Things to be Aware of Regarding NSF Certification

We frequently receive inquiries from companies that currently service laboratories and are interested in adding biosafety cabinet (BSC) certification to their service portfolio. There are several important factors to consider before pursuing this path.

Access to Cabinets for Certification Work

If your organization does not currently service BSCs, you will need access to cabinets in order to gain hands-on certification experience. NSF requires a specific number of completed Class II Type A and Class II Type B cabinet test reports before an individual is eligible to sit for the exam. NSF can provide the exact requirements, as well as pricing, and can be contacted directly at lpollard@nsf.org.

Certification Environment

You will also need access to appropriate facilities where certification activities can be performed. While Phase 1 training at the Eagleson Institute (Safety Cabinet Technology and Introduction to Certification) provides a strong foundation, the skills and techniques learned must be applied consistently in real-world environments—ideally on a daily or weekly basis—to achieve proficiency and confidence.

Equipment Investment

If you do not already own certification equipment, be aware that the initial investment can be significant. A detailed list of required equipment is included in our document titled “Training Process for people new to Biosafety Cabinet Certification”, also available on this FAQ page.

Training and Exam Investment

NSF certification training and testing represent a substantial investment. We strongly recommend considering this commitment when selecting a technician to attend training and pursue the NSF exam.

Certification Expectations

There is no regulation requiring technicians to be NSF Accredited in order to certify BSCs. However, many organizations do require NSF certification to ensure technicians have appropriate training and demonstrated competency.

NSF Policies (Summary)

At the time of this writing, NSF International outlines the following requirements for taking the NSF exam, as stated in the NSF International Policies packet. Please contact NSF directly for the most current requirements:

Individual Qualifications – Accredited Individual

Applicants for Enhanced Accreditation as a Biosafety Cabinet Field Certifier must meet the following minimum qualifications:

  1. A high school diploma or equivalent.
  2. Completion of a five (5) day biosafety cabinet training course, and
    • Evidence of one (1) year of active participation performing field certification tests on biosafety cabinets, demonstrated by submission of twenty (20) test reports, five (5) of which must be from Class B1 or B2 cabinets. At least one test report must be dated a minimum of one year prior to the date of application.

Individual Qualifications – Facilities and Equipment

The individual must have adequate facilities and equipment to perform biosafety cabinet certification duties. A complete list of test equipment used by the individual must be provided to NSF annually.