Making sure millions of products work flawlessly with one another is the goal of the NFC Forum Certification Program. Unlike many other Standards Development Organizations, NFC Forum Certification is open to non-members.
Three Ways to Get Certified
Fast Path
Inheritance
Designed for products built with NFC Forum Certified components or subsystems. Generally focused on analog testing by Authorized Test Labs or manufacturer.
- Identify Test Module to be Inherited
- Complete a ICS/IXIT
- Collaborate with a Test Lab
- Apply with Summary Test Report
- Receive Certificate and Listing
Comprehensive
Full Certification
Designed for products with extensive digital and analog testing performed by an Authorized Test Lab. Certification Fee is waived with Signed Test Report from 3rd Party Lab.
- Determine Certification Release
- Complete a ICS/IXIT
- Collaborate with a Test Lab
- Apply with Summary Test Report
- Receive Certificate and Listing
Reasons to Get Certified
Interoperability
Deliver a memorable user experience when your product works seamlessly with other products. NFC Forum testing extends to both analog and digital features of contactless connections.
Quality Assurance
Compliance ensures your product will work as customers expected. Whether you are building the next killer product, installing thousands of readers, or deploying millions of tags, the best insurance policy of success is through testing.
Product Differentiation
Stand out in your market by taking the steps necessary to prove compliance to the NFC Forum specification. There is a fast track option for products that embed already compliant NFC technology.
Affordability
NFC Forum Certification is offered at no cost for organizations that can provide a signed test case from a NFC Forum Test Lab. Additionally, Certification is available to any company - both members and non-members alike.
Fast Path
Inheritance
Designed for products built with NFC Forum Certified components or subsystems. Generally focused on analog testing by Authorized Test Labs or manufacturer.
Prepare forms for certification
- Select which active Certification Release you want to pass certification
- Select the Device Class defined in the Devices Requirements associated to the Certification Release
- Identify test module which can be inherited from the certified implementation
- Fill in the Inheritance Acknowledge form
- Generate & Fill in ICS/IXIT template from TPG tool. Either create it yourself on https://nfc-forum-itp.com or ask the Authorized Test Lab to provide it to you. You can create an account on TPG tool by sending an email to tpg-support@nfc-forum.org
- Fill in Product Registration Form
Test at an Authorized Test Labs
- Contact one of the listed Authorized Test Labs
- Validate with the Authorized Test Lab your ICS/IXIT template and Product Registration form are correctly completed
- Ship your device for testing to the Authorized Test Lab
- Receive the Summary Test Report made by the Authorized Test Lab
Apply for certification on NFC Forum website
- Go on NFC Forum Website
- Fill in the Certification Registration Form and apply. You will receive an email to verify your account
- Follow the link received by email. Fill in rest of the form and upload your documents for certification including (1) Inheritance Acknowledge Form, (2) Product Registration Form, (3) ICS/IXIT template, and (4) Summary Test Report signed by the Authorized Test Lab
- Receive your certificate per email. Your device will be listed on NFC Forum website few days after receiving the certificate.
Comprehensive
Full Certification
Designed for products with extensive digital and analog testing performed by an Authorized Test Lab. Certification Fee is waived with Signed Test Report from 3rd Party Lab.
Prepare forms for certification
- Select which active Certification Release you want to pass certification
- Select the Device Class defined in the Devices Requirements associated to the Certification Release
- Generate & Fill in ICS/IXIT template from TPG tool. Either create it yourself on https://nfc-forum-itp.com or ask the Authorized Test Lab to provide it to you. You can create an account on TPG tool by sending an email to tpg-support@nfc-forum.org
- Fill in Product Registration Form
Test at an Authorized Test Labs
- Contact one of the listed Authorized Test Labs.
- Validate with the Authorized Test Lab your ICS/IXIT template and Product Registration form is properly completed
- Ship your device for testing to the Authorized Test Lab
- Receive the Summary Test Report made by the Authorized Test Lab
Apply for certification on NFC Forum website
- Go on NFC Forum Website
- Fill in the Certification Application Form and apply. You will receive an email to verify your account.
- Follow the link received by email. Fill in rest of the form and upload your documents for certification. (1) Product Registration Form, (2) ICS/IXIT template, and (3) Summary Test Report signed by the Authorized Test Lab
- Receive your certificate per email. Your device will be listed on NFC Forum website few days after receiving the certificate.
Derivate
Rename
Designed for already NFC Forum Certified products or subsystems that are being renamed or rebranded. Only requires reference certification. Fee is $250.
Prepare forms for certification
- Fill in Re-Name Form
Apply for certification on NFC Forum website
- Go on NFC Forum Website
- Fill in the Certification Registration Form and apply. You will receive an email to verify your account.
- Follow the link received by email. Fill in rest of the form and upload your documents for certification including the Rename Form
- Pay Rename Certification fees of $250 on NFC Forum website.
- Receive your certificate per email. Your device will be listed on NFC Forum website few days after receiving the certificate
Additional Resources
There is a wealth of additional technical and business information on our Certification Resources page including: