A2LA has over 40 years of experience assessing laboratories for accreditation in the environmental field of testing. A2LA received its first recognition by a TNI NELAP state accreditation body in 2015. As of January 2017, A2LA was approved as a TNI Non-Governmental Accreditation Body, leading to several recognitions and allowing A2LA to provide a wider range of services to environmental testing laboratories throughout the United States.
At this time, A2LA is recognized by the following TNI NELAP Accreditation Bodies to perform assessments, which their respective states then use to grant certification:
- Florida – Florida Department of Health Environmental Laboratory Certification
- Minnesota – Minnesota Department of Health Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (MNELAP)
- New Hampshire – New Hampshire Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NH ELAP) A2LA is authorized to perform assessments on behalf of The New Hampshire Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NH ELAP), which provides accreditation for environmental laboratories, both in New Hampshire and out-of-state.
In addition, the following states accept A2LA accreditation for the programs listed:
- New Mexico – Compliance testing for drinking water samples
- Georgia – Laboratories accredited by A2LA for environmental tests shall be recognized as approved under the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) Rules for Commercial Environmental Laboratories.
- Louisiana – Secondary accreditation without an additional on-site assessment will be granted to an A2LA accredited organization
- California – Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 19 of the California Code of Regulations requires that a laboratory requesting an assessment to Field(s) of Accreditation that utilizes sophisticated technology shall use a third-party Assessment Agency. A third-party Assessment Agency is one of the following: a National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) recognized accreditation body; a TNI recognized non-governmental accreditation body; or, an accreditation body that is recognized by the Department of Defense or the Department of Energy. A2LA is approved in the latter 2 of these categories.
- Ohio – Voluntary Action Program (VAP) regulations require participant laboratories to be accredited by an accreditation body recognized by “The NELAC Institute” (TNI).
The State Environmental Laboratory Assessment Program is covered under A2LA’s environmental field of testing and is designed to help laboratories meet the assessment requirements of the state in which they are seeking certification.