In late 2012, I was performing nondestructive testing (NDT) on the pipeline infrastructure in the frigid environment of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. It was cold, it was dark, and I was contemplating the next stage of my life and career. Although working on the North Slope had been a great experience, after an almost eight-year stint, I knew my time there was coming to an end. I needed something more, a challenge, something to call my own. Amidst the subzero temperatures, an idea emerged: establish a training institution that integrates the accessibility of online learning with rigorous in-person instruction. Thus, the American Institute of Nondestructive Testing (AINDT) was conceived, designed to address the growing demand for qualified NDT professionals by providing easier access to NDT as a career path.
Why NDT Professionals Matter More Than Ever
America’s infrastructure is ageing. Bridges, pipelines, power plants, and aircraft require constant inspection to ensure safety and reliability. NDT professionals are the unsung heroes who detect flaws without damaging critical structures, preventing catastrophic failures and saving lives. However, the industry faces a workforce crisis. An ageing workforce is retiring, and there’s a lack of awareness about NDT as a viable career path. Societal trends have pushed young people toward college degrees, often overlooking vocational careers like NDT that offer stability, competitive pay, and meaningful work. Industry bodies have begun tackling this awareness gap, but the need for skilled technicians remains urgent. AINDT was founded to bridge this gap, offering accessible, high-quality training to prepare the next generation of NDT professionals.
Making Nondestructive Testing Education Accessible to Nontraditional Students
The American Institute of Nondestructive Testing (AINDT) revolutionised NDT training by introducing a blended learning format tailored to nontraditional students. Recognising the challenges faced by individuals seeking a new career in nondestructive testing (NDT), AINDT designed a program that accommodates those juggling financial responsibilities, family obligations, and geographic constraints. Traditional NDT training often required relocating for extended periods, a barrier for many people who can’t uproot their family and move across the country to go back to school. AINDT’s hybrid model eliminates this hurdle, making high-quality education accessible to a broad audience.
The program combines seven months of online theory education with three weeks of intensive, hands-on training. The online component allows students to schedule their weekly study time to fit their busy schedules. This flexibility enables learners to balance coursework with work and family life, eliminating the need to uproot their lives. The virtual platform includes interactive modules, videos, and assessments, ensuring a robust theoretical foundation without requiring immediate access to physical facilities.
The culminating three-week, in-person training at AINDT’s state-of-the-art facility in Brainerd, Minnesota, provides practical experience with industry-standard equipment. Students apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. This hybrid approach ensures graduates are job-ready, equipped with both knowledge, skills and equipment familiarisation. By offering affordable tuition, student loan options, and a condensed timeline, AINDT helps career changers, veterans, and others to enter the NDT field efficiently, addressing the industry’s workforce shortage while making training inclusive and practical. Since its inception, AINDT has graduated and placed over seven hundred individuals in the field of nondestructive testing, making a positive impact in the industry.
The Evolution of Corporate NDT Training
The vast majority of companies that require NDT training for their operations have embraced online training as a viable and effective method to educate their employees. This format works perfectly fine because of the dual nature of NDT training requirements. Online theoretical and general knowledge training, coupled with the industry's extensive “On the Job” training requirements, creates a well-rounded technician. Since its inception in 2013 has provided over 650,000 hours of NDT training to corporations around the world.
Training Designed with You in Mind
When your company invests in employee training, you deserve more than just modules and logins. At the American Institute for Nondestructive Testing (AINDT), we deliver a partnership built on support, follow-through, and long-term value.
Here’s what sets us apart:
Lifetime Access
Your team members retain lifetime access to our training courses, making it easy to review content before recertification or revisit materials when questions come up on the job.
No-Risk Enrollment
If an enrolled employee doesn’t complete the course, your company receives a course credit that can be reassigned to another candidate. This means no wasted tuition.
Ongoing Instructor Support
Our experienced instructors are available to answer questions and offer one-on-one tutoring when needed.
Daily Progress Monitoring
We actively track each student’s progress. If someone starts falling behind, our staff reaches out with support and guidance.
Secure Certificate Storage
We maintain digital copies of all training certificates so your team can access them quickly, whenever needed.
Fast, Reliable Communication
Our average response time is under 24 hours, and it’s often just a few. When you reach out, we’re ready to respond. These are just a few of the reasons companies choose AINDT over other training providers.
Looking Ahead
As the NDT industry evolves, AINDT is committed to leading the industry in education by investing in the most advanced online learning modalities, as well as the most unique and engaging NDT training facility. The goal remains the same: to make world-class NDT training available to anyone, anywhere, without compromise.
“By far the most in-depth course for CR/DR, and our instructor made the course digestible and explained it in a way everyone could comprehend and get the most out of this class possible. Combining a hands-on approach with lessons made this course very enjoyable. They make this class fun to learn and have a great team. Will recommend to others!”
-Jacob Rood
Your Journey Starts Here
Whether you’re just starting your career in NDT or you manage a team of NDT technicians, AINDT offers the training, resources, instructors, and flexibility to help you succeed.
Learn more at www.trainingndt.com or contact us at instructor@trainingndt.com.
As the ASNT annual conference in Florida brings together professionals from across the globe, one thing is clear: the future of the NDT industry depends on skilled, confident technicians. And for many, that journey begins with AINDT.
Author: AINDT (American Institute of Nondestructive Testing)
