Education · 1 of 5

The path

One to three years from high school, and most of it is paid.

1. 1

   High school diploma or GED (General Educational Development certificate)

   Grades 11 and 12

   That is the stated entry requirement. Shop, physics and math help more than anything else.

2. 2

   Training in a method

   A few weeks to a year

   Either a technical school program or classroom hours paid for by an employer. Ultrasonic and radiographic testing are the two that pay best.

3. 3

   Trainee hours on the job

   6 to 18 months

   You work under a certified technician and log experience hours. Each method has its own requirement.

4. 4

   Level one, then level two

   1 to 3 years in total

   Written exam, a practical exam and a vision test. Level two means you can interpret results and sign them, which is where the pay changes.

5. 5

   Level three

   Several more years

   The senior grade. You write procedures, train others and take responsibility for a company's testing program.