OWM Training Requirements 20151117 Page 1 of 1

November 18, 2015

MEMORANDUM FOR: State Laboratory Metrologists and Laboratory Authorized Representatives

From:   Georgia L. Harris, Laboratory Metrology Program

Office of Weights and Measures

Subjects: OWM Training Requirements

The OWM Recognition of laboratories follows requirements published in NIST Handbook 143, Program

Handbook.  Training requirements are in Section 5.2 and referenced in Table 2 (see Attachment 1).  However,

in 2011, OWM began offering updated training courses and eliminated courses that were on Table 2 as

published in 2007.  Updated training requirements have been posted on the OWM Laboratory Metrology

website pages with other State Laboratory Program Resources and have been sent to all laboratories each

year (http://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/labmetrology/lab‐resources.cfm) (see Attachment 2).  However, some

confusion has remained about who needs to comply with which requirements, how to evaluate compliance

in the laboratory’s Quality Management System, and how to ensure that job descriptions, hiring, probation,

and promotion requirements are met.   

Requirements for successful completion of training and Laboratory Auditing Program (LAP) problems are only

one part of the OWM proficiency and competency evaluations.  Additional evaluations may include, but are

not limited to evaluation of any or all of the following: proficiency tests, quality of annual submission

materials including quality and technical audits, on‐site observations of calibrations, review of calibration

certificates, and evidence of training implementation.  

Please consider the following guidance in updating laboratory and personnel related documents. Note that

staff must complete these requirements (and those noted above) for OWM to recognize them as an

Approved Signatory for the laboratory.

1. Metrologists who successfully completed the Basic Metrology Seminar (2 weeks) and Intermediate

Metrology Seminar (1 week) AND the corresponding LAP Problems will be considered to have

successfully completed requirements for laboratory Recognition, including recognition for Mass

Echelon II and Gravimetric Volume, Echelon I calibrations. LAP Problems for these courses must have

been successfully completed no later than December 31, 2015.  

2. After 2011, metrologists must successfully complete the following “core” courses and the

Fundamentals of Metrology LAP Problems to achieve the same level of Recognition as the former

Basic and Intermediate Metrology Seminars: Fundamentals of Metrology, Mass Metrology, and

Volume Metrology. Fundamentals of Metrology LAP problems are due within one year of seminar

completion or additional refresher training will be required.  

3. Any metrologist who has completed the series of courses and associated LAP problems noted in

items 1 or 2 must maintain proficiency through ongoing/regular work in the laboratory and through

completion of applicable proficiency tests or additional refresher training will be required.   

4. Metrologists must have additional records (i.e., evidence) for completing training in any area of the

laboratory Scope that is outside the courses noted in items 1 and 2 above.  This includes the

following measurement areas: Advanced Mass, thermometry, stopwatches or other timing devices,

length, LPG provers, small volume provers (compact displacement provers or closed loop provers),

tuning forks, watthour meters, and so on.  Advanced Mass LAP problems must be completed within

two years of completing the seminar or additional refresher training will be required.  

5. The Laboratory Administration Workshop is strongly recommended and may be considered a

“core” requirement in the future, based on numerous recommendations and requests regarding

its status.
April 2007 NIST Handbook 143 

40 

When it is necessary to issue a complete new test report or calibration certificate, this shall be uniquely identified 

and shall contain a reference to the original that it replaces. 

Table 2. Training requirements 

NOTE: The Quality Manual Templates (NISTIR 5802 and NISTIR 7028) contain a form that can be used to 

document training and dates. 

Recognition Level Training Required For Whom How Often 

Basic Laboratory Metrology Seminar (2 

weeks) 

Basic LAP problems - acceptable 

completion 

Usually all staff, at 

least one staff 

member 

Once Initially 

Refresher 

recommended 

every 10 years 

Once 

Minimum (for legal 

metrological activities) 

Attendance at Regional Measurement 

Assurance Program meeting annually 

At least one staff 

member Annually 

Calibration 

All of the above, plus: 

Intermediate Laboratory Metrology 

Seminar (1 week) 

Intermediate LAP problems - acceptable 

completion 

Usually all staff; at 

least one 

Every 3 to 4 years 

unless attending 

RMAP annually 

Advanced mass 

calibration 

All of the above, plus: 

Advanced Mass Measurements Seminar 

Advanced LAP problems completed 

At least one if 

working at this level 

At least once; for 

updates as needed 

Thermometry Attendance at a NIST Precision 

Thermometry Seminar 

At least one as 

needed 

At least once; for 

updates as needed 

Attachment 1: Table 2 (2007-04-01)
Handbook 143, Table 2 (Rev 3) 2013-08-16 

Table 2. Training requirements 

*Legal Metrology procedures will be provided as orientation training by NIST for mass and volume procedures

during other seminars, during on-site laboratory visits, via web-based training, or through verified on-the-job

training by qualified staff who have successfully met all other requirements at the designated level to enable

completion of proficiency testing and Fundamentals of Metrology, Laboratory Auditing Program (LAP) problems.

Mass and Volume Calibration courses must be completed by at least one person in each laboratory. If there is only

one staff member in the laboratory, the laboratory will only be fully Recognized when staff have successfully

completed Mass Calibration and Volume Calibration courses.

Recognition Level Training Required For Whom How Often 

All Measurement 

Parameters 

Regional Measurement Assurance 

Program (RMAP)Training 

At least one staff 

member Annually 

Legal Metrology* 

Mass, Echelon III 

Volume, Echelon II 

1. Fundamentals of Metrology (1 week

course)

2. Introduction and Orientation to Mass

and Volume Procedures*

3. Fundamentals of Metrology,

Laboratory Auditing Program (LAP)

problems

4. Successful completion of proficiency

testing

Usually all staff, at 

least one staff 

member 

Once Initially 

Refresher portions 

covered during 

Regional 

Measurement 

Assurance 

Program (RMAP) 

training 

Mass Calibration 

Echelon III and II 

1. All of the above, plus:

2. Mass Seminar (2 week course)

3. Successful completion of proficiency

testing for each area on the laboratory

Scope

Usually all staff, 

at least one staff 

member 

Once Initially 

Refresher 

recommended 

every 10 years 

Advanced Mass 

Calibration, 

Echelon I 

1. All of the above, plus:

2. Advanced Mass Seminar (1 week

course)

3. Advanced Laboratory Auditing

Program (LAP) problems

4. Successful completion of proficiency

testing using weighing designs

5. Optional: Advanced Hands-On Mass

Seminar (if available)

At least one staff 

member 

Once Initially 

Refresher 

recommended 

every 10 years 

Volume Calibration, 

Echelon I and II 

1. Legal Metrology Requirements and

Mass Calibration Requirements noted

above

2. Volume Calibration Course (1 week)

3. Successful completion of proficiency

testing for each area on the laboratory

scope using gravimetric calibrations

Usually all staff, 

at least one staff 

member 

Once Initially 

Refresher 

recommended 

every 10 years 

All measurement 

parameters in 

addition to mass and 

volume 

1. Documented evidence of training

2. Successful completion of proficiency

testing in each area of the laboratory 

Scope 

At least one, as 

needed 

At least once; 

Refresher as 

needed 

Attachment 2: Table 2 (2013-08-16)