Eddy Current Testing (ET) Jobs & Career Guide

Welcome to the career hub for Eddy Current Testing, a high-tech NDT method. Find the latest ET jobs, from trainee to Level III, explore salary data, and get a complete guide to this advanced inspection career.

Live Eddy Current Testing Job Openings

What is Eddy Current Testing?

Eddy Current Testing (ET) is a sophisticated Non-Destructive Testing method that works on the principles of electromagnetism. It is used to inspect conductive materials for surface and near-surface defects, as well as to measure material properties like conductivity and coating thickness.

The process involves placing a probe, which contains a coil of wire energized with an alternating current, near the surface of the part being tested. This current in the coil generates a changing magnetic field, which in turn induces small, circular electrical currents in the conductive material. These are known as “eddy currents.” These currents flow in a predictable pattern, but when a flaw like a crack or corrosion is present, it disrupts their flow. The ET instrument is designed to detect these subtle changes in the flow of the eddy currents, which are then displayed on a screen for a trained technician to interpret.

Beyond finding cracks, ET is also a powerful tool for rapidly sorting different metal alloys, verifying proper heat treatment, and measuring the thickness of non-conductive coatings on a conductive base.

Eddy Current

Key Industries Relying on ET

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inspecting aircraft skins for fatigue cracks, examining bolt holes, and assessing turbine blades and engine components.

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inspecting non-ferromagnetic tubing and specific components

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inspecting the thin-walled tubing found in heat exchangers, condensers, and steam generators for defects like pitting, corrosion, and cracking.

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Applied for surface inspection of bars, tubes, and wires during the production process

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Used in high-volume manufacturing for quality control, such as verifying the hardness of components, sorting alloys, and detecting cracks in engine and transmission parts.

The Eddy Current (ET) Career Path & Certifications

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ET Trainee / Assistant

As a trainee, you will work under direct supervision to learn the complex theory behind ET. Your initial hands-on work will involve assisting with reference standard calibration and learning how to operate the equipment while accumulating the required on-the-job training (OJT) hours.

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ET Level I Technician

After completing formal training (typically 40 hours) and OJT, you can certify as a Level I. A Level I is qualified to perform specific calibrations and tests according to a written procedure. They can follow a pre-determined setup to scan parts and identify signals, but work under the guidance of a Level II for signal interpretation.

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ET Level II Technician

This is the core professional role. An ET Level II has the extensive knowledge to select the correct probe and instrument settings for a specific application. They are highly skilled in interpreting the complex signals on the instrument’s impedance plane display, distinguishing relevant flaw signals from non-relevant noise, and sentencing parts based on acceptance criteria.

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ET Level III Technician

The top-level expert. An ET Level III develops and validates Eddy Current techniques and procedures for the company. They are capable of solving complex inspection problems, choosing the right technology for new applications, and are qualified to train and certify Level I and II personnel.

Eddy Current Testing Salary Expectations

 

Certification Level Experience Level Average Salary Range (USD)
NDT Trainee 0-1 Year $42,000 – $58,000
ET Level I 1-2 Years $55,000 – $70,000
ET Level II 2-5+ Years $68,000 – $110,000+
ET Level III 5-10+ Years $95,000 – $165,000+

*Disclaimer: Salaries can vary significantly based on location and industry (aerospace consistently pays a premium). Technicians with advanced qualifications like multi-array eddy current or tube inspection experience are in extremely high demand.

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How long does it take to become a Level II ET technician?

The path to Level II in ET is a significant commitment. It typically requires 80 hours of formal classroom training (40 for Level I and 40 for Level II) and a total of 630 hours of documented on-the-job experience to be eligible for the Level II exams.

ET can only be used on conductive materials. This includes most metals, such as aluminum, steel, stainless steel, copper, and titanium. It cannot be used on non-conductive materials like plastics or ceramics.

While both can find surface cracks in some of the same materials (steel), they work on different principles. ET works on conductive materials by analyzing disruptions in electrical currents. MT works only on ferromagnetic materials by analyzing disruptions in a magnetic field.

The impedance plane is the screen display on an Eddy Current instrument. It’s a graph that shows the electrical properties of the testing coil. A skilled Level II technician can interpret the shape, phase angle, and amplitude of the signals on this plane to determine the type and severity of a defect.

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