A commonly utilized instrumentation methodology for capturing intrinsic thermal data from test material is the thermocouple. Structural testing involves a wide array of materials; however, to narrow the scope of this instrumentation methodology, this paper will focus on metallic materials. Numerous parameters for these sensors must be considered however, only the major considerations will be discussed. Topics that will be covered include the temperature of the base material that will be adhered to, the test environment, material preparation, installation techniques, and sensor selection based on the boundary conditions provided, and various other nuances specific to thermocouples. References will be provided for additional information on other materials and the details that will need to be considered for more atypical materials.