Certification in Iowa is a two-year fee based system based upon the major analytical groups within each environmental program. When certified, the laboratory is certified for a specific method and for a specific analyte or analyte group. The program also provides the opportunity to become certified for a specific analytic group across multiple environmental programs; as an example a lab may acquire certification for IOCs within the wastewater, drinking water, and contaminated sites programs at a reduced fee.

Applying for Certification
Typically, laboratories wishing to become certified contact the department certification officer directly. A complete application form tailored to the laborator's needs is sent to the laboratory. See Contacts for phone numbers and mailing addresses. A complete application must also include copies of all Proficiency Testing (PTs) for each method analyte to be certified.

Once a completed application is received, it will normally take approximately 60 days to complete the process and issue a certificate. One cannot begin reporting results to IDNR until the certificate has been issued. Any samples analyzed and/or reported before the date of certification will rejected by the IDNR data management system and place the client at risk of a receiving a monitoring violation.

Maintaining Certification

To retain full certification the laboratory must:

• Report data to the department in the manner and frequency defined by the environmental program area: See Reporting Results To IDNR
• Report only environmental data for the method and the analyte for which they are certified.
• Annually submit acceptable performance testing results (PTs) on a blind performance testing samples for all analytes.
• Notify DNR of changes in essential personnel within 30 days as listed on the certification document.
• Notify DNR of major changes in equipment, facilities, or other changes that might alter analytical capability.

Certification Renewal
Laboratory Certification is for a two year period from the date of certification. Ninety days prior to that expiration date, the IDNR will issue a lab-specific application package, based upon prior certification parameters. Sent by UHL, the application package and fees must be returned within 30 days of receipt to the IDNR certification officer; see Contacts mailing address.

The applicant/laboratory is encouraged to contact IDNR certification officer for all issues relating to the certification. The laboratory may contact UHL appraisal officer and staff for technical questions. All applications forms, fees and documentation, to include PT data, must be submitted to the IDNR certification officer. The IDNR forwards all pertinent information to UHL. See Contacts for mailing addresses.

Reciprocity
Reciprocal certification may be granted to non-resident laboratories for environmental analysis provided they meet the same criteria as resident laboratories.