Proficiency Testing Provider Accreditation Program

Proficiency Testing Provider Accreditation Program

A2LA offers a two-tiered Proficiency Testing Provider Accreditation Program:

The traditional program is based upon International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Guidelines for the Requirements for the Competence of Providers of Proficiency Testing (ILAC G13:2007) which is available for a wide range of proficiency testing schemes covering numerous fields of testing and calibration; and

The National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC) Proficiency Testing Provider Accreditor / Proficiency Testing Oversight Body (PTPA/PTOB) program which is exclusively for those applicants seeking to become A2LA (NELAC) Proficiency Testing Providers.

A2LA Accreditation Program for Providers of Proficiency Testing (PT)

The A2LA Accreditation Program for Providers of Proficiency Testing (PT) is designed for proficiency testing providers who wish to demonstrate their competence by formal compliance with a set of internationally-acceptable requirements for the planning and implementation of proficiency testing programs. The program will also provide users of proficiency testing programs (laboratories, accreditation bodies, regulators, technical assessors, etc.) increased confidence that the programs being relied upon are being operated competently in accordance with specified technical and management system requirements.

The requirements for this program are listed in the PT Provider Requirements Assessor Checklist and are based upon those contained in the ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) Guidelines for the Requirements for the Competence of Providers of Proficiency Testing (ILAC-G13:2007). These ILAC requirements are based on the technical elements of ISO Guide 43-1 (1997) and on the relevant elements of ISO/IEC 17025:2005 including the management system requirements and the technical requirements for the characterization, homogeneity and stability testing of proficiency testing items. In addition, the relevant ISO 9000:2005 elements are included to eliminate the need for separate quality management system recognition. ILAC G13:2007 is available for free by going to the following link: http://www.ilac.org/guidanceseries.html

This program applies only to the use of inter-laboratory comparisons for the purpose of proficiency testing (to determine the performance of individual laboratories for specific tests or measurements and to monitor laboratories' continuing performance). It does not include determining the effectiveness and precision of test methods or determining the characteristics of a material to a particular degree of accuracy, such as in the preparation of reference materials.

A2LA recommends that, whenever possible, A2LA-accredited testing and calibration laboratories use accredited PT providers to meet the A2LA requirements for participation in proficiency testing.

Application Documents

Please follow this link to view a listing of our currently accredited proficiency testing providers:

View listing of accredited Proficiency Testing Providers

A2LA NELAC PTPA/PTOB Program

The NELAC Institute (TNI) recognizes A2LA as the TNI Proficiency Testing Provider Accreditor (PTPA) and Proficiency Testing Oversight Body (PTOB).

View listing of A2LA Accredited TNI Proficency Testing Providers

This technically rigorous accreditation program is based on the following requirements: ILAC G13:2007; ISO Guide 43:1997, and relevant sections of ISO/IEC 17025:2005, 2003 NELAC Chapters 2 and 5, and the EPA National Standards for Water Proficiency Testing Studies, Criteria Document 1998.

This program offers proficiency testing providers an accreditation that covers all of the TNI Fields of Proficiency Testing.
Application Documents

Please contact Randy Querry, direct line (301) 644-3221 / email or Aruna Kaveeshwar direct line (301) 644-3226 / email for any questions regarding A2LA's Proficiency Testing Provider Accreditation Program