Peernovo
Metal product inspection workers

How to become a Non-Destructive Testing Technician

Also called: Non-destructive tester (civil engineering structures), Non-destructive tester (buildings), Non-destructive tester (concrete products), Non-destructive tester (industrial machinery)

Checks metal materials, machine parts, welds and structures for flaws inside and on the surface without taking them apart or damaging them.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say high school or university is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualification is required to start, but almost all new graduates hired have degrees from university science and engineering faculties or postgraduate study, or come from kosen (colleges of technology) or the electrical and mechanical courses of technical high schools. Mid-career hires often move between companies in the same industry. Employers include testing companies and testing bodies, as well as manufacturers, construction companies and mining companies with their own non-destructive testing departments. After joining, you gain practical experience through in-house training and on-the-job training. A related qualification is the private non-destructive testing technician qualification. It must be renewed every 5 years, and you must pass a recertification exam every 10 years. There are also qualifications needed for particular testing methods, for example the national radiation protection supervisor qualification if you handle radioactive materials. Many companies have schemes to help staff gain qualifications after joining. Industry bodies also offer training and courses. You need to be willing to keep up with the latest information in research papers and study related books. Precision and patience to keep working accurately are important.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

Related jobs

Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz

Questions people ask

How do I become a Non-Destructive Testing Technician?

No particular education or qualification is required to start, but almost all new graduates hired have degrees from university science and engineering faculties or postgraduate study, or come from kosen (colleges of technology) or the electrical and mechanical courses of technical high schools. Mid-career hires often move between companies in the same industry. Employers include testing companies and testing bodies, as well as manufacturers, construction companies and mining companies with their own non-destructive testing departments. After joining, you gain practical experience through in-house training and on-the-job training. A related qualification is the private non-destructive testing technician qualification. It must be renewed every 5 years, and you must pass a recertification exam every 10 years. There are also qualifications needed for particular testing methods, for example the national radiation protection supervisor qualification if you handle radioactive materials. Many companies have schemes to help staff gain qualifications after joining. Industry bodies also offer training and courses. You need to be willing to keep up with the latest information in research papers and study related books. Precision and patience to keep working accurately are important.

How much does a Non-Destructive Testing Technician earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥4,604,800 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Product inspectors (metal products), which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Non-Destructive Testing Technician?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 19% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: College of technology (高等専門学校, kosen).

Will AI change the work of a Non-Destructive Testing Technician?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026