NCSL International

What NCSL International does

NCSL International (legally National Conference of Standards Laboratories Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional trade organization founded in 1961 at the request and sponsorship of the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The organization exists to advance measurement science by serving calibration and testing laboratories, individual metrologists, industrial manufacturers, academic institutions, government metrology agencies, and regulated industries such as healthcare and medical devices. Its member base spans 23 active regions across North America, Europe, and Asia, with formal board representation from NIST, NRC Canada, BIPM, EURAMET, SIM, CENAM, NMIJ/AIST, and NPL, embedding it directly into the international metrology governance ecosystem.

The organization's core offerings are content and community assets rather than software products. The publications catalog includes Recommended Practices (RPs), Laboratory Management guides (LMs), Recommended Intrinsic Standards (RISPs), Handbook for Z540, Handbook for ISO/IEC 17025, the peer-reviewed NCSLI Measure journal, and Conference Proceedings, delivered through a Box-integrated Digital Publications Library and a public e-commerce store. Education and engagement programs include the annual Workshop & Symposium (July 2026 in Kansas City, MO), the Technical Exchange conference (October 2026 in Albuquerque, NM), regional section meetings, quarterly Committee Month sessions across four standing committees, the Metrology in Motion webinar series, and the Metrology Education Programs directory linking students with university programs. Awards include the William A. Wildhack Award, Education & Training Award, and Best Paper Awards.

NCSLI generates revenue through tiered annual memberships (Business Group $700 new / $560 renewal covering up to 20 staff at a single site; Individual Professional $220; Student $100; Digital $100), event registration fees, exhibit and sponsorship sales, publications sales through its online store, tax-deductible donations to the Education Development Fund, and a print-on-demand merchandise storefront. Membership confers voting representation, committee access, discounted event pricing, and free digital access to the publications library. Governance is exercised through a Board of Directors composed of elected officers, division VPs, and institutional representatives from major National Metrology Institutes and Regional Metrology Organizations; the day-to-day operation is led by an Executive Director with a small contracted staff.

Name

NCSL International

Legal name

National Conference of Standards Laboratories Inc.

Website

https://ncsli.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NCSL International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional trade organization founded in 1961 that serves the global metrology community through tiered memberships, technical publications, standards handbooks, and annual conferences across 23 active regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Trade Association / Metrology Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Standards, Metrology & Accreditation Bodies (BPAIAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Standards Development & Standardization Bodies (BPADANAA), Standards Development & Publishing (SDOs, Technical Standards) (MPAJACAB), Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD), International Standards, Norms & Technical Regulatory Bodies (BPADAAAJ)

Keywords

• Metrology standards publications
• Calibration laboratory services
• Measurement science conferences
• Professional association membership
• Recommended practices guidelines

Headquarters

HQ city

Glen Ellyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from Business Group ($700 new/$560 renewal for up to 20 staff members at single location), Individual Professional ($220/year), Student ($100/year), and Digital Individual ($100/year) memberships. Membership provides access to publications, events, committees, and networking.
2. Publications and Standards Sales: Sale of technical publications including Recommended Practices (RPs), Laboratory Management guides (LMs), Recommended Intrinsic Standards (RISPs), Handbooks for ISO/IEC and Z540 Standards, and Conference Proceedings. Publications available through online store with member discounts.
3. Event Registration: Revenue from Workshop & Symposium, Technical Exchange conferences, committee meetings, and webinars. Includes registration fees, exhibit space, and sponsorships. Events offer continuing education credits and professional development.
4. Merchandise: Sale of NCSLI branded merchandise and accessories through print-on-demand storefront.
5. Education Development Fund Donations: Tax-deductible donations to support scholarships, outreach programs, and metrology education initiatives. NCSLI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

NCSL International is a member-based, volunteer-driven professional trade organization founded in 1961 that serves the global measurement science (metrology) community. Its core offerings include tiered memberships (Business Group, Individual Professional, Student, Digital), technical publications such as Recommended Practices (RPs), Laboratory Management guides (LMs), Recommended Intrinsic Standards (RISPs), and standards handbooks for ISO/IEC 17025 and ANSI/NCSL Z540, plus the annual Workshop & Symposium, Technical Exchange conferences, webinars, and the peer-reviewed NCSLI Measure journal.

Product overview

NCSL International is a professional trade organization (501(c)(3) nonprofit) serving the metrology community since 1961. Rather than a software product company, NCSLI operates a portfolio of publications, events, and membership programs. The core offerings include: the NCSLI Online Store offering downloadable/purchasable publications (Recommended Practices, Laboratory Management guides, Recommended Intrinsic Standards, Standards, and Handbooks) plus Conference Proceedings and the NCSLI Measure journal; annual conferences (Workshop & Symposium and Technical Exchange); Metrology in Motion Webinar Series; Metrology Education Programs directory; awards programs (William A. Wildhack Award, Education & Training Award, Best Paper Awards); and various membership tiers (Business Group, Individual Professional, Student, Digital). All publications are accessible through the Digital Publications Library powered by Box. The organization facilitates professional development through volunteer committees covering measurement standards, laboratory operations, and industrial metrology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Group Membership Organization membership providing site-specific coverage for up to 20 staff members at a single location. Includes full access to Recommended Practices (RPs), Laboratory Management (LMs), Recommended Intrinsic Standards (RISPs), and standards handbooks (Z540 and ISO/IEC 17025), discounted event pricing, committee participation rights, and one voting delegate. Priced at $700 new / $560 renewal annually.
• Individual Professional Membership Individual membership offering career advancement resources, immediate access to the technical library (RPs, LMs, RISPs, Handbooks), industry trend updates, and professional networking for metrology and measurement science professionals at $220 per year.
• Student Membership Student membership providing networking with metrology professionals, full access to NCSLI publications, and the ability to post a resume on the NCSLI website. Priced at $100 per year.
• Digital Individual Membership Digital membership limited to current year Conference Proceedings digital access, priced at $100 per year.
• Workshop & Symposium Annual flagship conference of NCSL International featuring tutorials, keynote presentations, technical sessions, exhibitions, and networking opportunities for measurement science professionals. The 2026 edition is scheduled for July 25-29 in Kansas City, MO.
• Technical Exchange Annual regional technical conference of NCSL International featuring hands-on training sessions, technical workshops, exhibits, and networking for measurement science professionals. The 2026 edition is scheduled for October 26-28 in Albuquerque, NM.
• Metrology in Motion Webinar Series Online webinar series delivering technical education on metrology topics for measurement science professionals. Example session: ISO 10012 Update webinar scheduled for June 17, 2026.
• Recommended Practices (RP) Publications Technical guidance publications covering calibration intervals, calibration procedures, equipment specifications, measurement uncertainty, and laboratory design standards, available for purchase via the NCSLI online store with member discounts.
• Laboratory Management (LM) Publications Guides for calibration laboratory managers covering handbooks on management systems, personnel qualifications, laboratory accreditation, and measurement uncertainty.
• Recommended Intrinsic Standards (RISP) Publications Technical publications covering intrinsic measurement standards including the Josephson Voltage Standard, Quantized Hall Resistance, and pressure/temperature/humidity generators.
• ANSI/NCSL Z540 Standards American National Standards documents for calibration of measuring and test equipment, including ANSI/NCSL Z540.3-2006.
• Handbook for ISO/IEC Standards Handbook publications providing interpretation guidance and best practices for implementing ISO/IEC 17025:2017 requirements in calibration laboratories.
• Handbook for Z540 Standards Handbook publications providing interpretation guides for ANSI/NCSL Z540.1 and Z540.3 calibration standards with representative examples and best practices.
• Conference Proceedings Published compilations of technical papers from NCSLI's annual Workshop & Symposium and Technical Exchange events, covering 2012 through 2024, available for purchase via the online store.
• NCSLI Measure Journal Peer-reviewed journal publication covering measurement science research and metrology topics, available through the NCSLI online store.
• Digital Publications Library Secure digital library powered by Box that gives members free download access to Recommended Practices (RPs), Laboratory Management guides (LMs), Recommended Intrinsic Standards (RISPs), and Handbooks. Non-members can purchase access.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23 active regions around the world with international recognition
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1961NCSL International was established in 1961 at the request and sponsorship of NIST to promote cooperative efforts for solving common problems faced by measurement and testing laboratories. Jim Fedchak serves as NCSLI Board Representative for NIST. NCSLI works with NIST to make recommendations for the advancement of measurement science.
• National Research Council Canada (NRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndy Oldershaw serves as NCSLI Secretary and works for NRC as leader of Measurement Systems Engagement within Metrology Research Centre. Andy is an assessment team leader for Calibration Laboratory Assessment Service (CLAS) at NRC.
• BIPM (Bureau International des Poids et Mesures)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Anna Cypionka serves as NCSLI Board Representative from BIPM. BIPM is the International Bureau of Weights and Measures and provides the official channel for international metrology coordination.
• EURAMETcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Jörn Stenger serves as EURAMET Representative to the NCSLI Board. EURAMET is the European Association of National Metrology Institutes.
• SIM (Sistema Interamericano de Metrologia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArquimedes Ruiz Orozco serves as SIM Representative to the NCSLI Board. SIM is the Inter-American Metrology System covering the Americas.
• CENAM (Centro Nacional de Metrologia, Mexico)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Jose Echeverría-Villagómez serves as NCSLI Board Representative from CENAM (Mexico's National Metrology Institute).
• NMIJ/AIST (National Metrology Institute of Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Takashi Usuda serves as NCSLI Board Representative from NMIJ/AIST. He is Director General of Japan's National Metrology Institute.
• NPL (National Physical Laboratory, UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Jan-Theodoor Janssen serves as NCSLI Board Representative from NPL. He is Chief Scientist at UK's National Physical Laboratory.
• ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJeff Gust has served as NCSLI Representative to ILAC since 2011. ILAC is the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation focused on laboratory accreditation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation): ILAC is the global cooperation body for laboratory accreditation, with NCSLI holding a representative seat since 2011. It operates in an adjacent space (accreditation cooperation vs. professional society) and is a recognized peer in the metrology accreditation ecosystem.
• EURAMET (European Association of National Metrology Institutes): EURAMET coordinates European national metrology institutes and is represented on NCSLI's board. It is a regional peer that covers similar metrology coordination and standards engagement but is geographically focused on Europe.

Broad incumbents

• NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology): NIST is the US National Metrology Institute that sponsored NCSLI's founding in 1961 and continues to engage at the board level. It is the largest US authority in measurement science and a foundational partner rather than direct competitor.
• BIPM (Bureau International des Poids et Mesures): BIPM is the intergovernmental organization that coordinates international metrology. It is represented on NCSLI's board and serves as the higher-level global body whose work NCSLI helps disseminate to practitioners.
• ISO (International Organization for Standardization): ISO is the world's largest developer of voluntary international standards, including ISO/IEC 17025, which NCSLI handbooks support. ISO is a broader incumbent whose standards framework NCSLI helps practitioners interpret.
• ANSI (American National Standards Institute): ANSI coordinates the US voluntary standards system and accredits standards developers, including overseeing Z540. It is a larger, broader incumbent that operates upstream of NCSLI in the same standards ecosystem.

Direct peers

• ASTM International: ASTM International is a member-driven standards development organization publishing technical standards across industries. Like NCSLI, it operates on a volunteer committee model, sells publications, and convenes members for technical exchange, making it a direct functional peer in standards publishing and professional engagement.
• ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers): ASME is a member-based professional society that develops standards, publishes technical content, and runs conferences across engineering disciplines. Its operating model of member-led standards committees and paid publications closely mirrors NCSLI's structure.
• ASQ (American Society for Quality): ASQ is a member-based professional association serving quality and measurement professionals with certifications, publications, conferences, and training. It is directly comparable to NCSLI in member-driven model, certification offerings, and conference-driven revenue.
• A2LA (American Association for Laboratory Accreditation): A2LA is a US nonprofit membership organization providing laboratory accreditation and related training, conferences, and publications for calibration and testing labs. It overlaps directly with NCSLI's calibration laboratory and ISO/IEC 17025 member base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ncsli
• Facebookfacebook.com/ncsli
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ncsl-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about NCSL International