NDT Level III consulting

ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 17020 and ISO/IEC 17025 requirements for NDT

Clients ask NDT companies for ISO certificates and accreditations as evidence of a working management system, or of a competent inspection body or laboratory. The three standards ask for different things. Atlantis helps NDT inspection companies and laboratories see which one applies, prepare their system and records, and get ready for the certification or accreditation assessment.

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Which standard is which

Standard	What it covers	Who issues it
ISO 9001:2015	The quality management system of the business	An accredited certification body (registrar) certifies it
ISO/IEC 17020:2012	Competence and impartiality of inspection bodies, as Type A, B or C	An accreditation body accredits it
ISO/IEC 17025:2017	Competence of testing and calibration laboratories and the validity of their results	An accreditation body accredits it

What ISO/IEC 17020 asks of an NDT inspection body

Impartiality and, depending on Type A, B or C, independence from the parties involved.
Defined competence criteria for each inspector, with evidence that each one meets them.
Inspection methods and procedures, and control of the equipment used.
Inspection records and reports or certificates with the content the standard requires.
Handling of complaints and appeals, and a management system to run it all.

What ISO/IEC 17025 asks of an NDT laboratory

Impartiality and confidentiality, and the competence of personnel.
Selection, verification and, where needed, validation of methods.
Metrological traceability of the equipment used, through calibration.
Evaluation of measurement uncertainty where it is relevant to the result.
Ensuring the validity of results, for example through proficiency testing or interlaboratory comparison.
Reporting of results and a management system to run it all.

How the NDT programme fits

An NDT programme already holds much of the evidence these standards ask for: SNT-TC-1A or ISO 9712 certification supports the competence clauses, Level III approved procedures support the method clauses, and a calibration register supports equipment control and traceability. That is where a Level III shortens the work: the gaps are usually in how the evidence is organised rather than in the inspection itself.

Our own position

Atlantis NDT is certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. It is not accredited to ISO/IEC 17020 or ISO/IEC 17025, and it is not a certification or accreditation body. We prepare you for the assessment; the certification body or the accreditation body makes the decision.

How we help

A gap assessment against the standard you are aiming for.
Procedures, competence records and, for ISO/IEC 17020, an impartiality analysis.
For ISO/IEC 17025: method verification records, uncertainty evaluations where relevant and a proficiency testing plan.
Internal audit and management review before the assessment.
A readiness review ahead of the certification audit or accreditation assessment.

Who does the work

Consulting is led by ASNT NDT Level III personnel. Our founder holds ASNT NDT Level III in UT, RT, MT, PT and VT, with more than eleven years of international NDT field experience. Aerospace work that needs a NAS 410 Level 3 is led through our associate who holds NAS 410 Level 3.

A Level III signs only within the methods they are certified in. Where a scope needs another method or scheme, the proposal names who will cover it before work starts. Under SNT-TC-1A the certifying authority always remains the employer; an outside Level III writes and approves the technical documents, prepares and grades examinations and signs in the capacity the written practice assigns.

Governing codes and standards

ISO 9001:2015
ISO/IEC 17020:2012
ISO/IEC 17025:2017
ISO 9712
ASNT SNT-TC-1A
Accreditation through ILAC signatories such as ANAB, A2LA or UKAS

What you receive

Gap assessment against the chosen standard
Procedures and competence records
Internal audit and management review records
Assessment readiness review

Industries served

NDT inspection companies
Third-party inspection bodies
NDT and materials laboratories
Fabricators with in-house NDT

Frequently asked questions

Do we need ISO/IEC 17020 or 17025, or is ISO 9001 enough?

It depends on what your clients and regulators ask for. ISO 9001 shows a working quality management system; ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation shows competence and impartiality as an inspection body; ISO/IEC 17025 shows that a laboratory’s results are technically valid. Many field NDT companies hold ISO 9001 only, while laboratories and third-party inspection bodies are more often asked for accreditation.

Is Atlantis NDT accredited to ISO/IEC 17020 or 17025?

No. Atlantis NDT is certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. We help NDT companies prepare for ISO/IEC 17020 and 17025 accreditation; the accreditation body assesses and decides.

Talk to an ASNT Level III

Tell us what the audit, the client or the code is asking for, and by when. We reply within one business day.

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Request a Level III consultation

Tell us what the audit, the client or the code is asking for, the methods and sites involved, and your dates. We reply within one business day.

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Speak to an ASNT NDT Level III

Atlantis NDT provides ASNT Level III consulting, NDT training to ASNT SNT-TC-1A, inspection management software and independent report validation. Request a free consultation and we will return a tailored quote — affordable, accessible and fully customizable to your programme.