NDT Level III Consulting Services in Western Australia

Short answer: Atlantis NDT gives Western Australian employers access to an ASNT NDT Level III, delivered remotely and onsite at the client's own facility. The work covers outsourced or interim Level III duties for ASNT SNT-TC-1A programmes, written practices and written-practice audits, procedures and technique sheets, qualification exams under the employer's written practice, and preparation for owner and customer audits. Every engagement is led by Anoop Rayavarapu, ASNT NDT Level III, and every scope is quoted on request.

Let us be clear about the local picture first. In Western Australia, as in the rest of the country, most NDT technicians hold AINDT certification under the ISO 9712-based national scheme, and most inspection laboratories compete on NATA accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 or ISO/IEC 17020. Atlantis does not certify personnel to AINDT or ISO 9712, does not hold NATA accreditation, and does not replace a NATA-accredited laboratory. What we do is narrower and, for a specific group of WA employers, very useful: we bring ASNT SNT-TC-1A Level III expertise and US-code experience (ASME, API, AWS) to companies that work for US-owned operators, US original equipment manufacturers, US defence programmes or projects specified to US codes. If that describes your work, ask for a Western Australia Level III quote.

Why Western Australian NDT programmes need a Level III

Direct answer: Any WA employer that certifies its own NDT people under ASNT SNT-TC-1A needs a Level III who owns the written practice, approves procedures and examines staff. In Western Australia that usually means contractors serving LNG trains, Pilbara iron ore, Kwinana process plants, Henderson shipbuilding and the AUKUS submarine programme, where clients or specifications call for ASNT-based certification alongside, or instead of, AINDT.

Western Australia's inspection economy is shaped by distance and scale. The Pilbara iron ore system, run by BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue and Roy Hill, includes mines, rail, car dumpers, stackers, reclaimers, shiploaders and port infrastructure at Port Hedland and Dampier. Structural welds, crusher and conveyor components, rail wheels and axles, slew rings and wear plate all need MT, UT, PT and visual inspection, and the shutdown calendar drives demand for fly-in fly-out NDT crews.

The North West Shelf carries Australia's largest LNG concentration. The Karratha Gas Plant and Pluto LNG near Dampier, Chevron-operated Gorgon on Barrow Island and Wheatstone near Onslow, and Shell's Prelude floating LNG facility offshore each depend on weld inspection during construction and on corrosion monitoring, thickness surveys, tank inspection and pressure-equipment examination in service. Gorgon and Wheatstone are operated by a US-headquartered major, and many of their packages and vendors work to US codes such as ASME B31.3, ASME Section VIII and API 650/653 alongside Australian standards. That is where an SNT-TC-1A written practice and a Level III who knows US code requirements earns its keep.

South of Perth, the Kwinana industrial area hosts the former BP refinery site now operating as a fuel import terminal, chemical and fertiliser plants, nickel and lithium processing, and a cluster of fabrication and maintenance contractors. Alumina refining at Pinjarra and Wagerup, lithium hydroxide plants at Kwinana and Kemerton, the Collie power stations and the Greenbushes lithium operations add more pressure equipment, piping, tanks and rotating plant. In the Goldfields, Kalgoorlie's gold and nickel operations rely on mobile-equipment and structural inspection.

Defence is the fastest-moving piece. Henderson's Australian Marine Complex south of Fremantle hosts shipbuilders and fabricators, and HMAS Stirling on Garden Island is being prepared for Submarine Rotational Force-West, which is planned to rotate US Virginia-class and a UK Astute-class submarine through the base from 2027, with sustainment work at Henderson. Suppliers entering that supply chain can expect quality requirements set by the contracting authority, and some of them will reference US naval or ASNT-based personnel qualification. Confirm the exact requirement with the prime contractor before you build a programme around it.

Regulation in WA is state-based. Workplace safety, including registration of boiler and pressure-vessel designs and items of plant, sits with WorkSafe WA under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 and the WHS (General Industry) Regulations 2022, with separate WHS regulations for mines and for petroleum and geothermal operations. Industrial radiography is licensed by the Radiological Council of Western Australia under the Radiation Safety Act 1975, which licenses radiographers and registers premises and equipment. Pipelines are designed and operated to AS 2885, onshore petroleum pipelines are licensed under the state Petroleum Pipelines Act 1969, and facilities in Commonwealth offshore waters fall under NOPSEMA. Confirm the current requirement with the relevant regulator before mobilising.

Which NDT certification scheme applies in Western Australia?

Direct answer: AINDT certification under ISO 9712 is the normal scheme for WA technicians, and AICIP certification is expected for in-service pressure-equipment inspectors working to AS/NZS 3788. ASNT SNT-TC-1A is an employer-based alternative that WA contractors use when a US-owned operator, US OEM or US-code specification asks for it. Many WA technicians hold both.

The three systems answer different questions. AINDT certification is central, third-party certification of an individual technician against ISO 9712: the technician sits examinations set by the certification body and holds a certificate in their own name. SNT-TC-1A is a recommended practice published by ASNT under which the employer certifies its own personnel according to its own written practice, with a Level III responsible for exams and procedures; the certification is valid only while the person works for that employer. AICIP certifies in-service inspectors and senior in-service inspectors who examine pressure equipment under AS/NZS 3788, and hazard level A and B equipment is generally expected to be examined by AICIP-certified inspectors.

For a FIFO technician's view of how ASNT and AINDT credentials sit together, see our article on ASNT certification for FIFO NDT technicians in Western Australia.

Level III services for Western Australian employers

Direct answer: Atlantis provides the Level III functions an SNT-TC-1A programme cannot run without: a written practice, approved procedures and technique sheets, examinations, certification records, audits and a named Level III to answer technical questions. Services are delivered remotely, with onsite visits in WA when practical exams or audits need someone at your facility.

Related services: ASNT Level III consulting services, interim NDT Level 3, API 653 tank inspector services and API 570 piping inspector services.

Written practice development and audits

Direct answer: An SNT-TC-1A written practice is the employer's own document describing how NDT personnel are trained, examined, certified and recertified. Atlantis writes new written practices for WA employers and audits existing ones against SNT-TC-1A and against what your clients' specifications actually require.

A good written practice is short enough to follow and specific enough to audit. It names the methods and levels the company certifies, the training and experience the employer requires for each, the exam structure, the eye examination, the role of the Level III, how outside agencies are used, how records are kept and when certification expires. It should also say how the company treats people who arrive with AINDT or other certificates, which matters in WA, where many technicians you hire will hold ISO 9712 credentials and a few will hold both.

We see three recurring problems in WA programmes. First, a written practice copied from another company, still naming methods the employer does not perform and missing the ones it does, such as PAUT corrosion mapping or TOFD. Second, training and experience requirements that do not match the reference tables in SNT-TC-1A or the client's specification, which is the first thing an auditor checks. Third, records spread across FIFO rosters, email and personal folders, so the company cannot prove who was certified for what on the date of a given shutdown. A written-practice audit catches all three and leaves you with a prioritised fix list. See written practice development and our SNT-TC-1A guide for more background.

Procedures, technique sheets and code compliance in Western Australia

Direct answer: A WA NDT procedure must satisfy the code the work is built to. On LNG and process plants that is often ASME V with ASME B31.3 or Section VIII acceptance criteria; on structural steel it is AS/NZS 1554 or AWS D1.1; on pipelines it is AS 2885 or API 1104; on in-service pressure equipment it is AS/NZS 3788. Atlantis writes and approves procedures for the US-code side of that list.

The useful distinction is between a procedure and a technique sheet. The procedure states the requirements of the governing code for a method: equipment, calibration, personnel, surface condition, scanning, sensitivity, recording and acceptance. A technique sheet applies the procedure to one component: probe, angle, wedge, focal law or film and source arrangement, reference block, scan plan and coverage. Auditors on US-code projects usually ask for both, and they ask to see Level III approval on each.

• LNG and gas processing: ASME V and B31.3 for piping, Section VIII for vessels, API 650 and API 653 for tanks, client specifications for PAUT and TOFD in place of radiography, and Australian standards where the owner applies them.
• Iron ore and mining: AS/NZS 1554 and AWS D1.1 structural welding, OEM requirements for mobile equipment, MT and UT of slew rings, pins, crusher shafts and conveyor pulleys. See Level III audit support for mining.
• Pipelines: AS 2885 for gas and liquid petroleum pipelines in Australia, API 1104 on US-specified packages. See pipeline audit support.
• Shipbuilding and defence: class-society rules, Australian defence specifications and, for US platforms, the requirements flowed down by the prime. See shipbuilding audit support.
• Radiography: procedures must reflect the Radiological Council's licence conditions on the site; we cover the technique side, while radiation safety plans stay with your licensed radiation safety officer.

Outsourced and interim Level III for Western Australian crews

Direct answer: An outsourced Level III is a named, external ASNT Level III who carries the Level III responsibilities in your written practice without being on your payroll. For WA contractors with a mostly AINDT workforce and a handful of US-code clients, it is usually the most practical way to keep an SNT-TC-1A programme alive between projects.

WA shutdowns are intense and short. A contractor can go from a quiet month to forty technicians on a Karratha or Barrow Island turnaround in a week, and the client wants certification records, procedures and technique sheets before anyone is mobilised. An outsourced Level III works through that peak remotely: reviewing records, approving technique sheets, answering scanning and acceptance questions from site and signing what needs to be signed. When practical exams are needed, they are held onsite at the employer's facility in Perth or a regional base, with real specimens and the examiner present.

Engagement models are simple. An ongoing outsourced Level III arrangement keeps a named Level III attached to your programme. A project engagement covers a single deliverable, such as a written practice or a procedure set for one contract. An audit-preparation sprint focuses on the weeks before a known audit. Each is scoped on a call and quoted on request. Ask about an outsourced Level III for your WA crew.

Audit readiness: customer, owner and accreditation audits

Direct answer: Atlantis prepares WA NDT companies for owner and customer audits of their SNT-TC-1A programme, prime-contractor supplier audits and the NDT portion of quality-system audits. We check written practices, certifications, procedures, technique sheets, equipment calibration records and reports. The audit decision always stays with the auditor.

In practice, an owner's NDT audit samples a few technicians and a few reports and traces each one back: was this person certified in this method at this level on this date, against which written practice, using which approved procedure and technique sheet, with calibrated equipment? An audit-readiness review does the same sampling before the real audit, then gives you a list of findings in priority order. Typical fixes are missing Level III signatures, lapsed eye examinations, experience logs that do not add up, procedures without a revision history, and technique sheets that do not match the equipment used.

For laboratories and inspection bodies seeking or holding NATA accreditation, we can review NDT procedures and personnel records for consistency, but we are not a NATA assessor and do not offer accreditation consulting as a guarantee of outcome. For aerospace suppliers, we can prepare the NDT side of a customer or Nadcap-style audit. See LNG audit support and offshore audit support. Book an audit-readiness review for your WA programme.

Cities and regions we support across Western Australia

Direct answer: Atlantis supports employers across Western Australia, from Perth and Kwinana to the Pilbara and the Goldfields. Work is delivered remotely and onsite at the client's facility; Atlantis has no office or training centre in WA.

• Perth and Fremantle: head offices of most WA inspection contractors, Henderson shipbuilding and fabrication. See NDT consulting in Perth, NDT training in Perth and the Practical NDT simulator for Perth.
• Kwinana and Rockingham: process plants, fuel import terminal, lithium and nickel processing, and the HMAS Stirling and Henderson defence precinct nearby.
• Port Hedland: iron ore export port, rail and processing infrastructure. See NDT consulting in Port Hedland.
• Karratha and Dampier: the Karratha Gas Plant, Pluto LNG and iron ore port operations. See NDT training in Karratha and third-party inspection in Karratha.
• Onslow and Barrow Island: Wheatstone and Gorgon LNG, served largely by FIFO crews.
• Bunbury, Collie and the South West: alumina, lithium, power generation and port activity.
• Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Goldfields: gold and nickel mining and processing.

For the national picture, see NDT consulting in Australia.

How an engagement works

Direct answer: Engagements start with a short call, followed by a written scope and quote, a document review, the agreed deliverables, and onsite work only where it is needed. Timing depends on scope, the state of your records and your project dates, so we agree it on the call rather than promise a fixed turnaround.

1. Scoping call: your methods, clients, codes, current certification scheme or schemes, and the deadline you are working to.
2. Written scope and quote: deliverables, remote and onsite elements, and who in your team owns what.
3. Document review: written practice, certifications, procedures, technique sheets and sample reports, shared securely.
4. Deliverables: revised or new written practice, procedures, technique sheets, exam sets and an audit findings list, with revision control.
5. Onsite work where needed: practical exams on real specimens, or audit support at your WA facility.
6. Ongoing support: for outsourced Level III clients, continuing approvals, queries and recertification.

Training for your technicians is a separate service: see ASNT SNT-TC-1A training, online NDT training and corporate programmes. Practice before practical exams is available on Practical NDT, which is practice only and not a substitute for an exam on real specimens.

Your Level III

Engagements are led by Anoop Rayavarapu, ASNT NDT Level III and founder of Atlantis NDT. You deal with a named Level III, not a rotating call centre, and the same person signs the documents and answers the questions. Learn more about Atlantis NDT.

Frequently asked questions

Is ASNT SNT-TC-1A certification recognised in Western Australia?

It is recognised where a client or specification asks for it, which is common on US-owned LNG assets, US OEM supply chains and some defence packages. For most other Australian work, AINDT certification under ISO 9712 is the norm. Check your contract before deciding which scheme to use.

Can Atlantis certify my technicians to AINDT or ISO 9712?

No. Atlantis does not certify or train to AINDT or ISO 9712. We support SNT-TC-1A programmes, where the employer certifies its own personnel, and we can make your procedures and records work alongside AINDT certificates.

Is Atlantis NATA-accredited?

No. Atlantis does not hold NATA accreditation and does not issue NATA-endorsed reports. If your client requires a NATA-accredited laboratory or inspection body, you need one. We support procedures and personnel records only.

What does an outsourced Level III do for a WA contractor?

They act as the Level III named in your written practice: approving procedures and technique sheets, administering exams, reviewing certifications and supporting audits, without a full-time hire.

Can you write procedures for LNG plant inspections in Western Australia?

Yes. We write UT, PAUT, TOFD, RT, MT, PT and VT procedures and technique sheets to ASME V and the applicable construction code, aligned with the owner's specification.

Do I need a licence for industrial radiography in Western Australia?

Yes. The Radiological Council of Western Australia licenses industrial radiographers and registers premises and equipment under the Radiation Safety Act 1975. Confirm current licence conditions with the Council before work starts.

Who registers pressure vessels in Western Australia?

WorkSafe WA registers plant designs and items of plant, including pressure vessels of hazard levels A, B and C under AS 4343, under the WHS (General Industry) Regulations 2022. In-service inspection follows AS/NZS 3788.

Can practical exams be done remotely?

No. Most Level III work can be remote, but practical exams need the candidate, real specimens and the examiner together, so they are held onsite at your facility.

Does Atlantis have an office in Perth?

No. Atlantis has no office or training centre in Western Australia; work is delivered remotely and onsite at the client's facility.

How much does Level III consulting cost in Western Australia?

Quote on request. Cost depends on the methods involved, ongoing versus project work, exam volume and any onsite visits. Atlantis keeps its services affordable, accessible and fully customisable.

Can you help a supplier preparing for AUKUS submarine work at Henderson?

We can prepare the NDT side of your quality system, including written practice, procedures and records, for a prime-contractor audit. The specific personnel-qualification requirement is set by the contracting authority, so confirm it with the prime first.

The first step is a short call about your programme. Contact Atlantis about Level III consulting in Western Australia.

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