Organizations can create a Proficiency Testing (PT) Plan directly within their NAPT Customer Portal. Upon request, NAPT staff are available to assist with the development a PT plan. This is a collaborative process, usually involving a review of the organization’s scope of accreditation and the use of planning tools available in the portal. Once a proposed plan is drafted, it is the organization’s responsibility to review, approve, and notify NAPT of any desired enrollments. This free tool can be used to build a plan that includes both Full-Service kits and the use of the NAPT Intra Wizard, depending on the organization’s needs. Ultimately, the organization owns its PT Plan and is responsible for taking any necessary actions to comply with it. If the organization would like NAPT to follow the plan directly, it must clearly communicate that intent to NAPT staff.

To regain access to the NAPT Customer Portal you may: #1 Reset your password on your own by selecting ‘Forgot Password’ from the login page. An email with further details will be automatically sent to the email address NAPT has associated with your profile. #2 Contact NAPT Staff and request to confirm/update your login credentials. Access to the NAPT Customer Portal relies heavily on a valid email address and password. If you happen to have recently changed your email address or suspect NAPT may not have your most up-to-date information, be sure to get in touch with NAPT Staff at your earliest convenience for assistance.

There could be several reasons: You didn’t send in your receiving form. The enrollment fee hasn’t been paid. You aren’t in the correct area in your portal – please make sure you in the NAPT ILC-PTs tab. Contact NAPT staff if you require further assistance.

If your kit is not in the customer portal, chances are it was not fully processed. Please contact NAPT staff to check the details for your request.

No. It is the responsibility of the laboratory submitting results to calculate all uncertainties associated with their measurements. It is not NAPT’s role to state whether a reported uncertainty is correct or not; that oversight lies with your organization’s management and, ultimately, the accrediting body that granted your accreditation. The uncertainty of a measurement is a mathematical function calculated by the identity performing the measurement.

No, NAPT does not ship NAPT Full-Service PT Kits outside of North America. However, NAPT does offer an alternative to the NAPT Full-Service PT Kits, without the trouble of shipping heavy or priceless artifacts. NAPT Intra Manager, AKA Intra Wizard, is our latest online application that was designed for specialized proficiency testing methods and artifacts. With the help of the Intra Wizard, you now have the tool to work directly within your organization to complete your proficiency testing requirements from start to finish. Contact NAPT staff if you have any questions.

NAPT is an ISO/IEC 17043 accredited proficiency testing provider, and the only one that offering a comprehensive suite of proficiency tests to meet all your needs. You can review our scope of accreditation on our website. While we are proud of our accreditation, we believe that being a first-class proficiency testing provider goes beyond simply being accredited. Our commitment to exceptional service, number and variety of tests offered, and the quality of our value-added proficiency tests are just a few reasons why NAPT stands out. We invite you to compare our services with other providers. After reviewing everything NAPT offers, we believe you’ll agree—there truly is no comparison.

NAPT staff is available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (CST).

NAPT recognizes instances where corrections are necessary to an original data submittal.  For NAPT to accept any revision to the original submittal, objective evidence describing and explaining in the request in detail must accompany the revised values. Objective evidence refers to factual information or data that supports a claim or request for change. In the context of submitting revised data, objective evidence would be any tangible evidence or documentation that validates the need for the requested change. This evidence should be verifiable, measurable, and based on reliable sources. It helps to provide a clear and compelling justification for the revision. When appropriate, the objective evidence can include explanatory commentary detailing what occurred, why it occurred, and when it happened. If the explanatory commentary proves sufficient for a technical advisor to fully comprehend the request for modifying the original submittal, the revised data will be accepted. However, should the explanatory commentary fall short of adequacy, additional information as described above will be required to be submitted before NAPT can proceed with the request to modify an original submittal. It is important to note that the request for a change in an original data submittal must undergo review and approval by Technical in accordance with NAPT quality policies.

NAPT provides proficiency testing services and related tools to its customers. The only consulting NAPT offers is associated with its products. NAPT does not provide consultancy for the development of uncertainty budgets, corrective action investigations, root cause analysis, or other functions as a result of an unsatisfactory performance in a proficiency test (PT). In accordance with the ISO 17043 standard, NAPT offers independent, third-party PTs and believes the provision of consulting services associated with these functions would jeopardize their independence.

NAPT serves participates accredited by all major accrediting bodies. As a result, we maintain a long-standing policy of neutrality and do not advertise for any one accrediting body— we like them all. Additionally, NAPT is accredited to ISO/IEC 17043, ensuring that all of our reports are recognized and accepted by all accreditation bodies.

Simple answer: NAPT could not provide the services it does to the metrology community without it being nonprofit. Only because of the numerous sponsors, the donation of the kits, the volunteering of the technical advisors that assist in the design of the schemes and the one-on-one help given to members are we successful. All this could only happen in a nonprofit environment. In short, NAPT exists because of the metrology community supporting the services NAPT provides back to the metrology community.

When comparing NAPT to other metrology proficiency testing (PT) providers, the difference is clear. Unlike providers who offer PTs as a side service, NAPT is backed by a full-time, dedicated staff focused solely on proficiency testing. We offer access to technical guidance from over 50 metrology experts, unmatched expertise, and The best customer portal of any PT provider. Your data isn’t just reviewed in isolation — it’s compared against submissions from over 100 peer organizations, giving you valuable benchmarking and insight. At NAPT, we like to say to new participants: “We dare you to compare NAPT to anyone else. “Once you do, you’ll see — there truly is no comparison.

As an accredited Proficiency Testing provider, NAPT reports are recognized and accepted by all the leading accreditation bodies.

Screw-knob weights: Weights in this category are usually cleaned by wiping with a soft non-abrasive material such as high-grade cheesecloth, free from oils or other substances that would leave a residue of any kind on the surface. Occasionally, a weight will have foreign matter adhering to it that requires cleaning by using solvents, applied with a cloth. Ethyl alcohol is a good general solvent. If alcohol does not remove the foreign material, other solvents may be used. Alcohol is then used to remove any film left by the other solvents. Weights with internal cavities should not be immersed in the solvent to avoid the possibility that the fluid will penetrate the opening. Daily/Periodic Cleaning:(Non-sheet metal weights) Before each use clean all weights with a camel hair or other suitable soft brush to remove any particles that might have settled on the weight. Remember to pay special attention to the bottom surfaces, since these tend to be overlooked. One may also use a syringe bulb or compressed air to remove loose particles. If compressed air is used, especially if it comes from a can, the temperature of the weight may be affected, and the weight should not be used for at least 4 hours to allow the weight to return to thermal equilibrium with the environment. If particles are not removed easily, spot cleaning may be necessary. Spot Cleaning: Spot cleaning is recommended when foreign matter is observed on weights that cannot be removed using daily/periodic cleaning methods. Use cheesecloth dampened with ethyl alcohol and gently rub the weight surface in order to remove any residual or stubborn debris from the weight surface. If using alcohol does not remove the foreign debris, repeat the process using other solvents such as window cleaner or distilled water. If solvents other than distilled water and alcohol are used, the weights should be cleaned again using alcohol to remove any residual solvent from the weight. For sheet metal weights or other weights made out of aluminum, alcohol should never be used since alcohol can deteriorate aluminum. After spot cleaning, OIML Class (F2 to M3) weights should not be used for a period of at least 1 hours in order for the weight to return to thermal equilibrium with the environment. References:

The NAPT Intra Wizard allows you to reuse an existing Artifact and Scheme from Intra to Intra.  Typically, organizations will do this if they have designed an Intra and wish to retest individuals on a regular basis. Once you have selected your participants, click on the next button to review the Intra.

A purchase order is not proof of payment. It is NAPT policy to not issue any report unless enrollment fees have been paid in full. NAPT accepts enrollment fees via credit card, electronic transfer or by a check issued to NAPT.

Try out our online demo on our website, consult with our technical staff who designed the app, or with our lead programmer – set up a personal web meeting by contacting NAPT staff and let them know your preference. HTTPs://www.proficiency.org/Services/Accreditation-Manager

Yes, please feel free to call us at 952-303-6126—NAPT staff is here to help. You may also reach out by filling out the “Contact NAPT Staff” form located in your NAPT Customer Portal under the Forms section. Alternatively, you can email us directly at napt@www.proficiency.org for assistance.

NAPT utilizes and relies on selected pivot laboratories to perform the initial characterization and ongoing calibrations of proficiency test artifacts throughout the lifecycle of each proficiency testing kit. In appreciation of their commitment, pivot labs receive a complimentary NAPT membership for each year they serve in this role. This membership entitles them to all associate benefits and discounts. Additionally, pivot labs are eligible to receive a report at no cost for the specific kit in which they serve as a pivot. As part of this partnership, NAPT may request up to three sets of calibration data for the artifact(s) within the kit. Pivot labs are also expected to provide an estimated timeframe for completing calibrations and to make every reasonable effort to meet those deadlines. Each pivot lab must assign a qualified technical expert who can support NAPT in evaluating any data submitted by the lab.

Calibration is the act of comparing a device under test (DUT) of an unknown value with a reference standard of a known value. An artifact is the measurement instrument within an ILC/PT that is referred to as the unknown value or DUT.

NAPT offers two different tiers for utilizing the Intra Manager: NAPT Assisted & Self-Managed. When selecting a NAPT Assisted, NAPT staff will collaborate with you in the design and development of your custom Intralaboratory Comparison. This is a service that numerous organizations across the world take part in for those disciplines that a PT provider either currently does not have in circulation, or simply cannot offer. If you choose to use the Self-Managed method, you work directly within your own organization to complete the testing from start to finish. NAPT offers an online help desk to help guide you through the process. The NAPT Intra Wizard is the online tool where participants can manage all their own Intra ILC/PT enrollments. This allows you to manage any past, current, or future ILC/PT projects all from the NAPT Customer Portal. Please note that a minimum of three data submissions are required. The link below is for the NAPT Intra Wizard Help Desk. We would ask you to review the information and share any comments you may have. (Help Desk)Support : QMS – NAPT Helpdesk (freshdesk.com) (Customer Portal)QMS – Customer Portal (qmsnavigator.com)

An Interlaboratory Comparison (ILC) involves comparing measurement results from multiple laboratories. The purpose of an ILC may include evaluating methods, standards, environmental influences, or the competency of laboratory personnel and processes. A Proficiency Test (PT)is a specific type of ILC, designed to evaluate technical competency or proficiency.

The membership fee is billed annually and covers a full calendar year. Many benefits are included with a membership; See “What are the benefits of Membership?”

Valuable Discounts Members save 20% on all services The more you purchase, the more you save Exclusive Reports Individualized reports Comparison reports across multiple locations/labs Historical trend reporting Expert Guidance Priority access to guidance from NAPT staff and technical advisors Priority order when waiting for a kit (over non-members only) Customer Confidence Demonstrate measurement assurance to your clients by testing with NAPT Benefit from increased visibility with a listing in our member directory