The ASME Nuclear Quality Assurance (NQA-1) Certification Program reflects industry experience and understanding of QA requirements while providing centralized, independent, third-party certification for quality assurance programs in conformance with the ASME NQA-1:2022 standard, “Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications”.
Part I of the NQA-1 Standard provides requirements that prescribe the extent of controls needed in specific areas of a nuclear quality program (an ASME NQA program).
Part II contains supplemental quality assurance requirements – specifically, how to perform specific activities under a program developed to Part I.
Additionally, Parts III and IV of the Standard provide non-mandatory subparts that contain further guidance and more in-depth discussion on certain aspects (e.g., commercial grade dedication).
The ASME NQA-1 Certification Program seeks to meet the needs of the nuclear industry by expanding the supply chain with organizations who are committed to understanding quality and providing high quality products and services to nuclear facilities.
Examples of nuclear facilities can include nuclear power plants (NPP), small modular reactors (SMR), microreactors, and advanced reactors, and the handling of radioactive and/or fissionable materials for fuel processing, and fuel recycling.
The NQA-1 Quality Program Certificate is available to organizations implementing the ASME NQA-1 Standard, Part I and Part II, or portions thereof. An NQA-1 Quality Program Certificate is not available to an organization for activities pertaining to weaponry and for Owners of facilities handling and/or utilizing nuclear material.
Organizational Requirements Include:
Quality Assurance Program; Design Control; Procurement Document Control; Instructions, Procedures, and Drawings; Document Control; Control of Purchased Items and Services; Identification and Control of Items; Control of Special Processes, Inspection, Test Control, Control of Measuring and Test Equipment, Handling, Storage, and Shipping, Inspection, Test, and Operating Status, Control of Nonconforming Items; Corrective Action; Quality Assurance Records, Audits
Part I of the NQA-1 Standard provides requirements that prescribe the extent of controls needed in specific areas of a nuclear quality program (an ASME NQA program). The 18 requirements found in NQA-1 are derived from the 18 Criteria found NRC 10CFR50 Appendix B Quality Assurance Criteria for Nuclear Power Plants and Fuel Reprocessing Plants and are as follows:
Requirement 1 Organization
Requirement 2 Quality Assurance Program
Requirement 3 Design Control
Requirement 4 Procurement Document Control
Requirement 5 Instructions, Procedures and Drawings
Requirement 6 Document Control
Requirement 7 Control of Purchased Items and Services
Requirement 8 Identification and Control of Items
Requirement 9 Control of Special Processes
Requirement 10 Inspection
Requirement 11 Test Control
Requirement 12 Control of Measuring and Test Equipment
Requirement 13 Handling, Storage and Shipping
Requirement 14 Inspection, Test and Operating Status
Requirement 15 Control of Nonconforming Items
Requirement 16 Corrective Action
Requirement 17 Quality Assurance Records
Requirement 18 Audits
Part II contains supplemental quality assurance requirements – specifically, how to perform specific activities under a program developed to Part I.
Additionally, Parts III and IV of the Standard provide non-mandatory subparts that contain further guidance and more in-depth discussion on certain aspects (e.g., commercial grade dedication).
Editions of NQA-1 and related documents
The historical editions of ASME NQA-1 Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications are as follows:
NQA-1-2022
NQA-1-2019
NQA-1-2017
NQA-1-2015
NQA-1-2012
Certification Process
The NQA-1 certification process is a systematic approach that organizations follow to demonstrate their commitment to quality, efficiency, and compliance with international standards.
NQA certification adheres to the following steps:
Application
Assessment
Initial certification audit
Stage 1
Stage 2
Certification
Companies often hire expert consultants to simplify the NQA-1 certification process and reduce the burden on existing management teams in leaning new standards, ensuring compliance, developing documentation and more. This makes it more cost effective for companies to hire consultants to support them through the process than pursuing it on their own.
Quality Systems Enhancement is the only company that offers guaranteed certification through our 10-Step Approach™ to ISO (or any) certification. QSE ISO consultants emphasize developing simplified, documented Management Systems which meet or exceed the requirements of any ISO standard requirements. This 10-Step Approach™ has a built-in discipline to involve all employees, including top management, right from the beginning to achieve long-term, desired results. Our approach is so complete that we have helped over 800 companies obtain certification, of which, the majority have obtained certification with zero deficiencies.
10 CFR Part 50 Appendix B (NRC)
10 CFR Part 71, subpart H
10 CFR Part 72, subpart G
DOE O 414.1D (DOE)
ASME Section III Quality Requirements Articles NCA 3800 and NCA 4000 ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC)
N45.2 (predecessor standard of NQA-1[4])
NQA-1 Training:
NQA-1 Consulting:
NQA-1 Auditing:
Quality Systems Enhancement (QSE) was founded in 1992 by Baskar Kotte in Roswell, Georgia. Throughout the years, QSE has grown to include consultants from all over the world including the United States, Canada, Mexico, India, and more.
QSE has helped over 800 companies to achieve registration in very diverse industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, healthcare, packaging, telecommunications and more. QSE is also a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and a member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) throughout the following states: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, and Kentucky.
Our proprietary 10-Step Approach™ to certification addresses each element in the standard and includes a mix of specialized training, consulting, and auditing. We have used this approach successfully registering over 800 companies. Our approach has provided a one hundred percent success rate the first time through. Many of these successes were “zero deficiency” audits.
When utilizing this approach, we guarantee registration in as little as seven to eight months.
Of course, a variety of options are available to you based on your particular needs or budget requirements. We provide a no-obligation visit to assess your needs and offer a program that is customized to your company.
Documentation is at the core of every Quality System. We believe in a one-level documentation system as opposed to the two / three / four level documentation structures preferred by many others. Our documentation rarely exceeds 200 pages, including all attachments. One of the intangible benefits of our simplistic one-of-a-kind documentation is that it is easy to maintain – and that is a great advantage when it comes to maintaining your certification through surveillance audits. We guarantee that our documentation addresses all the requirements of the ISO standard and once implemented, will work for your company. Guaranteed!
QSE has helped over 800 companies across North America achieve certification utilizing our unique 10-Step Approach™ to management system consulting. Schedule a consultation and learn how we can help you achieve your goals as quickly, simply and easily as possible.
