Proficiency Testing Provider Program

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; and
The traditional program which is based upon International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Guidelines for the Requirements for the Competence of Providers of Proficiency Testing (ILAC G13:2000) which is available for a wide range of proficiency testing schemes covering numerous fields of testing and calibration.

A2LA NELAC PTPA/PTOB Program

A2LA Recognized as PTPA/PTOB by EPA NELAP

July 31, 2006 - A2LA Accredits First Group of Proficency Testing Providers under the NELAC PTPA/PTOB Program

The A2LA NELAC PTPA/PTOB Program is based on the following requirements: ISO Guide 34:2000, ISO Guide 43:1997, ISO/IEC 17025-2005, NELAC Chapter 2: 2003, the relevant sections of NELAC Chapter 5: 2003, 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 NELAC Fields of Proficiency Testing. Please review the A2LA Timeline.

Application Documents

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, 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-G13:2000). These ILAC requirements are based on ISO Guide 43-1 (1997) and on the relevant elements of ISO/IEC 17025:2005 applicable to characterization, homogeneity and stability testing of proficiency testing materials. In addition, the relevant ISO 9001 requirements have been included to eliminate the need for a separate recognition of proficiency testing providers for ISO 9001 compliance.

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. Furthermore, accreditation under this program is limited to commercial PT providers.

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

If you do not have all three of these documents, please contact A2LA Headquarters to obtain them.