THE RADON REPORTER | 13 PROFICIENCY NRPP’s Radon Measurement and Mitigation certification programs are accredited to ISO/IEC 17024: Conformity Assessment. General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons (2012), but what, exactly, does that mean? Standards provide a framework for ensuring quality. Accreditation is an independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (certifying body) against recognized standards. Although a number of certification standards exist in the marketplace, ISO/IEC 17024, Conformity assessment– General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons specifies requirements for transparency, impartiality, management systems, examination development, and development of certification requirements. Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17024, Conformity assessment– General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons is an indication that the certifying body is competent to carry out its certification activities and provides a global benchmark for quality certification. ANAB is a non-governmental organization and a whollyowned subsidiary of American National Standards Institute, Inc. (ANSI), which is a non-profit organization. ANAB, as an accrediting body, assesses and accredits organizations to international and domestic standards. ANAB ISO/IEC 17024 accreditation is the most widely accepted accreditation offered for personnel certification bodies and the most recognized program internationally. ANAB accreditation to ISO/IEC 17024 requires that NRPP demonstrate competence in the following areas: • Structure • Resources • Records and information • Development of certification schemes • Certification processes • Management system The initial accreditation process required NRPP to complete an application to allow ANAB to assess its compliance to the above requirements, provide evidence to support NRPP’s response to each requirement, and participate in a two-day site visit with two ANAB assessors. During the two-day site visit in 2022, assessors reviewed and witnessed NRPP’s policies, procedures, and processes. After being awarded initial accreditation,, NRPP completes an annual surveillance application and reports on any changes that occurred What is Accreditation? ISO/IEC 17024 Amy Roedl, NRPP Proficiency Director over the past year and provides evidence to support those changes. The accreditation cycle is a five-year cycle; one-day site visits are required every other year beginning the year after initial accreditation is granted. At the end of the five-year cycle, NRPP reapplies for accreditation, essentially starting from scratch. NRPP’s goal is to ensure its credentials mean what they are supposed to mean and do what they are supposed to do: identify individuals who possess the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively measure or mitigate radon to keep the public safe and protect their health and wellbeing. The market is full of certifications, many of which fall short in assessing the competencies required for effective performance in a job role or profession and leave consumers confused and unsure of whether the credential assesses skills needed by employers. There are options for those who are considering a radon credential; certifying bodies who adhere to a set of standards and best practices in certification development provide credentials that are valid and reliable indicators of professional competence. ANAB accreditation to ISO/IEC 17024 is confirmation of NRPP’s dedication and attention to quality. EPA and ISO 17024 The US EPA has announced the intent that its revised framework for approving radon credentialing bodies would require that private certification programs be accredited by an EPA-recognized accreditation body under ISO/IEC 17024:2012, state-run programs that require a certification must rely on certifications only from an ISO/IEC 17024:2012 accredited certification body, and state-run credentialing programs’ exams must be administered by an ISO/IEC 17024:2012 third party accredited certification body under the same conditions as those taking the exam for certification purposes.
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