How to become accredited

Introduction

The following information is provided to assist laboratories seeking accreditation with NATA. General information is also provided with regard to NATA's policies and procedures.

It should be noted that there are some differences between NATA's various fields of testing in relation to the order in which these steps are followed. There may also be a need to vary the steps detailed below in the case of applications from overseas laboratories. Every attempt is made to ensure the accreditation process is carried out in the most efficient and effective way for all parties concerned.

Where applications or accreditations are required that include non-laboratory accreditation activities (such as the Reference Material Producers Accreditation Program, Proficiency Testing Approval Scheme, Inspection Accreditation or Personal Accreditation), every effort is also made to appropriately coordinate activities.

Fees for Services

The various parts of the process where charges are levied are indicated. Specific information on charges can be obtained in the Publications section of this website.

Preliminary Steps

Senior laboratory staff should hold discussions with NATA's technical staff in the relevant field or program when considering an application for accreditation.

When seeking accreditation with NATA, laboratory staff should familiarise themselves with the NATA Accreditation Requirements (NAR) for the field of testing relevant to their application. The contents of the NAR are:

1. About NATA and Accreditation
2. AS ISO/IEC 17025:2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
3. ISO/IEC 17025 Application Document (Supplementary Requirements for Accreditation)
4. NATA Rules
5. Current Policy/Technical Circulars (where relevant)

The NAR can be obtained following discussion with field technical staff and will attract a fee to cover the cost of the accreditation requirements package and postage. The NATA Accreditation Requirements (which include the Field Application Document) can also be ordered on this site.

Application for Accreditation

Applications for accreditation with NATA may be made by any legally identifiable organisation providing testing, inspection or calibration services. The application must be made on a prescribed application form and accompanied by the current application fee. The relevant forms will be provided by NATA technical staff after discussion with the laboratory.

Laboratories may apply for accreditation in any of the following fields or programs:

  • Biological Testing
  • Chemical Testing
  • Construction Materials Testing
  • Forensic Science
  • Information and Communications Technology Testing
  • Inspection
  • Measurement Science and Technology
  • Mechanical Testing
  • Medical Imaging
  • Medical Testing
  • Proficiency Testing Scheme Providers
  • Non-Destructive Testing
  • Reference Material Producers
  • Research and Development
  • Veterinary Testing
  • Wool Testing

Each applicant will be required to provide a copy of its quality manual and other quality system and technical documentation as advised by NATA.
Apply for accreditation in Medical Testing.

Advisory Visit

If desired, an informal review of laboratory facilities can be undertaken by a NATA staff officer to examine the major non-technical elements of the system. Advisory visits may be conducted either prior to, or after an application has been made. A fee will be levied for this service. NATA Technical staff will be able to advise you as to whether an advisory visit is recommended.

The Authorised Representative

The authorised representative is the person nominated by the laboratory to be its representative in all matters relating to the application or accreditation. This person is the laboratory's recognised official contact with NATA and is normally a senior member of staff. Nomination is made in the appropriate place on the application form or when changes are required thereafter, on the Nomination of New Authorised Representative form, available from NATA.

The rights and legal obligation of the authorised representative are detailed in the NATA Rules. At a practical level, the authorised representative is normally a senior staff member who is in a position to make decisions regarding the laboratory's accreditation and to effectively communicate with laboratory colleagues. The authorised representative may also choose to direct NATA to other laboratory staff with whom relevant issues may be discussed. The authorised representative is required to notify NATA within 14 days if:

  • the name or ownership of the laboratory changes
  • changes in duties or departures of senior staff occur; or
  • significant changes occur to the functions or accommodation of the laboratory.

Assessment

Compliance of an applicant laboratory with accreditation requirements is determined primarily by an on-site assessment of its resources, procedures and documentation.
The objective of the assessment is to establish whether the laboratory can competently perform the tests/examinations for which accreditation is sought. The assessment team is required to investigate the operation of the laboratory against the NATA Accreditation Requirements for this field and report its findings to both the laboratory seeking accreditation and NATA's Accreditation Advisory Committee for that field of testing.
The assessment involves a thorough evaluation of all the elements of a laboratory that contribute to the production of accurate and reliable test data. These elements include
  • staffing
  • training
  • supervision
  • methods
  • quality control
  • proficiency testing
  • equipment
  • recording and reporting of test results; and
  • the environment in which the laboratory operates
The assessment process is undertaken in a helpful, constructive manner that assists laboratories to achieve compliance with the criteria.

The assessment team is comprised of:
  • at least one NATA staff officer. The NATA staff officer acts as the lead assessor and also reviews the quality system
  • one or more specialist volunteer technical assessors. Technical assessors are chosen according to their specialist knowledge and are matched as closely to the activities of the laboratory as possible.
Consideration is given to possible concerns about conflicts of interest in selecting assessors. The size of the assessment team is dependent upon the areas that must be covered in the course of the assessment.

Assessments will take at least one full working day and may extend over a number of days. Assessments involve a review of case records of every analyst/examiner, interviews with laboratory management, all analysts/examiners and as many technical and support staff as possible and a review of all documented procedures and associated records.

An exit meeting is held at the conclusion of the assessment at which the assessment findings are detailed by the NATA staff officer to the authorised representative and other members of the laboratory's staff at the discretion of the authorised representative. The purpose of the exit meeting is to allow frank and open discussion about the assessment findings. Laboratories are strongly encouraged to clarify issues they consider may have been misunderstood by the assessment team and to seek clarification about assessment findings where this is necessary.

The findings of the assessment team are subsequently confirmed in a formal report after they have been reviewed by the assessors and the relevant NATA Accreditation Advisory Committee. Where necessary, the report will detail the action required by the laboratory to correct any deficiencies identified at the assessment. In these cases, the laboratory will provide NATA with the necessary information to demonstrate that these deficiencies have been rectified. In some cases, a further visit by a NATA staff officer or by a NATA staff officer accompanied by one or more assessors will be necessary. Charges will be levied for such visits.

Granting Accreditation

NATA's Board grants accreditation following a recommendation by the relevant NATA Accreditation Advisory Committee (AAC). This recommendation is made when the laboratory has met all the requirements for accreditation. The authorised representative is formally advised of the granting of the accreditation and issued with a certificate of accreditation and the scope of accreditation.

Scope of Accreditation

Accreditation is described by classes and subclasses of test. The expression or scope of a laboratory's accreditation is known as its "scope of accreditation".
Applications for accreditation may be made for one or more classes of test or for one or more subclasses within any class.

Variations to Terms of Accreditation

Accredited laboratories may request variations to their scope of accreditation. Significant additions to the scope of accreditation will require an assessment. NATA technical staff will provide direction on the process that will be necessary and the information required.

Continuing Accreditation

An accredited laboratory must continue to comply with all accreditation requirements detailed in the NATA Accreditation Requirements. In order to ensure continued compliance with these requirements, reassessments are generally carried out every two years after accreditation. Shorter reassessment intervals may be specified, for example when significant changes to staffing, other resources or procedures occur or when a change to the scope of accreditation is sought. A reassessment may also be conducted following unsatisfactory performance in a proficiency testing program.

Reassessments follow the same processes and have the same broad objectives as initial assessments.

Having achieved NATA accreditation, laboratories are entitled to apply the NATA endorsement to their test and calibration reports, widely recognised in Australia and overseas as a symbol of testing competence and reliability. See NATA Test Reports Explained.

Proficiency Testing

Participation in Proficiency Testing is mandatory.

Each applicant or accredited facility is required to participate in appropriate proficiency testing activities. Participation in programs offered by industry or professional groups is also encouraged.

Participation in proficiency testing activities (either interlaboratory comparisons or measurement audits) is required, as follows:

a) prior to gaining accreditation with NATA;
b) at least once every two years for each major area of test/measurement, where available;
c) when requesting significant extensions or variations to terms of accreditation;
d) when requesting additional signatory approvals (where relevant).

You can get more information from the following documents:

Confidentiality

All information provided by a laboratory in connection with an enquiry or an application for accreditation and all information obtained in connection with an assessment, is treated as confidential by NATA staff, technical assessors, Committee and Board members. All are made aware of its confidential nature and have signed confidentiality agreements. Upon gaining accreditation, NATA publishes the laboratory's contact details and scope of accreditation in the NATA website directory. This information is also supplied to enquirers who are seeking accredited laboratories.

What Do I Do Next?

To discuss your interest in applying for accreditation or to clarify any of the above information, please contact any NATA office. The relevant information and forms will then be sent to you by NATA technical staff.