Our mission is to provide our customers with the best information, tools and service to help them improve measurement processes and results through participation in interlaboratory comparisons and proficiency testing.
NAPT is committed to providing participants with the unbiased analysis of measurement processes necessary to enhance awareness of their technical competence and data integrity.
ISO/IEC 17043:2010 Accredited
NAPT is an accredited proficiency testing provider by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB).
NAPT's main objective is to support our mission by providing professional management and program administration, coordination, data processing and reporting for interlaboratory comparisons and proficiency testing.
Additionally, we have six main supporting objectives:
Foster Knowlege
Foster development and dissemination of advanced technical knowledge throughout the metrology community.
Provide Insight
Provide insight that assists clients in gaining a better understanding of their measurement processes.
Improve Process
Promote continual improvement in measurement processes through increased knowledge and data integrity.
Aid in Development
Aid in the ongoing development of policies and practices within the field of proficiency testing.
Assist in Accreditation
Assist organizations in meeting accreditation needs through participation in proficiency testing programs.
Protect History
Act as a repository for historical test data of interlaboratory comparisons and proficiency tests.
NAPT dares you to compare its services against other PT providers. You'll find NAPT rises to the top every time.
“NAPT is a great proficiency testing service, and has helped us refine our proficiency testing process. They took the extra time to communicate over and above with us which demonstrates their commitment to their customers. We have been using NAPT for 15 years and the service has always been top notch. They offer a diverse service and the detailed reporting is outstanding.”
"The NAPT staff has consistently demonstrated their commitment to providing a timely proficiency test with prompt responsiveness and technical support. The statistical analysis report is very thorough and elaborate. Technical support is top notch, demonstrating a high level of competence in proficiency testing, analysis, calibration methods and associated measurement uncertainties. Top notch PT provider!"
"Transcat partnered with NAPT in 2000 because of NAPT’s commitment to support calibration laboratories seeking to become accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 (Guide 25 at that time). But NAPT has also proven, over the past 20 years, to have excellent customer service and the ability to flex with Transcat’s needs for additional proficiency tests as we have grown and added new capabilities to our network of commercial and private calibration labs. We recently reached a point of growth where we found it necessary to divest the portion of proficiency tests we had administered internally; NAPT stepped up to take on these internal PTs by offering us a complete program solely managed by NAPT – and at a reasonable price! We continue to partner with NAPT because they are simply the best proficiency testing provider in the business!"
NAPT was founded in March of 1996. Beginning in 1993 the association's founder was already developing the awareness and relationships that have supported NAPT's mission.
It was clear there was a need for an association dedicated to effective proficiency testing because of newly implemented standards set by the metrology community for internationally accepted accreditation. These requirements suggested that a responsive yet neutral and unbiased party, having no conflict of interest, was needed to manage the administration and coordination of proficiency testing.
Working with numerous metrology professionals over the years to make NAPT what it is today, has been one of the most enjoyable things I have ever had the pleasure to be associated with.
One key finding was that the proficiency programs conducted at that time throughout the U.S. were limited in scope. More importantly, although there were many types of comparison programs being conducted across the world, just a few allowed participation from the metrology community in an open format.
Round robins have been ably conducted by organizations such as NIST and NCSL, but this function was not institutionalized until NAPT's formation.
NAPT fills a gap in the U.S. accreditation and verification infrastructure. NAPT provides verification of lab proficiency for the U.S. companies that participate, and also serves as tangible evidence to other countries of U.S. metrology competence.