Overview
A career in inspection and testing covers many methods, both destructive and nondestructive. The Inspection Technologies program at San Jacinto College allows students to follow their career paths with traditional Nondestructive Testing methods or the inspection of Fixed Equipment such as Pressure Vessels, Piping, Valves, Weld, and Metallurgical testing. These careers are in high demand and pay according to the skill level students attain through education and experience. These skill levels require the type of training students can receive through the Inspection Technologies program at San Jacinto College.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of San Jacinto College’s Inspection Technologies program may find employment as:
- AWS - Certified Welding Inspectors (CWI);
- API Inspectors - API 510, API 570, API 577/578;
- Quality Technicians, Inspectors, or Managers;
- Metallurgical, Corrosion, or Coating Technicians;
- Unit Inspectors; and
- SIFE – Source Inspectors Fixed Equipment.
Earning Potential
Wages are based upon experience, skill level, testing method, and a synergy of multiple certifications.
Median Wages Per Year:1
- Mechanical Integrity Level I $65,3921
- Mechanical Integrity Level II $98,9311
- Mechanical Integrity Specialist $120,0961
- Certified Welding Inspector $124,7971
- SIFE - Source Inspector Fixed Equipment $105,000
- API Inspector 570/510/653 $150,7031
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Personnel for Quality and Nondestructive Testing (PQNDT) Salary Survey, 2019, for South Central Region (Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Missouri) [most recent data]
For more information, students may contact the Department Chair of Industrial Technology, Joseph Zwiercan, at 281-478-2799.
Program Director Stephen Rowland, 281-998-6350, x1689.
Campus
Central Campus
Information
Students pursuing the Fixed Equipment Inspection Technology Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree or Level 2 Certificate can earn the technical training necessary to begin a career in the testing, inspection, and quality fields. The second year of the Fixed Equipment program focuses on inspection of: Welds, Pressure Vessels, Pressure Piping, Valves, and Advanced Metallurgical Techniques.
This degree offers classroom and lab training in:
- VT - Visual Inspection,
- MT - Magnetic Particle Testing,
- PT - Liquid Penetrant Testing,
- UT - Ultrasonic Testing, Radiographic Film Interpretation, and Corrosion,
- Weld Inspection (CWI),
- Pressure Vessel Inspection, Piping and Valve Inspection, and
- Advanced Metallurgy in conformance to the guidelines of American Society for Nondestructive Testing SNT-TC-1A (ASNT), American Petroleum Institute (API), American Welding Society (AWS), and NACE International.
Additional coursework in Standards and Codes, Metrology and Prints, and Metallurgy provides the foundations needed for the diversity and adaptability of skills needed for a successful career and advancement.
The following three courses' advanced subjects require five years’ experience to sit for a certification exam. The College designed the courses for both those wanting the knowledge to be able to work to gain experience and those preparing to sit for exams.
Admission
No admission requirements.
Job entry requirements:
- Pass a drug test on a regular basis;
- Pass a criminal background check;1
- Some career paths require a TWIC Card; and
- Some career paths require a good driving record.
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Requirements vary based on type of offense and years since the offense or the requirements of the facility where the work is being performed.
Plan of Study
3INSP-FEI
| First Term | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| QCTC 1470 | Introduction to the Inspection Industry | 4 |
| METL 1313 | Introduction to Corrosion | 3 |
| NDTE 1410 | Liquid Penetrant, Magnetic Particle and Visual Testing: Level I & II | 4 |
| QCTC 1448 | Metrology and Prints | 4 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Term | ||
| QCTC 2331 | Standards and Codes | 3 |
| NDTE 1301 | Radiographic Film Interpretation of Weldments | 3 |
| NDTE 1405 | Introduction to Ultrasonics: Level I & II | 4 |
| METL 1401 | Introduction to Metallurgy | 4 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Summer Year One Term | ||
| MATH 1332 or MATH 1314 | Contemporary Mathematics (Quantitative Reasoning) 1 or College Algebra | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Third Term | ||
| NDTE 2439 | Pressure Piping and Valve Inspection | 4 |
| NDTE 2411 | Welding Inspection | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Speech Communication | ||
| Public Speaking | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Business and Professional Speech | ||
| Language, Philosophy, and Culture (Humanities) or Creative Arts (Fine Arts) | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Fourth Term | ||
| NDTE 2440 | Pressure Vessel Inspection | 4 |
| WLDG 2455 | Advanced Metallurgy | 4 |
| ENGL 1301 | Composition I | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
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May use MATH 1314 College Algebra if transferring to a baccalaureate program.
Capstone Experience: NDTE 2440 Pressure Vessel Inspection