Industrial Radiographers

Most nuclear or radiation facilities do not allow unauthorized personnel inside their grounds, which makes summer or part-time jobs in the field rare or nonexistent. Tours are available at some facilities, especially national laboratories, which can provide you with a better view of what future jobs may entail. Some facilities that handle radioactive materials, such as nuclear power plants, have visitors' centers where the public can view educational exhibits about their operations. Science teachers, working with high school counselors, may be able to bring in speakers or to invite industrial radiological technicians to speak about their fields.

High school science classes may be the best place to gain a familiarity with the nature of and potential careers in industrial radiological technology. Also, look in your public library for the American Society for Nondestructive Testing's magazine, Materials Evaluation. It contains articles on the whole field of testing. A sample issue can also be viewed online at https://www.asnt.org/standards-publications/materials-evaluation.

The Environmental Protection Agency offers information on industrial radiography at its Web site, https://www.epa.gov/radtown/industrial-radiography.