Conformity Assessment
Confidence in laboratory results depends on rigorous competence checks. The LICQual ISO/IEC 17043:2023 Conformity Assessment Foundation Course introduces the international standard that governs proficiency testing providers. This entry-level ISO 17043 certification explores how organizations design and manage proficiency testing schemes that evaluate laboratory performance worldwide.
Structured as an ISO 17043 foundation training online, this course walks learners through the complete framework for operating competent proficiency testing programs. Topics include the design and development of PT schemes, impartiality and confidentiality requirements, and the competence criteria for personnel involved in scheme coordination. Learner gains clarity on how assigned values are determined and how participant performance is evaluated using established statistical methods.
As a recognized proficiency testing provider foundation qualification, this LICQual Proficiency Testing Provider Foundation course translates complex technical requirements into accessible professional knowledge. The learning journey covers PT item preparation, quality control procedures, and the management system requirements that ensure reliable and consistent proficiency testing activities.
Course Overview
Qualification Title
LICQual ISO/IEC 17043:2023 Conformity Assessment Foundation Course
Total Units
6
Total Credits
40
GLH
120
Qualification #
LICQ2201347
Qualification Specification
To enroll in the LICQual ISO/IEC 17043:2023 Conformity Assessment Foundation Course applicants must meet the following criteria:
|
Qualification# |
Unit Title |
Credits |
GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
|
LICQ2201347-1 |
Introduction to ISO/IEC 17043:2023 and the Purpose of Proficiency Testing |
8 |
24 |
|
LICQ2201347-2 |
General Requirements for Proficiency Testing Providers |
8 |
24 |
|
LICQ2201347-3 |
Structural and Resource Requirements for PT Providers |
6 |
18 |
|
LICQ2201347-4 |
Technical Requirements for Proficiency Testing Scheme Design |
6 |
18 |
|
LICQ2201347-5 |
Statistical Methods and Performance Evaluation in Proficiency Testing |
6 |
18 |
|
LICQ2201347-6 |
Management System Requirements for Proficiency Testing Providers |
6 |
18 |
By the end of this course, Applicants will be able to:
Introduction to ISO/IEC 17043:2023 and the Purpose of Proficiency Testing
- Understand the scope and purpose of ISO/IEC 17043 as the international standard for proficiency testing providers.
- Explain the fundamental role of proficiency testing in evaluating laboratory performance and competence.
- Identify the relationship between proficiency testing and laboratory accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025.
- Recognize the different types of proficiency testing schemes and their applications across various sectors.
- Understand how ISO/IEC 17043:2023 updates reflect evolving practices in interlaboratory comparisons.
General Requirements for Proficiency Testing Providers
- Define the impartiality requirements that ensure objective and unbiased proficiency testing activities.
- Explain the confidentiality obligations for protecting participant information and scheme data.
- Identify the structural requirements for maintaining independence from commercial or financial pressures.
- Understand the documentation requirements for policies, procedures, and records management.
- Describe the contractual arrangements between proficiency testing providers and scheme participants.
Structural and Resource Requirements for PT Providers
- Outline the legal and organizational structure requirements for proficiency testing providers.
- Describe the personnel competence criteria for staff involved in scheme design and coordination.
- Explain the resource requirements for facilities, equipment, and supporting infrastructure.
- Identify the training and qualification processes for maintaining technical expertise.
- Understand the requirements for subcontracting activities and managing external providers.
Technical Requirements for Proficiency Testing Scheme Design
- Describe the process for designing and developing proficiency testing schemes appropriate for specific sectors.
- Explain the requirements for PT item preparation, characterization, and quality control.
- Identify the procedures for ensuring homogeneity and stability of proficiency testing items.
- Understand the protocols for packaging, labeling, and distributing PT items to participants.
- Describe the instructions and documentation provided to participants for consistent scheme conduct.
Statistical Methods and Performance Evaluation in Proficiency Testing
- Explain the statistical methods used for determining assigned values in proficiency testing schemes.
- Identify the approaches for evaluating participant performance using standardized scores.
- Understand the criteria for selecting appropriate statistical procedures according to ISO 13528.
- Describe the methods for handling outliers and evaluating measurement uncertainty in results.
- Recognize the importance of consistent statistical analysis for meaningful performance comparisons.
Management System Requirements for Proficiency Testing Providers
- Describe the management system options available to proficiency testing providers under ISO/IEC 17043.
- Explain the documentation hierarchy including quality manuals, policies, and procedures.
- Identify the internal audit processes for monitoring management system effectiveness.
- Understand the management review requirements for evaluating provider performance and improvement opportunities.
- Outline the corrective action and preventive action procedures for addressing nonconformities and risks.
This course is ideal for:
- Quality professionals seeking to understand the precise definitions behind certification and accreditation terminology.
- Standards engineers responsible for developing and maintaining conformity assessment documentation and schemes.
- Certification body staff needing clarity on the exact meaning of terms used in daily operations.
- Accreditation assessors who must apply consistent vocabulary when evaluating certification bodies.
- Laboratory personnel involved in testing and calibration who interact with conformity assessment frameworks.
- Regulatory affairs professionals interpreting technical regulations that reference conformity assessment activities.
- Compliance officers ensuring organizational communications use accurate and standardized terminology.
- Technical writers developing documentation for certified products or certified management systems.
- Trade specialists facilitating international market access through mutual recognition arrangements.
- Procurement professionals evaluating supplier certifications and declarations of conformity.
- Legal advisors working with contracts that reference certification and accreditation requirements.
- Recent graduates entering fields where conformity assessment vocabulary is essential for professional credibility.
- Training and education professionals developing materials about certification and accreditation processes.
Assessment and Verification
All units within this qualification are subject to internal assessment by the approved centre and external verification by LICQual. The qualification follows a criterion-referenced assessment approach, ensuring that learners meet all specified learning outcomes.
To achieve a ‘Pass’ in any unit, learners must provide valid, sufficient, and authentic evidence demonstrating their attainment of all learning outcomes and compliance with the prescribed assessment criteria. The Assessor is responsible for evaluating the evidence and determining whether the learner has successfully met the required standards.
Assessors must maintain a clear and comprehensive audit trail, documenting the basis for their assessment decisions to ensure transparency, consistency, and compliance with quality assurance requirements.
