Qualified Test Facility Programs

The Value of Qualified Test Facility Programs

Launching products as quickly and efficiently as possible without compromising quality is key to your success. Qualified Test Facility (QTF) programs are convenient solutions that empower you to accomplish this and can help you save time and money. These programs allow organizations and manufacturers to conduct testing, in part or in full, in their own testing facilities to support product certification CSA Group.

QTF programs are valuable to manufacturers across all industries, including manufacturers of residential, commercial, industrial, and medical products. Satisfy your customers’ demands for independent third-party evaluations and gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace with CSA Group’s QTF programs.

Our QTF programs are designed to shorten the time to product certification while validating data integrity and product compliance with applicable requirements. We can qualify your laboratory for many of our QTF programs according to your needs while supporting seamless speed to market.

Qualified Test Facility Programs

CSA Group’s most popular laboratory qualification programs are Witnessed Manufacturer’s Testing for Certification (WMTC), Supervised Manufacturer’s Testing for Certification (SMTC), and the Category Program for Certification (CPC), designed to help with North American certification needs. Deciding on the most beneficial QTF program for your organization depends on the number of new basic models or alterations to existing models you plan on producing every year.

Witnessed Manufacturer’s Testing for Certification (WMTC)

This program allows you to reach markets efficiently by conducting testing in your own facility, with our certification staff coming onsite to witness all tests or partial testing for third-party observation. A CSA Group certification expert will come to your qualified facility based on project demand to witness required tests, helping reduce certification time and costs. WMTC is ideal if you only have a few new models per year (generally under 10) that need testing and certification. For example, appliance manufacturers producing a few key basic models can take advantage of witness testing as a more economical alternative to shipping the product directly to CSA Group for testing.

Key Requirements of the WMTC Program:

  • An initial qualification visit by a CSA Group certification expert is required to assess the manufacturer’s laboratory to applicable clauses of international standard ISO/IEC 17025. This includes a review of, but is not limited to, personnel, facilities and environmental conditions, power supply, test equipment, and calibration records. The client has the overall responsibility to ensure that the applicant testing facility complies with environmental conditions, maintains adequate power line stability, and has suitable testing personnel and testing equipment suitable for the scope of testing being qualified.
  • Qualification remains valid for twelve months. A requalification assessment is required after 12 months.


A testing facility qualified under the WMTC program allows CSA Group to witness tests performed at your qualified facility according to your product certification needs and your schedule.

Supervised Manufacturer’s Testing for Certification (SMTC)

This program offers the same time- and cost-saving benefits as WMTC, with limited witness testing by our certification experts. Additionally, it allows manufacturers to provide test and constructional evaluation data directly to CSA Group for verification and certification. This construction review can be completed on a prototype at your laboratory, saving both time and cost versus shipping to CSA Group. To gain the maximum benefit, we recommend that you have a minimum of 10 projects in this program each year. For example, a manufacturer of medical equipment may choose our SMTC program because they have significant alterations to their previously certified medical equipment, such as an MRI or X-ray machine.

The option to participate in the SMTC program is available to CSA Group clients who meet all the following criteria but not limited to:*

  • Have their own testing capability.
  • Can demonstrate detailed knowledge of the requirements, standards, and test methods applicable to the products being considered for certification under the SMTC program.
  • Can demonstrate knowledge of relevant CSA Group procedures.
  • Have a minimum of one year of experience in manufacturing CSA Group certified products.
  • Have been qualified as a WMTC testing facility and completed the minimum number witness testing projects.

* Contact CSA Group for a complete list of eligibility requirements.

Key Requirements of the SMTC Program:

  • Similar to the WMTC Program, an initial qualification visit by a CSA Group certification expert is required to assess the manufacturer’s laboratory to applicable clauses of international standard ISO/IEC 17025 and CSA Group requirements.
  • To validate and confirm ongoing compliance with the SMTC program, a minimum of one mandatory audit is required each year. During the audit, tests are witnessed to confirm the SMTC facility continues to demonstrate the competence required to carry out the tests within the SMTC’s scope.

For each certification project, the client prepares a test plan in consultation with a CSA Group certification expert. The client prepares a certification package including a test report, which may include a construction review document. Upon receiving the certification package from the applicant, CSA Group will review and make a certification decision.

Category Program for Certification (CPC)

The CPC program is CSA Group’s most extensive QTF program. The CPC program offers the most benefits in terms of time and cost savings, with no witness testing requirements for model certifications post qualification. Since our certification experts are involved with your test plan and construction requirements early in the certification process, the time for our evaluation and certification can be reduced compared to other QTF programs. This program is ideal if you have testing and certification needs for a minimum of 20 major certification projects per year — ones that require a review of the entire model, not just cosmetic changes. This program allows companies with many product models and extensive alterations to their models to leverage their own internal expertise and facilities to save time and money on testing. For example, appliance manufacturers specializing in a variety of kitchen appliances can participate in our CPC program for dishwashers, as well as refrigerators and ranges.

The certification projects could be new models or extensive changes to existing ones, such as a new refrigerant that requires the compressor and condenser to be changed as well. Our CPC program is designed to give you more flexibility and control over the scheduling and introduction of your products to the market.

The option to participate in the CPC program is available to CSA Group clients who meet all the following criteria but not limited to:*

  • Have a testing laboratory that meets the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017, General Requirements for the Competence of Calibration and Testing Laboratories.
  • Have employees that are knowledgeable in certification requirements for the product category.
  • Have satisfactorily participated for at least three years in CSA Group’s SMTC program.
  • Have completed, with satisfactory results, a minimum number of projects that require some testing under the SMTC program in a specific product category for which Category Certification is to be granted.
  • Are familiar with CSA Group certification requirements and can assist CSA Group with certification documentation.

* Contact CSA Group for a complete list of eligibility requirements.

Key Requirements of the CPC Program:

  • For the CPC program, your laboratory will be assessed initially to confirm compliance with applicable ISO/IEC 17025 and CSA Group requirements.
  • An annual audit will be conducted to verify continued compliance.
  • A full requalification assessment will be performed at the end of three years.
  • In addition, to facilitate quick certification, the facility will be visited quarterly to review all upcoming certification projects.

A CSA Group expert is involved in every step of the certification process. During the quarterly visits and other times as required, the CSA Group certifier will review all upcoming certification projects with your internal experts. This review will include, but is not limited to, construction review, test plan, test results, and CSA Group descriptive reports.

The participant shall inform CSA Group about all upcoming certification projects. The participant shall keep CSA Group informed as they proceed through each certification milestone and provide us with relevant information and documentation. For each project, the applicant shall prepare a certification package including, as applicable, but not limited to:

  • Construction review checklist and supporting documentation,
  • Supporting test data, and
  • Draft CSA Group a description report incorporating any necessary revisions.

Upon receiving a complete certification package from the applicant, CSA Group will review and make a certification decision within a short period of time.

Additional Services to Support Your Business

Our visits to your facility are an opportunity for us to provide additional, value-added services by offering you the support you need through a CSA Group certification expert.

  • Training: Gain practical information on the latest testing protocols, industry trends, and relevant standards. This service can expand your staff and organization’s knowledge base and help address specific challenges. For example, we can help improve testing and certification turnaround times by enhancing your test technicians’ understanding of procedures and protocols.
  • Standards Updates: Product standards constantly evolve across nearly every industry to meet customer demands and enhance public safety. Keeping up with these changes can be inefficient and time-consuming when done independently. Our technical experts continually learn about standards updates and share key information to help your organization prepare for new requirements.
  • Technical Information Service (TIS): Our Technical Information Service is designed to assist you early in the product lifecycle — before you commit to production. Our technical experts clarify standards and guide you through the certification requirements that apply to your products. Your fully customizable and confidential sessions can be conducted by phone, at our laboratory, or on-site at your facility.
  • Scope Expansion: Serve more markets and increase profit margins by adding more products to your Qualified Test Facility data acceptance program. Our certification staff provides the information on compliance requirements needed to expand the scope of your onsite testing laboratory to qualify for verification and certification of additional products.
  • ISO/IEC 17025: This standard is used by manufacturers, governments, and other organizations that rely on their laboratory test results for product certification and verification. Foster confidence in your testing both nationally and globally by complying with the latest requirements. Starting November 30, 2020, manufacturers participating in a qualified test facility program with their own testing laboratories must comply with the updated 2017 edition of ISO/IEC 17025 to continue qualifying for Qualified Test Facility data acceptance programs.

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