An NTEP Certificate of Conformance is the document that confirms a weighing or measuring device design meets the accuracy and performance standards in NIST Handbook 44, allowing that device to be sold and used commercially in the United States. The certificate is issued by the National Council on Weights and Measures (NCWM) after a prototype passes laboratory evaluation under the National Type Evaluation Program. It covers the design, not each individual unit, so every device manufactured to the certified specifications is covered by the same certificate.1National Institute of Standards and Technology. National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP)
Which Devices Need a Certificate
If a device’s reading determines how much a buyer pays or a seller receives, it almost certainly needs an NTEP Certificate of Conformance before it enters commercial service. The technical requirements for each device category live in NIST Handbook 44, which is updated annually.2National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST Handbook 44-2026
Common covered categories include retail and industrial scales (grocery produce scales, deli counters, jewelry balances, truck scales, automatic bulk weighing systems), fuel dispensers including electric vehicle supply equipment used in metered charging, grain analyzers and moisture meters used in agricultural transactions, liquid measuring devices and flow meters, taximeters, and multidimensional measuring devices. Point-of-sale systems interfaced with a weighing element need their own evaluation, though the weighing element itself is assumed to have been previously certified.3National Council on Weights and Measures. NTEP Applications
Most states require the certificate before a device can be placed into commercial service, and NCWM maintains a map showing which states enforce the requirement.4National Council on Weights and Measures. NTEP States Operating a non-certified device in a state that mandates certification exposes the business to enforcement by local weights and measures officials. Consequences range from rejection tags that pull equipment out of service to fines and suspension of business operations.
How to Apply and What It Costs
Applications go through NCWM, which coordinates testing at one of several authorized participating laboratories. Before an application can be scheduled, the manufacturer assembles a technical package covering the model designation, intended commercial use, capacity and division size, physical specifications (platform dimensions, load-receiving element materials, and other mechanical details), and manufacturer contact information. The applicant commits to maintaining the design’s integrity throughout production. Forms are available on the NCWM website.3National Council on Weights and Measures. NTEP Applications
Getting the technical details right at this stage matters. Incomplete submissions delay the start of testing, and the application fee is non-refundable regardless of outcome. All fees are due at submission, and NCWM holds the file until payment clears.
Fees differ for NCWM members and non-members. The base application fee is $800 for members and $1,200 for non-members. The typical weighing and measuring device evaluation, covering scales, load cells, fuel dispensers, liquid measuring devices, grain analyzers (Phase I), EVSE units, taximeters, and belt-conveyor scales, is $950 for members and $1,425 for non-members. A non-technical editorial change or company rebranding costs $350 for members and $525 for non-members. A private label certificate is $1,300 for members and $1,950 for non-members.5National Council on Weights and Measures. Obtain NTEP Certification
NCWM Associate membership for manufacturers is $115 per year.6National Council on Weights and Measures. Membership Even one application usually saves more than the membership costs, and the member rate also applies to annual maintenance fees.
Testing and Timeline
Laboratory technicians run a representative sample of the device through a battery of tests. Accuracy is checked across the full capacity range. Environmental stress tests evaluate whether the device holds calibration under temperature and humidity swings. Inspectors verify anti-fraud features such as secure sealing mechanisms that prevent unauthorized tampering with calibration settings. Labs follow the procedures in NCWM Publication 14, the companion document to NIST Handbook 44 that governs how evaluations are conducted.7National Council on Weights and Measures. About NTEP
Testing typically begins one to four months after NCWM receives the completed application. If no deficiencies turn up, the testing itself takes roughly one to three additional months.8National Council on Weights and Measures. NTEP FAQs The realistic total from submission to certificate runs two to seven months when everything goes smoothly. A failure at any point stops the clock until the manufacturer fixes the problem, and re-testing can push the timeline out considerably.
Once the laboratory confirms the device meets all applicable Handbook 44 requirements, NCWM issues the certificate. It is tied to the specific evaluated design and covers all future units built to that exact design. Each certificate carries a unique CC number.
Marking the Certified Device
Every certified device must carry a permanent identification plate or marking that is visible without disassembling the equipment. The Handbook 44 General Code requires:9National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST Handbook 44 – Specifications, Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring Devices
- Manufacturer or distributor name, initials, or trademark.
- Model identifier, prefaced by “Model,” “Type,” or “Pattern.”
- Serial number, prefaced by an abbreviation like “S/N” or “Ser. No.” Required on any device with moving or electronic components.
- Software version, for software-based devices, continuously displayed or accessible through the display. This applies to all software-based devices manufactured as of January 1, 2022.
- NTEP Certificate of Conformance number or addendum number, prefaced by “NTEP CC,” “CC,” or “Approval.”
Weights and measures inspectors check these markings during routine field inspections. A device missing required identification, or displaying a CC number that doesn’t match the actual design, will draw scrutiny and likely be pulled from service.
Keeping the Certificate Active
The certificate has no fixed expiration date, but it does require an annual maintenance fee. NCWM invoices these fees on October 1 each year. Paying by November 30 gets the lower rate: $155 per certificate for members and $285 for non-members. Miss that deadline and the fee jumps to $230 for members and $360 for non-members.5National Council on Weights and Measures. Obtain NTEP Certification
Paying the maintenance fee is also a declaration that the manufacturer continues to produce the device and agrees to the renewal terms. A certificate exists in one of three statuses:
- Active: the device is being manufactured for commercial use and all fees are current.
- Inactive: the manufacturer has stopped producing the device for commercial applications. Units already manufactured, installed, or in inventory can still be used, sold, repaired, and resold under an inactive certificate.8National Council on Weights and Measures. NTEP FAQs
- Withdrawn: the certificate has been revoked. The manufacturer must immediately stop using the NTEP certification mark and notify all distributors and customers that the certification no longer applies.10National Council on Weights and Measures. NTEP Logo License Terms
Reactivating an inactive certificate requires a separate application and fee, $950 for members and $1,425 for non-members, so lapsing a certificate is not something to do casually.3National Council on Weights and Measures. NTEP Applications
VCAP Audits for Certain Devices
Some device categories carry an additional requirement called the Verified Conformity Assessment Program (VCAP). Type evaluation proves the design works; VCAP verifies that units coming off the production line still match the evaluated prototype. Manufacturers subject to VCAP must maintain a quality management system and submit to audits.
VCAP currently applies to specific weighing devices with a capacity of 2,000 pounds or less, including load cells, indicating elements, weighing and load-receiving elements with non-NTEP load cells, complete scales, automatic weighing systems, belt-conveyor scales (weigh-belt systems only), and automatic bulk weighing systems.11National Council on Weights and Measures. NCWM Publication 14 – Administrative Policy – VCAP Policy
For a first-time NTEP certificate on a covered device, VCAP certification must be completed within one year of the first maintenance fee payment, and no later than 18 months from the certificate issue date. Non-conformities found during an audit must be corrected within 90 days. Failure to comply pushes the certificate to inactive status, taking any associated private label certificates with it.12National Council on Weights and Measures. VCAP FAQs
Private Label Certificates and Design Changes
A manufacturer that rebrands another company’s device under its own name needs a private label Certificate of Conformance. Instead of a full evaluation, the private label certificate ties back to the parent certificate held by the original manufacturer. The fee is $1,300 for members and $1,950 for non-members.3National Council on Weights and Measures. NTEP Applications
Private label holders carry real responsibilities. They must maintain documentation tracing every private label device back to the parent certificate, verify that the parent certificate is active and that the original manufacturer holds a current VCAP audit for covered devices, and keep records proving no unauthorized supplier is providing the product. They also need internal audit plans to catch non-conforming devices and a process for reporting problems back to the original manufacturer.11National Council on Weights and Measures. NCWM Publication 14 – Administrative Policy – VCAP Policy If the parent certificate goes inactive or is withdrawn, the private label certificate falls with it.
Production devices also evolve. NCWM expects manufacturers to maintain an engineering change system that controls any modification affecting metrologically significant characteristics, meaning the design elements that influence measurement accuracy.11National Council on Weights and Measures. NCWM Publication 14 – Administrative Policy – VCAP Policy Minor changes with no performance effect, such as cosmetic updates or non-metrological software patches, can be handled through a non-technical editorial change application at $350 for members and $525 for non-members. Changes that affect measurement performance or design parameters generally trigger a re-evaluation. The certificate must accurately reflect what is actually being manufactured, and VCAP auditors review engineering change records to confirm production matches the certified design.