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NDT AS A PROFESSION:
IN CONCLUSION
This is the last of a three-part series that examines whether nondestruc-
tive testing (NDT) is a profession or just an occupation. In the first article,
I outlined the differences between occupations and professions, and last
month I assessed the NDT field specifically to determine whether it’s a
profession or occupation. I summarized that NDT meets some, but not
all, of the tests defining a profession. While the presence of specialized
knowledge and education, ethical standards and codes of conduct, and
regulation support the notion that NDT is a profession, questions remain
related to independent certification and continuing education require-
ments, inconsistent pathways for entry and progression in the field, and
lack of public trust and recognition.
This month, I’ll explain why this discussion is important and relevant for
ASNT but also for the education and training institutions that support the
field, for the organizations who employ NDT professionals, and for the
clients who rely on NDT to produce and maintain safe and high-quality
goods and services.
Let’s start by exploring why this discussion is so important. Many
readers who have made a career of NDT may be asking, “What’s the big
deal? Why is it important to categorize NDT as a profession or occupa-
tion?” I would start by going back to my first day on the job here at ASNT
on 8 July 2019. The Chair of the Board Scott Cargill and President Michael
McGloin were kind enough to come to Columbus to welcome me and to
outline what they saw as ASNT’s priorities. We discussed many things, but
the challenge they highlighted, which underscored everything else we
discussed, was the fact that NDT was little known (outside the field itself,
of course). They lamented that there was no clear pathway to enter and
progress through the field. People just made their way.
In countless discussions since then with members, educators, clients,
and the like, this problem has been repeated. How can we be consid-
ered a profession without being recognized by the general public for
the important work we do and the role we play in creating a safer world?
ASNT has engaged extensively in advocating for NDT through public
relations and advertising, but just being aware of the field won’t be
enough. There must also be a clear pathway to find and enter the field.
Traditional professions such as law and medicine require completion of
specific educational requirements followed by independent licensing.
Newer professions such as information technology (IT) once started out
very much like NDT, with no recognized pathway for entry, but over the
past 40 years, this has been addressed as the people who employ IT
professionals demanded a minimum level of higher education and in
some cases certification. You may still find the self-taught IT professional
in the workforce with a high school education, but generally people need
a minimum of a four-year degree to be employable today.
NEAL J. COUTURE, CAE
ASNT CEO
NCOUTURE@ASNT.ORG
How can we be
considered a
profession
without being
recognized by the
general public
for the important
work we do and
the role we play
in creating a safer
world?
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LEADERSHIP
LEADERSHIP FROM P. 89
We need to ask ourselves if requiring a four-year degree would help profes-
sionalize the NDT field. In some countries such as India, this is already standard
practice. There would be ramifications and implications, of course. Would this
drive up the labor costs of NDT? What would the curriculum require? How
would we get colleges and universities to add NDT to their curricula? Would it
help solve the enduring workforce shortages? Would it improve performance
and reliability?
We also need to ask ourselves if employer-based certification is sufficient to
ensure quality and safety, and does it contribute to or detract from the profes-
sionalization of the field. Does the public trust employers to certify employees
who hold such critical responsibilities that impact public health and safety? (I
suspect they are not even aware.) In fields where public trust is essential, where
the citizens’ interests are directly affected by people in the field, governments
typically create licensing requirements. Think doctors, lawyers, financial advi-
sors, engineers, and so on. Would requiring NDT professionals to be licensed
professionalize the field? Again, there would be financial and other ramifica-
tions for such a requirement. According to the National Conference of State
Legislatures, the number of jobs requiring an occupational license, or govern-
ment approval to practice a profession, has grown from about 1 in 20 to almost
1 in 4 over the past 60 years. Or is having a central, independent certification
requirement sufficient to ensure public trust? Most countries around the world
now recognize certifications provided by independent certification bodies
under ISO/IEC 9712.
This article is intentionally provocative. My argument is that if we want to
address the challenges we’ve discussed (e.g., public awareness, pathway for
entry and advancement, etc.), we must challenge long-standing assumptions.
We must work to make NDT a profession that is well-known, trusted, and
desired as a career. These are issues we need to be exploring if we want the
public to trust the NDT field with their safety and health if we want clients to
value NDT and not just look at it as a necessary overhead expense and if we
want to make the field known to the public with clear pathways for entry and
advancement. I welcome your comments and questions and look forward to
expanding this discussion in coming months and years.
DEADLINE ALERT:
31 JANUARY 2024
The ASNT Foundation is proud
to offer financial assistance and
recognition to individuals seeking
nondestructive testing (NDT)
training, as well as undergrad-
uate and graduate students and
faculty members of universities
and colleges. Discover a range
of opportunities tailored to your
educational pursuits. Whether
you’re exploring NDT training
or pursuing higher education,
the ASNT Foundation awards are
designed to support your aspira-
tions. The scholarships, grants, and
fellowship awards have their own
eligibility criteria that must be met
in order to be considered for the
award. Visit foundation.asnt.org
to learn more about the eligibility
criteria and application process.
The ASNT Foundation is committed
to empowering the next genera-
tion of NDT professionals.
IT’S TIME TO
REWIND!
Join us online on 7 February 2024
for a recap of the top presentations
from ASNT 2023: The Annual
Conference, plus discover exciting
new presentations, news, and
updates! Registration is FREE for
members, providing unlimited
access to TWO sessions—catering to
attendees across the globe. Watch
at your convenience. Save your
spot by registering at asnt.org
/events.
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SOCIETYNOTES
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