Contact:
Penny Gamache, 800-606-5394, ext. 7275
pgamache@anab.org
Arlington, VA – The ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board/ACLASS and the International Association for Radio, Telecommunications and Electromagnetics, Inc. (iNARTE) have signed a memorandum of agreement that provides a framework to cooperate in developing training and professional certification programs for managers and staff responsible for preparing laboratories for assessment and maintenance of laboratory quality.
Under the agreement, iNARTE will inaugurate a certification for Certified Test Laboratory Auditors (CTLAs). This certification is targeted at internal laboratory auditors to ensure they have the training, skills, and expertise to help prepare and maintain laboratories in compliance with accreditation requirements.
“This agreement allows ACLASS and iNARTE to share technical and procedural information and conduct training classes, workshops, examinations, and similar activities,” Keith Greenaway, ACLASS Vice President, said. “In doing this, we hope to broaden the understanding and appreciation of ISO and other standards and the value of professional certification.”
ACLASS and iNARTE will provide opportunities to make presentations at conventions, symposia and workshops. They will cooperate in developing educational workshops and programs and the body of knowledge for examination of candidates.
“One of our first projects under the terms of the MOA will be development of a training program, workshop, and examination to run in parallel with iNARTE’s EMC Certification Workshop and Examination at the IEEE EMC Society Symposium 2009,” Brian Lawrence, Executive Director of iNARTE, said. The Symposium will be held August 17-21, 2009, in Austin, TX.
ACLASS and iNARTE plan to provide regular training programs and examinations, so certified individuals can stay current with the standards and maintain their certification status.
The ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board provides accreditation services under the ACLASS and ANAB brands.
Under the ACLASS brand, the organization accredits ISO/IEC 17025 testing and calibration laboratories, ISO/IEC 17020 inspection bodies, and ISO Guide 34 reference material producers.
Under the ANAB brand, the organization is the U.S. accreditation body for management systems and accredits certification bodies for ISO 9001 quality management systems; ISO 14001 environmental management systems; ISO 22000 food safety management systems; ISO 28000 supply chain security management systems; ISO/IEC 20000-1 information technology service management systems; ISO 27001 information security management systems; ANSI/AIHA Z10, CSA Z1000, and BS_OHSAS 18001 occupational health and safety management systems, and numerous industry-specific requirements.
The ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board is a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), and is a signatory of the ILAC and IAF multilateral recognition arrangements. Through these arrangements, the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board cooperates with other accreditation bodies around the world to provide value to the organization it has accredited and their clients, ensuring that accredited certificates are recognized nationally and internationally. The global conformity assessment system ensures confidence and reduces risk for customers engaging in trade worldwide.
For more information about ACLASS, visit http://www.aclasscorp.com.
For more information about ANAB, visit http://www.anab.org.
The International Association for Radio, Telecommunications and Electromagnetics, Inc. (iNARTE) is a leader in professional certification programs that recognize the credentials and achievement of individuals in the telecommunications, EMC, ESD, and product safety communities. For more information about iNARTE, visit http://www.narte.org.
