Written Practice Development

Audit-ready NDT written practices, training outlines, examination question banks and certification records — conforming to ASNT SNT-TC-1A, ANSI/ASNT CP-189 or NAS 410. Built by ASNT Level III consultants for NDT service providers, fabricators, EPCs and asset owners.

A defective written practice is the single most common audit finding in NDT pre-qualifications. We routinely see practices that copy another company's wording without customisation; that fail to specify examiner qualifications; that omit recertification triggers; that lack the examination question banks the practice references; that reference outdated SNT-TC-1A editions. Each of those is a finding. In aggregate, they invalidate every personnel certification the organisation issues — and disqualify the organisation from supplier approval by Aramco, ADNOC, KOC, KIPIC, Petronas, Pertamina, Boeing, Lockheed and most other major clients.

Atlantis NDT delivers fully customised, audit-ready written practices — controlled documents with revision history, signed by an ASNT Level III, supported by complete training outlines, examination question banks and certification records. Built to pass first-time at the client pre-qualification and ASNT certification body audit.

60-minute scoping call — free, no obligation, NDA available. We will tell you which framework you need, how long it will take, and what the audit defence pack will look like.

What this page covers

The written practice is the keystone document
SNT-TC-1A vs. CP-189 — which framework fits you?
What you get
Methodology
ASNT Level III credentials backing every written practice
Industries served
Sample client outcomes
Engagement model
Frequently asked questions
Pre-qualifying with a major client? Get the written practice right.

Key points covered

Customised written practice document conforming to ASNT SNT-TC-1A (2020) or ANSI/ASNT CP-189 (2024) — owner-controlled, version-managed, with revision history and approval signatures.
Detailed Level I / II / III training outlines for each NDT method in scope (UT, RT, MT, PT, VT, ET, LT, AET, IRT, NRT) — hours, topics, instructor qualifications and reference texts per ASNT recommended hours.
General + specific + practical examination question banks, balanced to ASNT CP-105 topical outlines and customised to your specific equipment and procedures.
Practical exam test specimens, scoring sheets, and proctor instructions designed to demonstrate hands-on competence on your specific products and equipment.
Qualification documentation for your designated examiners and instructors — credentials, experience, vision tests, ongoing CEU records — built to survive client audit.
Personnel certification records framework — initial qualification, ongoing experience hours, annual eye exams, biennial reviews, recertification and audit trails.
Cross-reference matrix that maps every SNT-TC-1A / CP-189 clause to a documented evidence artefact — ready for an external client or ASNT certification body audit.
NDT methods in scope, applicable codes (ASME, API, AWS, NAS, EN), client specifications (Aramco, ADNOC, Petronas, etc.), and any sector-specific overlays (NAS 410 for aerospace) are agreed at kick-off.
Current practices (if any) reviewed against SNT-TC-1A or CP-189. Differences between SNT-TC-1A (recommended practice) and CP-189 (mandatory standard) clarified for your context.
Customised written practice drafted — organisation responsibilities, training requirements, examination process, certification process, recertification triggers, records management.
Method-specific training outlines + general/specific/practical examinations developed. Examination questions balanced to ASNT CP-105 topical outlines for each Level / Method.
Designated examiners qualified per the written practice. Records built to demonstrate the chain of qualification authority from owner to examiner to certified personnel.
First batch of personnel processed through the new written practice. Bottlenecks and ambiguities surfaced and resolved before full rollout.
Final written practice issued, certification records system populated, audit-defence pack assembled. Ongoing support available on retainer.
ASNT Level III in UT, RT, MT, PT, VT, ET, LT, AET (the methods most often in scope)
ASNT NDT Level III #189143 (lead consultant) plus team-member ASNT Level III credentials across methods
NAS 410 Level III for aerospace clients — aerospace written practices follow a separate framework
ISO 9712 third-party-certified Level III for clients that require Level III qualification under both ASNT and ISO 9712
40+ written practices delivered for NDT service providers, fabricators, EPCs and asset owners across four continents
Audit findings on ASNT-aligned written practices we have written, when externally audited by major operators (Aramco, ADNOC, Boeing supplier audits)
Typical delivery time for an SNT-TC-1A written practice with 4 methods in scope
Failed client pre-qualifications due to written-practice deficiencies on our deliverables
Accepted on first client review at major Gulf Coast / GCC contractor pre-qualifications
SNT-TC-1A is a Recommended Practice — guidance the Owner-User customises and adopts at their discretion. CP-189 (Standard for Qualification and Certification of NDT Personnel) is a true Standard with mandatory requirements that the Owner-User must follow as written. SNT-TC-1A is more common in commercial industrial NDT (refining, petrochemicals, fabrication). CP-189 is invoked in aerospace, nuclear, US federal contracts, and some high-stakes commercial work. We deliver written practices to either framework.
Any organisation that performs, supervises or certifies NDT personnel needs a written practice — including NDT service providers, fabricators (ASME, AWS code shops), EPCs, asset owners running in-house inspection, original equipment manufacturers, and aerospace component manufacturers. Without a documented and audited written practice, your personnel certifications are not defensible — and most major clients will not approve you as a supplier.
ASNT does not publish a model written practice — it publishes the SNT-TC-1A recommended practice document and the CP-189 standard. The Owner-User is required to develop their own written practice that conforms. Adopting another company's written practice is a common audit finding (lack of customisation, mismatched method scope). We deliver a written practice customised to your equipment, processes and code obligations.
A complete written practice with 4-5 methods in scope is typically 60-90 pages, supported by 200-400 pages of training outlines, examinations and certification records. Aerospace NAS 410 written practices add another 30-50 pages of sector-specific content. We deliver documents in MS Word, Adobe PDF and an editable controlled-document format compatible with your QMS.
Yes. The written practice defines examiner qualifications, but those qualifications then have to be demonstrated. We work with your designated Level III(s) to assemble examiner qualification records — credentials, experience, vision exam results, and the documented authority delegation that lets them administer general/specific/practical examinations to your Level I and Level II candidates.
NAS 410 is the aerospace industry written practice framework — issued by AIA, used by Boeing, Lockheed, Airbus, Northrop, BAE and their supply chains. It is significantly more prescriptive than SNT-TC-1A and CP-189. Our aerospace written practices follow NAS 410 Revision 5 and have been accepted by Boeing supplier audits, NADCAP accreditation audits, and Tier-1 OEM pre-qualifications.
Do we need to recertify personnel when we adopt a new written practice?