI later? Does the welding experience have to be on paper? Also how difficult is it go through to be a CWI?-2 speedglas 9002x + Adflo-Miller Dynasty 200DX-HH 210 Mvp
Reply:School may count, but you still need a total of 5 years. Just do it.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:get your remaining time in the NDT, then go for the CWI. The test is pretty tough, but I passed it just by studying in my off time, didn't even take the seminar. But it was tough.
Reply:So NDT will count as welding experience? I do have a associate degree in welding. Need to go do some digging where I more about the CWI and NDT.-2 speedglas 9002x + Adflo-Miller Dynasty 200DX-HH 210 Mvp
Reply:It doesn't have to be actual welding, just related to the welding field.
Reply:Most of the above is great advice. If you want to be a great inspector/CWI/or CSWIP and one that will be desired by employers, pay your dues as a welder first. The worst inspectors I have encountered were those with very little real life welding experience. The next up ( from the bottom) are those CWI's or CSWIP that came from an NDE only background. A good solid basic welding background ( preferably on piping and or pressure vessels and including experience on high alloys ) along with some basic level II certs ( PT, MT, VT, RT Interp) can look great on your resume.  I personally don't think spending time getting your level II RT film cranker is worth the time, but thats my 2 cents..... there are those that would disagree............Don't forget to pick up some safety certs along the way as well.................Bear down and work another 3-5 years on this and you're on your way!Last edited by weldertom; 10-02-2014 at 10:06 AM.
Reply:I was planning on taking the associates degree for NDT but ran into some problems. They do offer a local course for FPI which helps me get into NDT field but limited to only FPI. Now there goes my plan for switching careers, really dont want to work at my current job anymore.-2 speedglas 9002x + Adflo-Miller Dynasty 200DX-HH 210 Mvp
Reply:Some advice and clarification............I do not have my CWI credentials yet.....have had to cancel 3 test dates over the years due to scheduling conflicts.  I do have my level 2 in MT, PT UT, ET..........as well as level 2 Failure Analysis.  I worked as a welder and fabricator for quite a few years before getting into NDT and feel that it has given me the upper hand in the NDT field.  Also, once you take the exams for a particular discipline, you stlll have to document hours in that particular discipline, while working under a Level 3, and take another test to become ASNT certified.  The documented hours required differ depending on your level of formal education.  I can't recall off the top of my head right now, but i seem to remember UT is something like 1500 documented hours.........Overview of SNT-TC-1ASNT-TC-1A is not a specification. It is a set ofguidelines or recommendations to employers abouthow to establish and conduct an NDT personnelqualification and certification program.Certification in accordance with SNT-TC-1Ameans certification of an individual by the employer.Because it can only be given by the employer,certification in accordance with SNT-TC-1A terminatesif the individual leaves the employer.Basically, SNT-TC-1A has only two requirementsor conditions which must be met.A. The first condition is that a written practiceor procedure for qualifying and certifyingcompany NDT personnel must be preparedby the employer. The following recommendationsabout preparing a written practiceare included in SNT-TC-1A:1. establish three levels of NDT personnelqualification, (Level I, II, and III, withLevel III being the highest)2. specify the activities or functions thatpersonnel at each level of NDT qualificationshould be able to perform3. specify the training, education, andexperience that personnel at each levelof NDT qualification should have4. specify the subjects that the trainingshould coverB. The second condition is that the employermust (shall) modify the suggestions ofSNT-TC-1A if necessary to make the qualificationand certification requirements appropriatefor the companyÕs needs. In otherwords, the employer is responsible forassuring that the qualification requirementsare satisfactory for the NDT work that thecompanyÕs employees will perform.SNT-TC-1A can also be useful if your NDTwork is done by outside laboratories or by materialsuppliers. It provides a yardstick against which toevaluate their qualification programs and the capabilitiesof their NDT personnel.SNT-TC-1A also includes the following recommendationsA. What types of examinations should begivenB. How examinations should be gradedC. Who should perform the training and preparethe examinationsD. What records of the qualification processshould be keptE. How long the certifications should remainvalidF. How personnel should be recertifiedIt is important to remember that SNT-TC-1Adoes not require an employer to follow all its recommendationsto the letter. In fact, Paragraph 1.4 ofall SNT-TC-1A editions states that the employerÒshall modify them as necessary to meet particularneeds.ÓHowever, some regulatory bodies and specificationsrequire that employers adhere rigidly toSNT-TC-1A. If your contract contains such requirements,you may have to treat SNT-TC-1A as minimumrequirements.6 Miller Big Blue 600 Air Paks2 Miller 400D6 Lincoln LN-25's4 Miller Xtreme 12VS2 Miller Dimension 812 4 Climax BW-3000Z bore welders Hypertherm 65 and 85Bug-O Track BugPair of Welpers
Reply:Well bumping this thread back from dead. Still at my current job but work been slow lately. There is a upcoming 3 weeks course  for Radiographic class that I been debating to take. Tried to talking to head of the NDT department at work about taking me in as a trainee. Didnt seem like they wanted to take me on over there. Looked outside of the company and they are looking for more experience people in the field. I dont want to work at the NDT ma and pa shop because I really need the benefits. Any radiogpraphic techs out there have some advice?-2 speedglas 9002x + Adflo-Miller Dynasty 200DX-HH 210 Mvp