Best route to take following apprenticeship

[robday2000]

Hey all,

my apprenticeship in NDT inspection is soon coming to an end (within 12months) and I have an opportunity to further my study at college/university part time while working.

I have found myself working in material identification this last 12months and do enjoy it but most guys seem to think that mechanical engineering is the way to go in terms of further education. 3 of the lads are either on or going to be on this particular course.

I am still undecided if i should to different from the rest and follow the metallurgy route or go for the mechanical eng. To have both in years to come would be ideal but thats a long way off yet as Im still young.

Any advice would be great.

Regards
Bob

 

[Mr168]

ASNT Level III's are a hot commodity from what I've seen. If you like materials, metallurgy, and QC/Inspection, by all means, pursue it.

 

[robday2000]

I have ASNT Level 2 and PCN Level 2 in DPI,MPI, UT and RT. Also an Autocad 2D Qual.

I didnt realise that Level 3's were that important. or at least not here in the UK.

From being on the tools, most guys then want to move on and become plant inspectors.

One thing I would like to do is work abroad, but I'd like to get as many quals as possible before moving on. Taking full advantage of the apprenticeship seems like the best idea, especially while jobs could be hard to come by for the next couple of years.

 

[ornerynorsk]

Do what you love, otherwise you'll have to go to "work" every day!

 

[Bribyk]

You could also consider materials engineering, which seems to be a good fit for you as well. You know best though...

 

[Ron]

robday2000...I was an ASNT Level III and an AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) for a number of years, but did not continue to recertify as my duties changed. Yes, Level III's are in demand. An engineer with a Level III is in higher demand. I was a little bit of an oddball in that I'm a structural but worked in NDT/Building structural inspections, with some industrial application (mostly amusement parks and paper mills)

Mechanical, Materials, and Metallurgy can be closely related, so you can cross over in them. As for marketability, the Mechanical Engineering degree offers the widest range of possibilities, with an opportunity to specialize in either of the others as subdisciplines. Materials and Metallurgy degrees are likely to limit your employment pool a bit more, but are still good degree pursuits.

Your practical background in NDT will serve you well in all of them.

Good luck.

Ron

 

[jnam82]

Would someone with minor color deficiency (not color blindness) be unable to perform in this line of work?

 

[Ron]

jnam82...you should ask your question by starting another thread....but to give a quick answer, there are vision requirements for certain aspects of NDE/NDT. I don't recall if color vision is one of them, but I know that near vision acuity is required.

 

[MintJulep]

You might also consider some sort of materials/welding engineering focus.

A good related area would be structures and stress analysis.

I would certainly hire somebody who could:

Understand the load paths through a structure.
Design joints for that structure.
Analyze the structure and revise the items above to cool down any stress hot spots, fatigue concerns, etc.
Pick the right materials to make it from.
Develop weld procedures to make the thing.
Inspect it to make sure it was made right.
Develop repair procedures when it was made wrong.