Story update 4/24/2014: We bumped up the cost of accreditation based on comments that the original article was on the low side. We also added references to ILAC as well as additional accreditation bodies that operate in the United States (ACLASS, NVLAP, L.A.B.)

Getting calibration accreditation is a big investment. You will invest both time and money determining the standards to which you must comply, getting the appropriate training, possibly hiring a consultant, making changes to your process and, finally, documenting the process. Here are seven tips to help ensure the success of your calibration system accreditation effort.

Don’t underestimate the task

The amount of time and money it takes for you to prepare for accreditation depends on your current quality system, the size of your company, and the particular type of accreditation you’re seeking, but you can expect it to take at least three to six months to get accredited. Once you are accredited, you will need to spend some hours to keep your quality manual up to date to maintain accreditation.

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