How to Publicize Your AASHTO Accreditation

By Brian Johnson, Program Supervisor

and Bree Johnson, Laboratory Assessor

Participation in the AASHTO Accreditation Program (AAP) is a great way for a laboratory to show its commitment to quality in construction materials testing.  It can also be used as a means to expand a commercial laboratory’s range of business opportunities.  During these tough economic times, being successful is not only about viability – it’s about visibility.  You have to be the best, and you have to let potential customers know about it.  In this article, we will discuss some of the ways that you can publicize your AASHTO accreditation.

When your laboratory has obtained its AASHTO accreditation, you will receive a Certificate of Accreditation.  This certificate includes the name and location of the laboratory, and should be used for display on location at the accredited facility.  It is important to note that certificates do not include an expiration date or a list of the standards that are included in the laboratory's scope of accreditation.  This is because accreditation is a dynamic process, and the scope of a laboratory’s accreditation can often change.  The most current AASHTO accreditation information can always be found in the Directory of AASHTO Accredited Labs on www.amrl.net.  AMRL recently expanded the functionality of the online directory, making it easier than ever for your business to be found by potential customers.  Searches by state, city, test method, or a combination thereof are now possible.  To search for AASHTO Accredited laboratories, click here.

Accredited laboratories can use both the certificate and the directory listing as a way to show their potential customers that they are serious about quality testing.  Laboratories can place a link to their AAP directory listing on their website so that it’s easy for people to see their testing capabilities.  If you are submitting your accreditation as part of a bidding package or job proposal, you can include a copy of the certificate and a printout of your current accreditation listing from the directory.

There are a few key considerations that you should make when publicizing your accreditation.  Statements of accreditation should state that the laboratory is accredited not certified, approved, or recognized.  For organizations with more than one testing laboratory, stating “our laboratories are AASHTO accredited” is only acceptable when all of the company’s testing laboratories are currently accredited.  Also, it is important to understand that the AASHTO Accreditation Program accredits laboratories, not specific individuals or products produced by the company.

The AAP logo is available to AASHTO Accredited laboratories for use on company websites, brochures, and advertisements.  The AAP logo can also be included on laboratory test reports when at least one of the tests appearing on the report has been performed by the AASHTO accredited laboratory and is included in the current scope of the laboratory’s accreditation, as long as any non-accredited methods included in the report are identified as such.  Anyone with specific questions regarding proper use of the AAP logo is encouraged to contact AMRL.  Accredited laboratories can obtain a digital copy of the AAP logo by emailing us at aap@amrl.net.

Your AASHTO accreditation sets your laboratory apart from the rest, and it can be an effective marketing tool when publicized according to our Publicity Policies.  Violation of the AASHTO Accreditation Publicity Policies may result in the laboratory being listed on the AMRL website under the “Notice of False Accreditation Claims.” AAP may also notify specifiers, project owners, or other relevant organizations of falsified claims.  The best way to avoid these kinds of problems is to become familiar with the policies, which can be found here.  For further questions regarding the AASHTO Accreditation Publicity Policies, e-mail us at aap@amrl.net.

Return to Main Newsletter Page