TNI Logo The NELAC Institute

National Environmental Proficiency Testing Program

Proficiency Testing (PT) is defined as a means of evaluating a laboratory or testing organization's performance under controlled conditions relative to a given set of criteria through analysis of unknown samples provided by an external source. The PT program consists of:

  • A PT Expert Committee that establishes the requirement for proficiency testing.
  • A PT Program Executive Committee who manages the implementation of the program.
  • A PT Provider Accreditor that accredits organizations as PT Providers.
  • Private and public sector PT Providers that manufacture and provide PT samples and evaluate the results.
  • Fields of Proficiency Testing (FoPTs) - the matrices, analytes, concentration ranges, and acceptance limits adopted for the PT program.

The PT Program relies on consensus standards representing the best professional practice in the industry to establish the requirements for this program. The TNI Standard for PT Providers, Volume 3, is modeled after ISO/IEC Guide 43 "General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories." TNI Standard Volume 4 is the requirements for a Proficiency test Provider Accreditor. The Standard is based on ISO/IEC 17011:2004 "Conformity Assessment � General Requirements for Accreditation Bodies Accrediting Conformity Assessment Bodies."

Getting Started

How to become a PT ProviderHow to become a PT Provider Accreditor

Easy Links

PT Providers PT Provider Accreditor Fields of Proficiency Testing

TNI & NELAC Standards TNI Method & Analyte Codes

Structure and Governance

  • PT Program Executive Committee (PTPEC) PT Board

Related Activities

  • Advocacy Program Advocacy Program
  • Consensus Standards Development Program Consensus Standards Development Program
  • Laboratory PT CommitteeProficiency Testing Expert Committee
  • National Environmental Field Activities Program (NEFAP) National Environmental Field Activities Program (NEFAP)
  • National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP)
  • Stationary Source Audit Sample Program (SSASP) Stationary Source Audit Sample Program (SSASP)
  • Upcoming Meetings Upcoming Meetings
  • Training and Workshops Training and Workshops
  • Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions

TNI Information

  • Policies and SOPs Policies and SOPs
  • Newsletter Newsletter
  • Document Library Document Library
  • Join TNI Join TNI