How to Become an Inspector: Career Guide, Courses, Jobs, Salary, Scope

What does an Inspector do?

Inspectors responsibilities include evaluating structures such as buildings, pipelines, roads to identify any sort of complications or drawbacks. The result of the evaluation is shared with concerned teams to reduce accidents and other associated disasters..

The responsibilities and duties of an Inspector are highly influenced by the nature of an organization and different job roles, but the duties mentioned below remain uniform to every job title.

• An Inspector is expected to read blueprints and project specifications.
• Ensure that project standards are accurately met by closely monitoring operations.
• Provide relevant suggestions and make necessary adjustments in the assembly and production processes.
• The products manufactured or produced are inspected, tested by an Inspector.
• The products that are not aligned with the specifications or blueprint are removed.
• Inspectors are required to report inspection and test data like temperature, weight, moisture content, and quantity.
• Inspectors at the senior level are expected to perform leadership roles that would allow them to coordinate with the junior structure inspector and coordinate with their managers and provide them with the timely update.
• The Inspectors are responsible for maintaining the overall safety of the construction or working sites.

Steps to Become an Inspector

The following are some of the steps that the candidates can take in order to become an Inspector. The steps has been explained in a generalised way to help the candidates take informed decision about their career

Decision Making

To avoid any wrong career choices you must prioritize decision-making right from high school. Thorough research must be conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the personal skills and knowledge most suitable to become an Inspector. If you are keen to become an Inspector you must at first research the field and evaluate your choices and specializations. To become an Inspector you must take up science in the 10+2 level. Also an Inspector has much more responsibility as they are involved in guaranteeing the safety of various structures or products.

Subject Choices

The subjects you choose in the 10+2 determine the courses you take in college. To pursue Inspectoring you must take mathematics or science as your compulsory subjects. Also you need to have strong bases in Physics, Chemistry and computer sciences. In the graduation level you must choose either of the following specializations, i.e Civil, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.

Entrance Exam

Entrance examinations are conducted by universities to complete the admission process. You must complete 10+2 with a minimum score of 55% to become eligible for taking entrance examinations. There are a few institutions that offer admission based on merit scores or percentage cut-off scores of 10 + 2.

Popular Entrance Examinations for enrolling in an undergraduate course are mentioned below.

• JEE Mains (Joint Entrance Examination- Main)
• JEE Advanced (Joint Entrance Examination- Advanced)
• GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)

Apart from these entrance examinations there are many state as well as university level entrances that the candidate can prepare for. These are

• WBJEE
• OJEE
• VITEEE
• BITSAT
• LPUNEST, etc

The candidates should start preparing for the entrance examination by downloading the syllabus of various examinations and examining their pattern. Then the candidates are required to download previous years papers and give as many mock tests possible to secure good rank

Selecting Correct Colleges

Once you have decided to pursue Inspectoring next, the most important task is to search and discover a good college. You can conduct executive research to gather knowledge about their admission cycle and eligibility criteria. One thing that the candidates can go through is check the ranking released by the various agencies such as NIRF, Outlook or India Today To learn about the top best engineering colleges in India.

Scoring poor marks in entrance lowers the chance of getting admission in decent colleges.In that case the candidates have to restrategize and find the best possible colleges according to the marks scored.

Candidates should contact the alumni so that can form much more concrete pattern about the college and their placement record

After Qualifying Exam

After qualifying for the entrance examination, based on your performance, respective colleges will call you for counseling and further admission procedures. During this period you will be notified about all the necessary details such as admission procedure, the fee structure of your selected course, and important dates related to admission and course. You must regularly visit the college’s official website after you qualify for the entrance exam as the details are communicated to students here itself. After counseling, you will be given admission to your respective department marking the completion of the admission process.

Types of Inspector

Three different types of Inspectors are mentioned below:

Quality Control Inspector

• Quality control inspectors monitor products and materials to ensure they align with the specifications and blueprint. The quality standards of products are evaluated by a quality control inspector.
• They are hired to boost product quality and reduce minute deviation from the specifications. These deviations are recorded and production problems are communicated to the supervisors. Quality control inspectors are of several types.
• Inspectors usually record the defects along with solving minor problems.
• They may also certify and reject final products. Samplers test a product for defects and malfunction. Sorters segregate products according to their color, size, length, and fabric type.

Bridge and Highway Inspector 

• A bridge Inspector entirely focuses on the structural engineering or sturdiness, endurance, and rigidity of a bridge.
• These individuals search for issues and identify problems that affect the overall build quality such as cracks or fractures in the concrete, rust on the metal supports, etc.
• A highway Inspector monitors the roadway condition inspecting for skid resistance, drainage, quality of pavement, and mixtures to prevent any catastrophes, accidents, and violations of construction safety rules.
• Bridge and highway Inspectors travel a lot inspecting various bridges, highways, roads, and construction sites preventing accidents and ensuring public safety.

Check Out: How to Be a Civil Engineer

Oil and Gas Inspector

• An oil and gas Inspector works for energy companies monitoring the state of oil and gas pipelines, pumps, tanks, vessels, valves, structural support, and other instruments, accessories, and machinery.
• These individuals ensure proper and efficient hardware functioning compiled with the rules and standards set by the government of a particular area.
• Oil and gas Inspectors go through the data collected from testing instruments and machinery to exert influence on the maintenance routine and approach. An appropriate plan or course of action is advised by the engineer if any equipment is found faulty, damaged, or defective.

Check Out: How to Become Petroleum Engineer

How to Become an Inspector in India?

To become an Inspector you must start your preparation right from high school. Aside from the academic requirements, you must also improve your skills and knowledge at the early stages.

School-level preparation

• Academic performance can be significantly improved if you start your preparation right from high school. You can research colleges' official websites and other sources to collect information regarding the admission process and entrance examination.
• Thus, you must start preparing for the entrance examinations from class 11 itself. You are required to learn about the various entrance examination subjects and syllabus pattern so that you can score the maximum marks possible
• You must score well academically to increase your chances of enrollment in a good college. Conduct in-depth research to gain an understanding of every skill and knowledge the particular field demands from you right from high school.
• Obtain all the necessary information related to the field including salary, career prospects, and job opportunities, to support the preparation.
• The research also helps students figure out and understand the challenges they will face throughout their academic journey.

How to Become an Inspector after 12th?

Candidates after completion of their 12th should start preparing for the UG as well as the PG level. The UG and the PG level are considered to be the final step of preparation for candidates who aspire to be an Inspector.

UG Preparation 

• A bachelor’s degree (minimum) is required to establish you as an Inspector. The cut-off scores of entrance examinations are usually always high, setting the bar to a level where students need to perform exceptionally or are denied admission.
• Popular entrance examinations for enrolling in an undergraduate course are JEE Mains , JEE Advanced,BITSAT, LPUNEST, WBJEE, etc.
• After securing admission to a college you need to start planning for the next stage i.e completing the course with a good percentage. The candidates are required to maintain a percentage of 65% or a GPA of 7.5.
• The candidates are required to keep this number because the top companies generally set up a cut off between 60-65%.
• The candidates must take up other courses such as AutoCAD Courses, or Revit courses that would help them improve their job prospects.
• Candidates who want to have better job prospects should start preparing for M.Tech or ME Courses.
• The candidates should start preparing for entrance exams such as GATE, PGET, etc.

PG Preparation

• You must complete your bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or college and score a minimum of 55% to secure admission in a postgraduate course. Several entrance examinations are conducted across the country for postgraduate engineering admission.
• Clearing the cut-off would only help a candidate secure admission. Regular revision of concepts and daily practice is the key to clear the entrance examinations.
• A candidate who performs exceptionally well in the entrance examination and has a good academic record has extremely high chances to secure admission to a good postgraduate college.
• Furthermore, you must also prepare for the personal interview round by paying attention to important national and international events.
• General knowledge plays an important role in the interview round as a maximum of 50% of questions are from current affairs and the rest are based on your subject knowledge.
• After securing admission the candidates must concentrate on the overall academic requirements and should look to secure at least 55% marks.
• For better opportunities the candidates can start preparing for PhD and other courses.

Courses to Become an Inspector

There are many types of courses available to the candidates at the diploma, UG, PG and Doctorate level to become a proficient Inspector

The following are some of the course that the candidates can undertake to become an Inspector in India

B.Tech in Electrical Engineering

B.Tech in electrical engineering is one of the most popular engineering courses in India. The duration of the B.Tech in Electrical Engineering course is generally for a period of 4 years. The candidates are trained in understanding the power system, electronics and power control systems, etc. The candidates become well versed with concepts of electromagnetism and design of devices that run on electricity.

Eligibility Criteria

• The candidates are required to pass the 12th or equivalent examination with a minimum score of 50% from a recognised board with science stream
• Candidates who have done diploma in electrical engineering can study B.Tech in Electrical Engineering through the lateral entry scheme.

B.Tech in Civil Engineering 

It is one of the most popular four years undergraduate degree courses in engineering. The B.Tech in Civil Engineering course helps students gain an understanding of the process, production, and technology behind the design and plan of development of roads, building dams, canals, etc. Bridge Inspectors need a degree in civil engineering.

Eligibility Criteria 

• You must complete your intermediate or equivalent with mathematics and science (Physics/Chemistry) as core subjects scoring a minimum of 50% marks.
• Candidates belonging to the reserved category are allowed a relaxation of 5%.
• Candidates who have completed Diploma in Civil Engineering are allowed to secure admission to the second year of the course under lateral entry scheme.

B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering is one of the most sought-after undergraduate degrees in the field of engineering in India. The total duration of this course is for a period of 4 years. B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering branch deals with the production, designing, and operations of machines. Oil and gas Inspectors need a degree in mechanical engineering.

Eligibility Criteria 

• A candidate must complete the senior secondary level with mathematics, physics and chemistry as the core subjects and score a minimum of 50% marks.
• Candidates who have completed a 3 years Diploma in Mechanical Engineering are eligible for admission to the B.Tech program under the lateral entry scheme.

M.Tech in Civil Engineering 

It is a two-year postgraduate program divided into four semesters that provides candidates with extensive, advanced, and in-depth theoretical and practical knowledge. Candidates during the 2 years course of M.Tech in Civil engineering learn about the design of structures such as Dams, Buildings, Airport hangars, Trusses, etc. They are responsible for the construction and maintenance of highways, airport runways, bridges.

Eligibility Criteria 

• Candidates should have passed B.E/B.Tech in Civil Engineering or BPlanning or any other equivalent courses from a recognized university or college with a minimum score of 55%.
• Candidates belonging to reserved categories (SC/ST or PwD) are allowed a relaxation of 5%.
• Candidates must clear any one of the entrance examination

Important Links

Important Links:

How to Become an Inspector Abroad?

If you want to pursue studies abroad, factors like cost, scholarships, and quality of education must be considered. Countries like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia offer academic courses in Civil engineering, Electrical as well as in mechanical engineering. Bridge and highway Inspectors need a degree in civil engineering whereas oil and gas Inspectors require a degree in mechanical engineering.

To pursue engineering abroad you must have an intermediate level result with mathematics and science as compulsory subjects are essential to pursue a degree abroad. Universities abroad make certain to accept students who speak English fluently hence require valid English Proficiency Test scores (TOEFL, or PTE, or IELTS). Additionally, letters of academic recommendation are required along with a current CV or resume. Students must have a valid student visa and citizenship certificate. Candidates are required to pass the entrance exam GRE, GMAT, SAT etc.

UK 

Candidates who want to study in the UK should keep the following things in mind before applying to a UK based college.

The country offers several diplomas, bachelor's, and master's degrees. Some institutions even offer short time certificate courses or training for Inspectoring. Given below are a few courses offered by universities in the UK.

1. MEng/BEng Civil Engineering/Mechanical Engineering
2. BEng Civil and Structural Engineering
3. B.Sc Civil Engineering

• In case of admission to the undergraduate program the candidates should have passed their 12th or equivalent examination from a recognised board with a minimum score of 65% marks. In some cases the score can go upto 85-90%.
• Candidates must have Mathematics and physics as their compulsory subjects in their 12th.
• In case of PG courses the candidates must complete graduation in relevant stream from a recognized university. Candidates are required to maintain a GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0.
• Starting salary for an entry-level Inspector ranges between INR 20,72,698 and 29,00,918 per annum

Top Colleges

USA 

Candidates who want to study in the USA should keep the following things in mind before applying to a US based college.

• More than 400 colleges offer courses related to Inspectoring.
• According to recent studies in the year 2019, nearly 1.1 million foreign students enrolled in different US institutions.
• The following courses are available.

1. Mechanical Engineering BEng (Hons)
2. Bachelor of Civil Engineering
3. Civil Engineering BE

• In case of Admission to the Undergraduate programs the candidates are required to pass their 12th or equivalent examination from a recognized board. The cut off scores for the colleges are declared at the time of admission.
• The candidates must have physics, maths, chemistry as their compulsory subjects.
• In case of PG admission the candidates must have a 10+2+4 education. The candidates should have completed a 4 years engineering program in relevant stream. The candidates must maintain a GPA of 3.0 (83-86%)
• Entry-level jobs pay the highest annual average salary close to INR 67,65,182 per annum.

Top Colleges

Canada 

Candidates who wish to study in Canada should keep the following things in mind before applying to Canadian Universities

• More than 650+ colleges offer courses related to Inspectoring in Canada.
• In the year 2020, nearly 5,30,540 international students enrolled in different Canadian institutions.
• The following courses are offered.

1. BEng Civil Engineering
2. Bachelor of Civil/Mechanical Engineering

• Candidates who have completed their 12th or equivalent examination from a recognised board or university are eligible to apply in the UG courses. The candidates must have 65% or more marks in their 12th. The candidates should also have maths and physics as their compulsory subjects.
• In case of PG admission, the candidates must complete their UG in relevant stream from a recognised university with 60% marks.
• The average salary offered to an entry-level Inspector is INR 66,50,541 LPA. The future for Inspectors is promising with a 5% growth every year.

Top Colleges

Australia

Candidates who wish to study in Australia should keep the following things in mind before applying to any of the Australian Colleges.

• Australia has 124+ colleges that offer courses in Inspectoring.
• In the year 2019, nearly 7,38,107 international students enrolled in different Australian institutions experiencing 58% growth since 2015.
• The following courses are offered.

1. Bachelor of Construction Management and Property
2. Bachelor of Civil/Mechanical Engineering

• In case of UG admission the candidates are required to pass their 12th or equivalent examination from a recognised board with a minimum score of 65-75%. In case of top colleges the candidates are required to score over 90%.
• In case of PG admission the candidates are required to pass relevant courses in their graduation level with a score of 60-65%. However, the cut off scores are declared by colleges at the time of exam.
• The common entry-level salary for an Inspector in Australia is INR 54,19,348 LPA.

Top Colleges

Benefits of Career as an Inspector

Salary: An Inspector at entry-level makes around INR 2,50,000 to 3,80,000 per annum at entry-level. The salary of an Inspector is most lucrative and usually higher than other entry-level jobs, with experience and significant field knowledge the salary of an experienced engineer can reach up to INR 12,00,000 per annum. Though the salary package is huge, it is highly influenced by various factors like skills, qualifications, knowledge of the field, and location.

• Job Security: Since the job is specialized as other engineering fields, Inspectors are hired by a wide scope of industries, including significant manufacturing industry, professional, scientific, and technical services, wholesale trade, and research and development industry. This adaptability unfolds from the fact that Inspectors focus on enhancing product quality, making their job role valuable and important for several sectors. Hence the role gains job security.
• Positive Impact of the Career: Career as an Inspector not only provides a high-paying salary but also influences the overall development of the personality of an individual. An Inspector continuously works towards learning and improving the required skills. As the nature of the job is highly stimulating and demanding it provides employees with satisfaction as they address safety issues. Higher Studies options are available, after completing a bachelor's degree program; graduates have countless possibilities to help in their career advancement.
• Unique Experience: This particular engineering field provides unique experiences to the employees through the nature of the work and the organizations where the skills and knowledge can be put to work. The demanding nature of the work and the constant requirement for travel contributes towards making the overall working experience unique for Inspectors and their employers.

Skills Required for an Inspector 

Salary of an Inspector in India 

The salary of an Inspector is highly influenced by the experience, skills, and knowledge of the candidate. Given below is a relative range between the salaries of an Inspector in India.

Average Annual Salary 

Specialization Wise Salary

Gender Wise Salary

Experience Wise Salary