Voltmark Thermography Academy
Infrared thermography training built for electricians
Four tiers, from a free apprentice awareness course to program leadership. Written around what an electrician actually does on a service call: find the hot connection, decide whether it matters, and write it up so somebody acts on it.
The four tiers
Thermal Foundations for Apprentices
FreeTF-0
6 modules · 4 contact hours · prerequisite: none
- What thermal imaging is and why electricians use it
- Safety around energized equipment: NFPA 70E awareness, approach boundaries, never open gear alone
- Heat, temperature and why a loose connection gets hot (resistance and I-squared-R in plain words)
- Reading a thermal image: palettes, level and span, hot spots, comparing like components
- Common electrical problems seen in infrared: loose lugs, overloaded breakers, phase imbalance, failing fuses
- Career path: NFPA 70B-2023 annual IR requirement, Level I to III path, next step into VET-1
Voltmark Electrical Thermography Level I
VET-1
14 modules · 36 contact hours · prerequisite: none
- Orientation: role of Level I, written practice, ethics
- Electrical safety for thermographers: NFPA 70E boundaries and PPE, two-person cover removal, IR windows
- Thermal science: heat vs temperature, units, temperature-difference conversion C and F
- Heat transfer: conduction, convection, radiation, steady state vs transient, thermal capacitance, wind
- IR physics: EM spectrum, wavebands, emission
- Emissivity, reflectivity, transmissivity, reflected apparent temperature, specular vs diffuse, atmosphere
- Camera operation: range, level and span, focus, palettes, FOV, spatial resolution, calibration
- Image types and radiometric data handling and storage
- Measurement technique, sources of error and limitations, normal circuit loading
- Electrical applications and thermal patterns: connections, overload, imbalance, harmonics, fuses, breakers, MCCs, transformers, motors, PV
- Applying the employer's written severity criteria, asset routes, objective reporting
- Mechanical and building overview
- Proctored camera labs
- Review
Voltmark Electrical Thermography Level II
VET-2
12 modules · 36 contact hours · prerequisite: VET-1 or any recognized Level I certificate
- Level II role: supervising Level I, approving data, written practice duties
- Advanced heat transfer and thermal behavior of electrical components
- Advanced radiation: measuring emissivity, reflected temperature methods, window and atmospheric transmission correction
- Camera performance: NETD, measurement spot size vs IFOV, lens selection, calibration verification
- Quantitative measurement and uncertainty
- Electrical criteria: comparative vs absolute delta T, load and ambient effects, NETA MTS and NFPA 70B-2023 criteria
- Setting severity criteria and writing repair recommendations
- Mechanical applications: motors, bearings, couplings, steam systems, refractory
- Building envelope and roof moisture, including drone (sUAS) thermography overview
- Report writing, route management, trending year over year
- Proctored quantitative camera labs
- Review
Voltmark Thermography Program Leadership Level III
VET-3
9 modules · 32 contact hours · prerequisite: VET-2 or any recognized Level II certificate
- Thermography program management: scope, staffing, budget, ROI
- Writing an employer written practice to SNT-TC-1A-2024 and certifying personnel
- Writing inspection procedures and work instructions
- Standards landscape: NFPA 70B, NFPA 70E, NETA MTS, ASTM E1934, ISO 18436-7, ISO 18434-1
- Exam development: item writing, passing standards, item analysis
- Training program design and CP-105 topic mapping
- Program safety and risk management
- Quality, audits, records retention, legal and ethics
- Review
What each certificate is
| Tier | Credential | Valid for |
|---|
| TF-0 | completion badge | does not expire |
| VET-1 | training and exam certificate | 5 years |
| VET-2 | training and exam certificate | 5 years |
| VET-3 | training and exam certificate | 5 years |
Voltmark issues training and qualification records. The student's employer certifies the individual under its own written practice, following SNT-TC-1A. Voltmark does not certify individuals.
Course content is in technical review. Every lesson and exam item in this program is reviewed and signed off by a contracted ASNT NDT Level III (IR) before it is published. Nothing is published until that review is complete.
Take the free 15-question electrician readiness check
Who this is for
- Apprentices who want to understand what the camera on the truck is actually telling them.
- Journeymen and masters adding infrared inspection to what they sell.
- Contractors who need a written practice and somebody qualified to run it.
Voltmark Thermography Academy is Voltmark's own training program. It is not ASNT certification and it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ASNT, NFPA, ICC, or any certifying body or licensing authority. Certificates issued by this program attest to completing Voltmark training and passing Voltmark examinations. Employer qualification under NFPA 70E and any written practice remains the employer's responsibility. Always follow your employer's safety program and your supervising electrician.
