CSA N299 Certification & Training
Qualify to supply Canada's nuclear industry
BCI CERT helps suppliers comply with the quality assurance program requirements of CSA N299.1, N299.2, N299.3 and N299.4 through practical training and independent assessment.
Requirements scale with the scope, complexity and safety significance of what you supply.
Why N299, why now
Ontario's nuclear build-out is pulling new suppliers into the industry.
Refurbishments, small modular reactors and proposed large new-build projects mean utilities and their prime contractors are qualifying more suppliers than they have in decades. CSA N299 is the quality assurance requirement they write into those contracts.
Sources: Ontario Power Generation; Region of Durham; NucNet; POWER Magazine (2025–2026).
The standard
What is CSA N299?
The CSA N299 series defines the quality assurance program requirements for suppliers of items and services to nuclear power plants. It applies when your customer specifies it in a contract or purchase order — and Canada's nuclear operators and their contractors now do so routinely.
N299 was developed with Ontario Power Generation, Bruce Power and the CANDU Owners Group to replace the withdrawn CSA Z299 series, and was first published in 2016. The current second editions added requirements for item dedication and new guidance on counterfeit items and risk evaluation.
One standard across the fleet. OPG, Bruce Power and NB Power all work to N299, so meeting it once positions you to supply all three — and their sub-tier supply chains.
What N299 adds beyond ISO 9001
Nuclear-specific expectations that a generic quality system doesn't cover.
Four graded categories
N299.1, N299.2, N299.3 and N299.4 — we help you comply with all four.
N299.4 is the entry level for suppliers with lower impact on plant operations. Requirements build up to N299.1, the most comprehensive set, for suppliers whose work has the greatest bearing on plant safety and performance.
Category 1 · Most comprehensive
Suppliers whose items or services have the greatest bearing on plant safety and performance, often including design responsibility.
Design control, production processes, inspection and test, and preventive and corrective action.
Category 2 · High rigour
Manufacturers and fabricators of complex or safety-significant items, usually built to the customer's design.
Control of production and special processes, backed by inspection and test.
Category 3 · Intermediate
Suppliers of less complex items and services where quality can be confirmed through verification.
Controlling inspection and test verifications, with documented results.
Category 4 · Entry level
Suppliers with lower impact on plant operations, such as distributors, stockists and suppliers of commercial items.
Final inspection and test, plus core nuclear expectations such as CFSI awareness.
Which category do you need? It's specified in your customer's contract or purchase order. Many suppliers certify at the level they need today with an eye on the next category up.
How we help
Training and assessment for every N299 category.
N299 training
Courses that build your team's understanding of N299, from the shop floor to leadership.
N299 assessment
Independent assessment of your quality assurance program against the category your customers require.
The path to N299
From first call to certified in four steps.
- 01 — ScopeTell us what you supplyShare your scope and the N299 category your customer requires, and we'll send a proposal.
- 02 — TrainBuild understandingYour team learns the N299 requirements through our training courses.
- 03 — Pre-assessCheck readinessAn optional pre-assessment shows where your program stands before the formal audit.
- 04 — CertifyGet assessedOur auditors assess your program against the required category; surveillance audits keep it current.
Who we work with
How is N299 different from ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 is a generic quality management standard. N299 is written for the nuclear supply chain: it adds nuclear safety culture, human performance and counterfeit-item controls, and grades requirements into four categories by safety significance.
We're already ISO 9001 certified. Does that help?
Yes. A working ISO 9001 system is a strong foundation. N299 builds on it with nuclear-specific requirements, and an optional pre-assessment shows where your program stands before the formal audit.
Which N299 category do we need?
Your customer decides — the category is specified in the contract or purchase order. Our team can explain how the four categories differ.
Which edition of N299 do you work to?
The current second editions — CSA N299.1:19, N299.2:19, N299.3:19 and N299.4:19 — which replaced the 2016 first editions.
How long does certification take?
It depends on your organization's size, scope and the category you need. Request a quote and we'll include a timeline for your situation.
Contact us
Need N299? Let's talk.
Tell us what you supply and who you supply it to, and we'll explain your options for N299 training and assessment.
