Any SC government office serving as a service bureau for other government offices, and any commercial vendor microfilming for SC government offices is eligible to be certified. A certified vendor is educated in the standards and procedures necessary to produce a quality microfilm product. A certified vendor asks to be certified, demonstrates the capability for compliance with quality standards, and understands that the microfilm produced will be scrutinized by an outside source at any given time. Certification is an ongoing process. It can be revoked at any time for serious problems that the service bureau declines to correct, or for a continual history of significant problems.
Certification begins with completing an application and submitting test rolls.
The archives may be able to give individual attention to in-house operations that do not meet eligibility requirements for certification, depending on staff commitments. In addition, regular training seminars are available on micrographics and related technologies, at various times throughout the year, for any interested parties. Microphotography is a science. A microscope, as well as other laboratory equipment, is regularly used to help determine image quality. A certified service bureau is aware of the function and use of this equipment, and the specifications that must be met.