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EVENTS

NIST OWM Southwest Assurance Program, SWAP** (Class 2082 September 2026)

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Southwest Assurance Program, SWAP
Credit: OWM/K. Dill

The NIST Office of Weights and Measures (OWM) Southwest Assurance Program (SWAP) provides regional technical training and assessment alignment based on NIST Handbook 143 criteria for laboratory Recognition.  NIST Handbook 143, Section 4 and Table 2 notes that annual attendance at the RMAP training session is required for ongoing laboratory Recognition. Participation in OWM proficiency tests (PTs) requires completion of training requirements to the applicable levels for each procedure and requires attendance at the annual RMAP training sessions. Note: Laboratories must bring a copy of their ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard.

Class Information

Learning Objectives

See the detailed objectives that are provided for each module. Overall, the learning objectives are developed to enable metrologists to implement best practices into their laboratory program and share concepts with others in their laboratory who are unable to attend the training.

See the 2026 RMAP agenda here.

Audience

**Regional Measurement Assurance Program "MEMBERS" (State and Industry RMAP member laboratories).

Minimum Requirements

Successful completion requires full attendance, participation in group activities. If any participants leave early, attendance certificates will be adjusted accordingly. However, if these measurements are on the laboratory Scope, State lab participants are expected to stay for the full session.

Registration Fee and Information

TWO registrations are required for each event (first with OWM and second with the local host). 

  1. The OWM Contacts System is used to generate attendee registration lists, name tags/tent cards, adequate training materials, and training certificates. The registration list is shared with each host. 
  2. Registration fees for the RMAP training are determined and collected by the local hosts. Every effort is made to keep registration fees to a minimum. Specific details about registration will be sent with information for each RMAP.
    1. Registration Fee is $200.00 per attendee. Fee includes a group dinner on Wednesday. 
    2. Registration fee payment is via SWMA (Southern Weights and Measures Association), use this link:  https://www.swma.org/event-6687608
    3. Also find links to agenda, a flyer with details, hotel rates and information. Last day to book your hotel room is August 1, 2026.
Technology Requirements

Participants need to bring applicable Quality Management System laboratory files (QM, SAP, SOP related to PT, etc) for hands-on activities and review of resources that will be used during training. Electronic files with a laptop are suggested for easier searching. Users must be able to access USB drives on their laptops or download from Google Drive.

Materials & Supplies

Reference USB drives (or CDs) and notebooks to be provided. If participants need CD instead of USB memory, contact Pam Corey (pamela.corey [at] nist.gov (pamela[dot]corey[at]nist[dot]gov)) to make the request. Note: Laboratories must bring a copy of their ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard.

Instructors

Micheal Hicks, Elizabeth Koncki, and Toby Herman

Pre-Event

Prerequisites

None required.

Pre-Work

None.

Post-Event

Post-Work

None.

Sponsors

NIST Office of Weights and Measures

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Metrology Laboratory
Whitney Corley and Jennifer Adair
Email: wcorley [at] ldaf.la.gov (wcorley[at]ldaf[dot]la[dot]gov); jadair [at] ldaf.la.gov (jadair[at]ldaf[dot]la[dot]gov)
Phone: (225) 922-1381

Metrology and Weights and measures
Created July 15, 2025, Updated August 7, 2026
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