diff --git a/src/Makefile b/src/Makefile
index 6b96e13..f7e58bf 100644
--- a/src/Makefile
+++ b/src/Makefile
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ SRC = $(TOP)/src/
 SRC_DIRS += $(SRC)/nt
 
 INC += nt.h
+INC += ntutils.h
 INC += ntfield.h
 INC += ntscalar.h
 INC += ntscalarArray.h
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ INC += nttable.h
 INC += ntmultiChannel.h
 INC += ntndarray.h
 
+LIBSRCS += ntutils.cpp
 LIBSRCS += ntfield.cpp
 LIBSRCS += ntscalar.cpp
 LIBSRCS += ntscalarArray.cpp
diff --git a/src/nt/nt.h b/src/nt/nt.h
index 3544cfe..7c6ddff 100644
--- a/src/nt/nt.h
+++ b/src/nt/nt.h
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@
 #ifndef NT_H
 #define NT_H
 
+/*
+ * Include all the normative types here.
+ */
 #include <pv/ntfield.h>
 #include <pv/ntscalar.h>
 #include <pv/ntscalarArray.h>
diff --git a/src/nt/ntfield.cpp b/src/nt/ntfield.cpp
index b364651..a8c29b4 100644
--- a/src/nt/ntfield.cpp
+++ b/src/nt/ntfield.cpp
@@ -8,9 +8,10 @@
 #include <pv/lock.h>
 #include <pv/ntfield.h>
 
+using namespace epics::pvData;
 using std::tr1::static_pointer_cast;
 
-namespace epics { namespace pvData { 
+namespace epics { namespace nt {
 
 NTFieldPtr NTField::get()
 {
diff --git a/src/nt/ntfield.h b/src/nt/ntfield.h
index da70787..d3a3f58 100644
--- a/src/nt/ntfield.h
+++ b/src/nt/ntfield.h
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #include <pv/pvTimeStamp.h>
 #include <pv/sharedVector.h>
 
-namespace epics { namespace pvData { 
+namespace epics { namespace nt {
 /**
  * Convenience Class for introspection fields of a Normative Type
  * @author mrk
@@ -47,83 +47,83 @@ public:
      * @param field The field to test.
      * @return (false,true) if field (is not,is) an enumerated structure.
      */
-    bool isEnumerated(FieldConstPtr const & field);
+    bool isEnumerated(epics::pvData::FieldConstPtr const & field);
     /**
      * Is field a timeStamp structure.
      * @param field The field to test.
      * @return (false,true) if field (is not,is) a timeStamp structure.
      */
-    bool isTimeStamp(FieldConstPtr const & field);
+    bool isTimeStamp(epics::pvData::FieldConstPtr const & field);
     /**
      * Is field an alarm structure.
      * @param field The field to test.
      * @return (false,true) if field (is not,is) an alarm structure.
      */
-    bool isAlarm(FieldConstPtr const & field);
+    bool isAlarm(epics::pvData::FieldConstPtr const & field);
     /**
      * Is field a display structure.
      * @param field The field to test.
      * @return (false,true) if field (is not,is) a display structure.
      */
-    bool isDisplay(FieldConstPtr const & field);
+    bool isDisplay(epics::pvData::FieldConstPtr const & field);
     /**
      * Is field an alarmLimit structure.
      * @param field The field to test.
      * @return (false,true) if field (is not,is) an alarmLimit structure.
      */
-    bool isAlarmLimit(FieldConstPtr const & field);
+    bool isAlarmLimit(epics::pvData::FieldConstPtr const & field);
     /**
      * Is field a control structure.
      * @param field The field to test.
      * @return (false,true) if field (is not,is) a control structure.
      */
-    bool isControl(FieldConstPtr const & field);
+    bool isControl(epics::pvData::FieldConstPtr const & field);
 
     /**
      * Create an enumerated structure.
      * @return an enumerated structure.
      */
-    StructureConstPtr createEnumerated();
+    epics::pvData::StructureConstPtr createEnumerated();
     /**
      * Create a timeStamp structure.
      * @return a timeStamp structure.
      */
-    StructureConstPtr createTimeStamp();
+    epics::pvData::StructureConstPtr createTimeStamp();
     /**
      * Create an alarm structure.
      * @return an alarm structure.
      */
-    StructureConstPtr createAlarm();
+    epics::pvData::StructureConstPtr createAlarm();
     /**
      * Create a display structure.
      * @return a displayalarm structure.
      */
-    StructureConstPtr createDisplay();
+    epics::pvData::StructureConstPtr createDisplay();
     /**
      * Create a control structure.
      * @return a control structure.
      */
-    StructureConstPtr createControl();
+    epics::pvData::StructureConstPtr createControl();
 
     /**
      * Create an array of enumerated structures.
      * @return an array of enumerated structures.
      */
-    StructureArrayConstPtr createEnumeratedArray();
+    epics::pvData::StructureArrayConstPtr createEnumeratedArray();
     /**
      * Create an array of timeStamp structures.
      * @return an array of timeStamp structures.
      */
-    StructureArrayConstPtr createTimeStampArray();
+    epics::pvData::StructureArrayConstPtr createTimeStampArray();
     /**
      * Create an array of alarm structures.
      * @return an array of alarm structures.
      */
-    StructureArrayConstPtr createAlarmArray();
+    epics::pvData::StructureArrayConstPtr createAlarmArray();
 private:
     NTField();
-    FieldCreatePtr fieldCreate;
-    StandardFieldPtr standardField;
+    epics::pvData::FieldCreatePtr fieldCreate;
+    epics::pvData::StandardFieldPtr standardField;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -148,54 +148,54 @@ public:
      * @param choices The array of choices.
      * @return an enumerated PVStructure..
      */
-    PVStructurePtr createEnumerated(
-        StringArray const & choices);
+    epics::pvData::PVStructurePtr createEnumerated(
+        epics::pvData::StringArray const & choices);
     /**
      * Create a timeStamp PVStructure.
      * @return a timeStamp PVStructure..
      */
-    PVStructurePtr createTimeStamp();
+    epics::pvData::PVStructurePtr createTimeStamp();
     /**
      * Create an alarm PVStructure.
      * @return an alarm PVStructure..
      */
-    PVStructurePtr createAlarm();
+    epics::pvData::PVStructurePtr createAlarm();
     /**
      * Create a display PVStructure.
      * @return a display PVStructure..
      */
-    PVStructurePtr createDisplay();
+    epics::pvData::PVStructurePtr createDisplay();
     /**
      * Create an alarmLimit PVStructure.
      * @return an alarmLimit PVStructure..
      */
-    PVStructurePtr createAlarmLimit();
+    epics::pvData::PVStructurePtr createAlarmLimit();
     /**
      * Create a control PVStructure.
      * @return a control PVStructure..
      */
-    PVStructurePtr createControl();
+    epics::pvData::PVStructurePtr createControl();
 
     /**
      * Create an enumerated PVStructureArray.
      * @return an enumerated PVStructureArray..
      */
-    PVStructureArrayPtr createEnumeratedArray();
+    epics::pvData::PVStructureArrayPtr createEnumeratedArray();
     /**
      * Create a timeStamp PVStructureArray.
      * @return a timeStamp PVStructureArray
      */
-    PVStructureArrayPtr createTimeStampArray();
+    epics::pvData::PVStructureArrayPtr createTimeStampArray();
     /**
      * Create an alarm PVStructureArray.
      * @return an alarm PVStructureArray..
      */
-    PVStructureArrayPtr createAlarmArray();
+    epics::pvData::PVStructureArrayPtr createAlarmArray();
 private:
     PVNTField();
-    PVDataCreatePtr pvDataCreate;
-    StandardFieldPtr standardField;
-    StandardPVFieldPtr standardPVField;
+    epics::pvData::PVDataCreatePtr pvDataCreate;
+    epics::pvData::StandardFieldPtr standardField;
+    epics::pvData::StandardPVFieldPtr standardPVField;
     NTFieldPtr ntstructureField;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/nt/ntmultiChannel.cpp b/src/nt/ntmultiChannel.cpp
index 0fc53e2..b625741 100644
--- a/src/nt/ntmultiChannel.cpp
+++ b/src/nt/ntmultiChannel.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
  */
 
 #include <pv/ntmultiChannel.h>
+#include <pv/ntutils.h>
 #include <algorithm>
 
 using namespace std;
@@ -210,7 +211,7 @@ NTMultiChannel::shared_pointer NTMultiChannel::wrapUnsafe(PVStructurePtr const &
 
 bool NTMultiChannel::is_a(StructureConstPtr const &structure)
 {
-    return structure->getID() == URI;
+    return NTUtils::is_a(structure->getID(), URI);
 }
 
 bool NTMultiChannel::isCompatible(PVStructurePtr const &pvStructure)
diff --git a/src/nt/ntnameValue.cpp b/src/nt/ntnameValue.cpp
index e80b558..384dafd 100644
--- a/src/nt/ntnameValue.cpp
+++ b/src/nt/ntnameValue.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
  */
 
 #include <pv/ntnameValue.h>
+#include <pv/ntutils.h>
 
 using namespace std;
 using namespace epics::pvData;
@@ -123,7 +124,7 @@ NTNameValue::shared_pointer NTNameValue::wrapUnsafe(PVStructurePtr const & struc
 
 bool NTNameValue::is_a(StructureConstPtr const & structure)
 {
-    return structure->getID() == URI;
+    return NTUtils::is_a(structure->getID(), URI);
 }
 
 bool NTNameValue::isCompatible(PVStructurePtr const & pvStructure)
diff --git a/src/nt/ntndarray.cpp b/src/nt/ntndarray.cpp
index 14b5016..b6c7d65 100644
--- a/src/nt/ntndarray.cpp
+++ b/src/nt/ntndarray.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <algorithm>
 
 #include <pv/ntndarray.h>
+#include <pv/ntutils.h>
 
 using namespace std;
 using namespace epics::pvData;
@@ -217,7 +218,7 @@ NTNDArray::shared_pointer NTNDArray::wrapUnsafe(PVStructurePtr const & structure
 
 bool NTNDArray::is_a(StructureConstPtr const & structure)
 {
-    return structure->getID() == URI;
+    return NTUtils::is_a(structure->getID(), URI);
 }
 
 bool NTNDArray::isCompatible(PVStructurePtr const & pvStructure)
diff --git a/src/nt/ntscalar.cpp b/src/nt/ntscalar.cpp
index e28b729..0f9d624 100644
--- a/src/nt/ntscalar.cpp
+++ b/src/nt/ntscalar.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
  */
 
 #include <pv/ntscalar.h>
+#include <pv/ntutils.h>
 
 using namespace std;
 using namespace epics::pvData;
@@ -143,7 +144,7 @@ NTScalar::shared_pointer NTScalar::wrapUnsafe(PVStructurePtr const & structure)
 
 bool NTScalar::is_a(StructureConstPtr const & structure)
 {
-    return structure->getID() == URI;
+    return NTUtils::is_a(structure->getID(), URI);
 }
 
 bool NTScalar::isCompatible(PVStructurePtr const & pvStructure)
diff --git a/src/nt/ntscalarArray.cpp b/src/nt/ntscalarArray.cpp
index 6e6addf..e510eb3 100644
--- a/src/nt/ntscalarArray.cpp
+++ b/src/nt/ntscalarArray.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
  */
 
 #include <pv/ntscalarArray.h>
+#include <pv/ntutils.h>
 
 using namespace std;
 using namespace epics::pvData;
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ NTScalarArray::shared_pointer NTScalarArray::wrapUnsafe(PVStructurePtr const & s
 
 bool NTScalarArray::is_a(StructureConstPtr const & structure)
 {
-    return structure->getID() == URI;
+    return NTUtils::is_a(structure->getID(), URI);
 }
 
 bool NTScalarArray::isCompatible(PVStructurePtr const & pvStructure)
diff --git a/src/nt/nttable.cpp b/src/nt/nttable.cpp
index dc96906..240d6b9 100644
--- a/src/nt/nttable.cpp
+++ b/src/nt/nttable.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <algorithm>
 
 #include <pv/nttable.h>
+#include <pv/ntutils.h>
 
 using namespace std;
 using namespace epics::pvData;
@@ -138,7 +139,7 @@ NTTable::shared_pointer NTTable::wrapUnsafe(PVStructurePtr const & structure)
 
 bool NTTable::is_a(StructureConstPtr const & structure)
 {
-    return structure->getID() == URI;
+    return NTUtils::is_a(structure->getID(), URI);
 }
 
 bool NTTable::isCompatible(PVStructurePtr const & pvStructure)
diff --git a/src/nt/ntutils.cpp b/src/nt/ntutils.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a736082
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nt/ntutils.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+/* ntutils.cpp */
+/**
+ * Copyright - See the COPYRIGHT that is included with this distribution.
+ * EPICS pvDataCPP is distributed subject to a Software License Agreement found
+ * in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution.
+ */
+
+#include <pv/ntutils.h>
+
+using namespace std;
+
+namespace epics { namespace nt {
+
+bool NTUtils::is_a(const std::string &u1, const std::string &u2)
+{
+    // remove minor for the u2
+    size_t pos = u2.find_last_of('.');
+    std::string su2 = (pos == string::npos) ? u2 : u2.substr(0, pos);
+
+    // "starts with comparison"
+    return su2.size() <= u1.size() && u1.compare(0, su2.size(), su2) == 0;
+}
+
+}}
diff --git a/src/nt/ntutils.h b/src/nt/ntutils.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e99336
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nt/ntutils.h
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/* ntutils.h */
+/**
+ * Copyright - See the COPYRIGHT that is included with this distribution.
+ * EPICS pvDataCPP is distributed subject to a Software License Agreement found
+ * in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution.
+ */
+#ifndef NTUTILS_H
+#define NTUTILS_H
+
+#include <string>
+
+namespace epics { namespace nt {
+
+/**
+ * Utility methods for NT types.
+ * @author mse
+ */
+class NTUtils {
+public:
+
+    /**
+     * Checks whether NT types are compatible by checking their IDs,
+     * i.e. their names and major version must match.
+     * @param u1 the first uri.
+     * @param u2 the second uri.
+     * @return true of URIs are compatible, false otherwise.
+     */
+    static bool is_a(const std::string &u1, const std::string &u2);
+
+private:
+    // disable object creation
+    NTUtils() {}
+};
+
+}}
+
+#endif  /* NTUTILS_H */
+
diff --git a/test/nt/Makefile b/test/nt/Makefile
index c1f47ea..3b0b4b6 100644
--- a/test/nt/Makefile
+++ b/test/nt/Makefile
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ TESTPROD_HOST += ntndarrayTest
 ntndarrayTest_SRCS = ntndarrayTest.cpp
 TESTS += ntndarrayTest
 
+TESTPROD_HOST += ntutilsTest
+ntndarrayTest_SRCS = ntutilsTest.cpp
+TESTS += ntutilsTest
+
 TESTSCRIPTS_HOST += $(TESTS:%=%.t)
 
 include $(TOP)/configure/RULES
diff --git a/test/nt/ntfieldTest.cpp b/test/nt/ntfieldTest.cpp
index f394533..dccee87 100644
--- a/test/nt/ntfieldTest.cpp
+++ b/test/nt/ntfieldTest.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 #include <pv/nt.h>
 
+using namespace epics::nt;
 using namespace epics::pvData;
 using std::string;
 using std::cout;
diff --git a/test/nt/ntutilsTest.cpp b/test/nt/ntutilsTest.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5180657
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/nt/ntutilsTest.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright - See the COPYRIGHT that is included with this distribution.
+ * EPICS pvDataCPP is distributed subject to a Software License Agreement found
+ * in file LICENSE that is included with this distribution.
+ */
+
+#include <epicsUnitTest.h>
+#include <testMain.h>
+
+#include <pv/ntutils.h>
+
+
+using namespace epics::nt;
+
+void test_is_a()
+{
+    testDiag("test_is_a");
+
+    testOk1(NTUtils::is_a("epics:nt/NTTable:1.0", "epics:nt/NTTable:1.0"));
+    testOk1(NTUtils::is_a("epics:nt/NTTable:2.0", "epics:nt/NTTable:2.0"));
+    testOk1(NTUtils::is_a("epics:nt/NTTable:1.0", "epics:nt/NTTable:1.1"));
+    testOk1(NTUtils::is_a("epics:nt/NTTable:1.1", "epics:nt/NTTable:1.0"));
+
+    testOk1(!NTUtils::is_a("epics:nt/NTTable:1.0", "epics:nt/NTTable:2.0"));
+    testOk1(!NTUtils::is_a("epics:nt/NTTable:2.0", "epics:nt/NTTable:1.0"));
+    testOk1(!NTUtils::is_a("epics:nt/NTTable:1.3", "epics:nt/NTTable:2.3"));
+    testOk1(!NTUtils::is_a("epics:nt/NTTable:1.0", "epics:nt/NTMatrix:1.0"));
+}
+
+MAIN(testNTUtils) {
+    testPlan(8);
+    test_is_a();
+    return testDone();
+}
+
+