Verification of Competence in the Field of Metrology
Terms, Definitions, and General Requirements
According to Section 2 letter an) of Act No. 157/2018 Coll. on Metrology and on the Amendment and Supplementation of Certain Acts, as amended (hereinafter referred to as the "Metrology Act"), competence in the field of metrology is defined as a set of professional knowledge, practical skills, and knowledge of regulations in the area that is the subject of authorization or registration.
As per Section 29 of the Metrology Act, a certificate of competence in the field of metrology may include:
- Certificate of competence for the responsible representative of an authorized person in metrology.
- Certificate of competence for an individual performing the verification of a specified measuring instrument.
- Certificate of competence for an individual conducting official measurements.
- Certificate of competence for the representative of a registered entity in metrology.
The scope of activities is defined in Sections 31 and 42 of the Metrology Act. The extent of activities is determined by the types of specified measuring instruments listed in Annex 1 to Decree No. 161/2019 Coll. of the Slovak Office of Standards, Metrology, and Testing (ÚNMS SR) on measuring instruments and metrological control.
Principles Adopted by SMÚ for Verification of Competence in Metrology
Competence management and verification procedures comply with the requirements of the international standard ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management System Requirements).
General principles, procedures for assessment, and criteria for evaluating the competence of applicants in metrology under Section 29 of the Metrology Act are specified in SMÚ Process Directive PS-09: Verification of Competence.
The adopted verification procedures ensure:
- Independent and impartial assessment of professional knowledge and understanding of regulations governing the activity subject to authorization or registration.
- Non-discriminatory application of competence verification procedures.
- Uniform requirements and evaluation methods used by various examination committees.
An applicant (candidate) for a certificate of competence is typically an individual employee of an organization seeking authorization or registration. Applications must be submitted on a prescribed form completed as per the attached instructions and signed by the applicant.
Submission, Registration, and Assessment of Applications
Applications for competence verification must be submitted electronically using a prescribed form. Specific parts of the form (Sections 2 and 3) must be filled in by selecting from predefined options. Relevant documents are available under Documents for Download
Signed applications must be sent either by post to the address stated on the application header or via email to sposobilost@smu.gov.sk (color scan) along with the required attachments.
Attachments to Applications
| Type of Application | Payment Confirmation | Training Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| New competence verification application | x | |
| Application for certificate renewal (authorized) | x | |
| Application for certificate renewal (registered) | x | x |
| Application for data change or duplicate issuance | x |
Examination Process
- Exam Scheduling: If the application meets all requirements, SMÚ schedules the exam within 60 days of receiving the application.
- Examination Committees: Committees are appointed by the General Director of SMÚ. They must ensure impartiality and avoid conflicts of interest.
The examination includes written tests on metrological legislation, general metrology, and specific expertise for each type of measuring instrument or activity. A passing score is 80% or higher.
Issuance and Validity of Competence Certificates
Successful applicants receive their certificate within 15 days of passing the examination. Certificates are valid for 5 years. Renewal of certificates based on training follows the same validity period.
Contact for Inquiries
For questions regarding competence examinations, please contact:
Dagmar Lesanská
Phone: +421 2 602 94 440
Email: sposobilost@smu.gov.sk
Relevant legal and procedural documents can be found under Documents for Download.