In a significant advancement for workforce development in the non-destructive testing (NDT) sector, Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) has successfully launched a pilot program that provides specialized NDT training to Canadian military veterans. The first cohort, comprising three former service members, completed training through the Quality Control Council of Canada (QCCC) and has already begun transitioning into civilian roles in industrial inspection.
Ethan Martin, a former Canadian Armed Forces signals operator and decorated veteran, is among the first to undergo the program. Now employed by Team Industrial Services, Martin is working toward full certification as an NDT technician. “My experience with Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) has been great and they were extremely helpful in starting my career as an NDT technician. Only a few months after signing up I was put in a pilot project headed by H2H and the QCCC to receive magnetic particle inspection training,” he said.
The two-module training course included an introductory Materials and Processes module and a more advanced Magnetic Particle Inspection Level 2 module. Upon completion of the classroom and laboratory instruction, veterans must log 60 days of field work with a QCCC contractor before becoming eligible for certification exams.
“As soon as I was done my course, I was hired,” Martin added, reflecting the immediate industry demand for qualified professionals.
According to Brent Hunt, a national director with QCCC, certification opens doors for graduates to join the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Union or the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, two of the council’s parent bodies. However, he emphasized the need for a measured expansion. “Ours is a small industry and we need to take a cautious approach because we don’t want to train people and then they can’t find jobs.”
Funded by a $3 million, three-year commitment from the Ontario government, the program is already scaling up. Two additional veterans have been accepted into the next round of training, and the model is now drawing interest from other provinces.
“With Ethan (Martin) leading the way, the training is off to a promising start. It’s incredible to witness our veterans progressing so quickly into the workforce. This program is a testament to the skills and dedication they bring to the trades,” said H2H executive director James Hogarth.
H2H is also expanding its reach into Alberta with a new Skilled Pathway Program, targeting veterans and reservists for construction careers across 14 building trades unions. With the NDT initiative proving both viable and impactful, it sets a strong precedent for broader adoption across Canada’s skilled trades sectors.
