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Standard Interpretation



Standard: 2009 TNI
Section: V1M2, Section 5.2.6.1 (c)


REQUEST:

Please clarify 16 hours of microbiology and biology
Is it 16 hours combined total of microbiology and biology?
Is it 16 hour of microbiology and 16 hours of biology 32 hours total?

Any technical manager of an accredited environmental laboratory engaged in microbiological or biological analysis shall be a person with a bachelor's degree in microbiology, biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, physical sciences or engineering with a minimum of sixteen (16) college semester credit hours in general microbiology and biology and at least two (2) years of experience in the environmental analysis of representative analytes for which the laboratory seeks or maintains accreditation. A master's or doctoral degree in one of the above disciplines may be substituted for one (1) year of experience.

A person with an associate's degree in an appropriate field of the sciences or applied sciences, with a minimum of four (4) college semester credit hours in general microbiology may be the technical manager(s) of a laboratory engaged in microbiological analysis limited to fecal coliform, total coliform, E. coli, and standard plate count. Two (2) years of equivalent and successful college education, including the microbiology requirement, may be substituted for the associate's degree. In addition, each person shall have one (1) year of experience in microbiological analyses.

TNI FINAL RESPONSE:

The requirement is for a combined minimum 16 hours of microbiology and biology, not for 16 hours of each.