Biosafety Cabinet Field Certifier Accreditation

NSF operates two accreditation programs that evaluate individuals who perform field certification of biosafety cabinets: an enhanced program and a basic program.

North American field certifiers may apply for accreditation only through the enhanced program. Candidates living and working outside North America may apply to either the enhanced or the basic program.

Each program includes both written and practical, hands-on examinations, along with continuing education and ethics requirements.

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NSF’s enhanced Biosafety Cabinet Field Certifier Accreditation is the established norm for field certifiers who work in North America.

Recognized as the premier credential for individuals who certify Class II biosafety cabinets in North American hospitals, laboratories and research facilities, this program is referenced in the Centers for Disease Control’s “Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories” (BMBL) as a means of identifying qualified service providers.

Established in the 1990s, the enhanced accreditation program is geared toward individuals who are interested in certifying biosafety cabinets (BSCs), including A1, A2, B1, B2 and C1. Individuals seeking the enhanced accreditation are evaluated with the following tests:

• Downflow velocity
• HEPA filter leak — gross probe
• Inflow velocity (secondary constricted access)
• Decontamination test
• Inflow velocity (primary, direct inflow measurement)
• Lighting intensity
• HEPA filter leak — scan
• Vibration test
• Site installation assessment
• Noise-level test
• Smoke patterns
• Calculating downflow/inflow velocity from volume (Type B2)

A score of 80% or higher on the written examination also needs to be achieved.

Interested in taking a biosafety cabinet training course online?

Controlled Environment Consulting (CEC) offers eLearning courses in certification basics and certification of Class II biosafety cabinets.

Visit www.cenvironment.com/training or contact training@cenvironment.com for more information.

The following organizations offer training courses designed for individuals interested in learning about biological safety cabinets. NSF’s examinations (both practical and written) are offered at the end of these courses. Please feel free to contact the facilities listed below for more information.

Allometrics
1425 Atlantis Drive
Suite B
Webster, TX 77598
Allometrics website

Controlled Environment Management (CEM)
2487 S. Gilbert Road
Suite 106-610
Gilbert, AZ 85295
CEM website

Con-Test
20-520 Westney Road S.
Ajax, ON L1S 6W6
Con-Test website

Eagleson Institute
161 Gatehouse Road
Sanford, ME 04073
Eagleson Institute website

Next Steps

To start the application process, please email BioSafetyCabinetry@nsf.org with the following information:

1. High school or college diploma
2. 20 test reports (with five being from a B2 biosafety cabinet)
3. Completed enhanced application

NSF’s basic accreditation program is for field certifiers who live and work outside North America. It was established to meet a demonstrated need for improved field certification infrastructure worldwide.

This program includes many of the same components as the enhanced program but is tailored to the international marketplace. It provides trained field certifiers with credentials to show prospective clients and promotes overall awareness of the need for routine biosafety cabinet maintenance.

Because the costs associated with traveling to the United States for multiple training and testing sessions can be prohibitive, testing under the basic accreditation program takes place in your home country and is paired with low-cost training courses.

NSF may provide training itself or may partner with outside organizations to offer training and education while NSF provides third-party testing services. By using loaned or donated test equipment and maximizing the use of in-country resources, we keep costs as low as possible.

The basic accreditation program includes both written and practical evaluations of a candidate’s ability to field-certify Type A biosafety cabinets. (Type B biosafety cabinets are not covered.) It also covers international standards, such as EN 12469 and the Chinese standard YY 0569.

Individuals who qualify for the basic accreditation program take the following tests:

• Downflow velocity (NSF 49)
• Downflow velocity (EN 12469)
• Inflow velocity (secondary constricted access)
• Inflow velocity (secondary exhaust velocity)
• HEPA filter leak — scan
• Site installation assessment
• Smoke patterns

A score of 80% or higher on the written examination also needs to be achieved.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Novel and Dangerous Pathogens Training laboratory in Salisbury is an NSF preapproved test site for the basic accreditation program’s practical and theoretical examinations. UKHSA is the only approved test site in Europe with Biosafety Cabinet Field Certifier Accreditation training available for candidates from countries outside North America.

Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) is an NSF preapproved test site for the basic accreditation program’s practical and theoretical examinations. MUHAS is the only approved test site in Africa with Biosafety Cabinet Field Certifier Accreditation training available for candidates from countries in Africa. MUHAS may be able to accommodate candidates from outside of North America.

• A minimum of 8 individuals is required for the training course and testing
• Training/testing can only be done at NSF’s office in India, Ann Arbor MI, or in the student’s home country provided that the testing site meets NSF criteria

To start the application process, please email BioSafetyCabinetry@nsf.org.