ASTM D8347-21a

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D8347 − 21 D8347 − 21a
Standard Guide for
Certification Requirements for Analytical Laboratory
Professional VocationsRelated Professions Within the
Cannabis Industryand Hemp Industries
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8347; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide provides recommendations to certificate issuers to administer certifications and develop associated training
programs for laboratory vocations within the cannabis/hemp industries. All references to cannabis within this guide are also
inclusive of the hemp cannabis varieties.can provide certification bodies, training providers, employers, and certificate issuers, with
best-practice guidance for administering their respective programs for supporting analytical laboratory-related professions within
the cannabis and hemp industries.
1.2 This guide provides the general requirements and recommendations recommends requirements for experience, training,
education, and the body of knowledge (BoK) necessary for analytical laboratory-related vocations laboratory related professions
within the cannabis/hemp industry cannabis and hemp industries listed in Table 1.
1.3 The vocational requirements recommended in this standard provide a guide for entities that issue certificates, offer training
programs, and for individuals that seek careers in the respective vocation.
1.3 This guide provides recommendations for articulating vocationalprofessional requirements for certifications. training and
education or earning certificates. Its content does not supersede requirements, vocational training, and certification conditions
requirements for training or earning a certificate defined by jurisdictional entities such as government or other regional regulatory
bodies.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D37 on Cannabis and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D37.06 on Personnel Training, Assessment,
Credentialing.
Current edition approved April 15, 2021Nov. 1, 2021. Published June 2021December 2021. Originally approved in 2021. Last edition approved in 2021 as D8347 – 21.
DOI: 10.1520/D8347-21.10.1520/D8347-21A.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D8347 − 21a
TABLE 1 General Requirements, Experience, Education, and
Body of Knowledge (BoK) by Vocation
Section
Cannabis/Hemp Laboratory 7
Professionals
Certified Cannabis Sampling Technician 7.1
(CCST)
Certified Cannabis Laboratory 7.2
Technician (CCLT)
Certified Cannabis Laboratory Analytical 7.3
Chemist (CCLAC)
Certified Cannabis Laboratory Manager 7.4
(CCLM)
TABLE 1 Cannabis and Hemp Supporting Analytical Laboratory
Professions
Section
Cannabis and Hemp Laboratory 7
Professionals
Cannabis and Hemp Sampling 7.1
Technician
Cannabis and Hemp Laboratory 7.2
Technician
Cannabis and Hemp Laboratory 7.3
Analytical Chemist
Cannabis and Hemp Microbiologist 7.4
Cannabis and Hemp Laboratory 7.5
Manager
E2659 Practice for Certificate Programs
E2708 Terminology for Accreditation and Certification
2.2 Other Standards:
21CFR 111 Dietary Supplements
21CFR 117 FSMA and Food Safety
21CFR 210 Pharmaceutical Packaging and Holding
21CFR 211 Pharmaceuticals
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 biosafety level 2, n—a biosafety level classification pertaining to laboratories that work with agents associated with human
diseases (that is, pathogenic or infections organisms) that pose a moderate health hazard.
3.1.2 certificate, n—a document (letter, card, or other medium) awarded to certificate holders that designates the successful
completion of a credentialing program’s requisites. E2659, E2708
3.1.3 certification agency, n—the organizational or administrative unit that offers or operates, or both, a certification program.
E2659, E2708
3.1.4 certificate program, n—a non-degree-granting education of training program consisting of (1) a learning event or series of
events designed to educate or train individuals to achieve specified learning outcomes within a defined scope, and (2) a system
designed to ensure individuals receive a certificate only after verification of successful completion of all program requisites,
including but not limited to an evaluation of learner attainment of intended learning outcomes. E2659, E2708
3.1.5 certification, n—procedure and action by a duly authorized body of determining, certifying, and attesting in writing to the
qualifications of individuals, processes, procedures, or items in accordance with application requirements.
Available from U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Washington, DC 20401-0001, http://www.access.gpo.gov.
Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO Central Secretariat, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland,
https://www.iso.org.
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3.1.5.1 personnel certification, n—procedure and action by a duly authorized body of determining, verifying, and attesting in
writing to the qualifications of individuals in a profession, in accordance with application requirements associated with that
profession. E2659, E2708
3.1.6 standard guide, n—a compendium of information or series of options that does not recommend a specific course of action.
Guides are intended to increase the awareness of information and approaches in a given subject area.
3.1.6.1 Discussion—
Guides may propose a series of options or instructions that offer direction without recommending a definite course of action. The
purpose of this type of standard is to offer guidance based on a consensus of viewpoints but not to establish a standard practice
to follow in all cases (ASTM Form and Style, C15.2).
3.2 Acronyms:
3.2.1 BoK, n—body of knowledge.
3.2.2 cGMP, n—current good manufacturing practices.
3.2.3 FSMA, n—food safety modernization act.
3.2.4 PPE, n—personal protective equipment.
3.2.5 QC, n—quality control.
3.2.6 QMS, n—quality management system.
3.2.7 R&D, n—research and development.
4. Summary of Guide
4.1 The BoK criteria is itemized in their associated tables and represent the general competency subject matter expertise that
practitioners within each vocationprofession should demonstrate to meet certification requirements.certificate requirements as
guided by Practice E2659.
4.2 For brevity purposes, the acronyms denoting the vocational titles, such as Certified Cannabis Laboratory Technician (CCLT),
include the hemp varieties of cannabis.
4.2 Mastery of said criteria can be demonstrated by many alternative means, including but not limited to passing proctored
examinations, attaining educational degrees or training certificates, and the documented completion of apprenticeships or other
on-the-job training, training covering all elements of the specific BoK for that position as determined by the relevant jurisdiction.
4.3 Section 6 identifies the vocationsprofessions covered in this guide.
4.4 Section 7 includes a subsection for each vocation.profession. Each subsection is divided into the following four sections:
4.4.1 VocationalProfessions roles,
4.4.2 Experience,
4.4.3 Education, and
4.4.4 BoK.
4.5 The sourcing of personnel meeting these qualifications may be difficult in an emerging sector. In situations where
post-secondary degreed personnel or post-secondary institutions are not available or applicable, the phasing-in of staff is acceptable
in the first three years of employment along with sector training or apprenticeship programs reflecting the content of the
vocationalprofessional BoK. The validation process can occur through proctored exams.
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5. Significance and Use
5.1 As the cannabis/hemp cannabis and hemp industries expand and their products become more available as consumable
products, the following requirements and expectations within the industry become increasingly significant, significant (Practice
E2659, Terminology E2708), requiring:
5.1.1 The safety, reliability, and quality of its products;
5.1.2 Worker safety;
5.1.3 Environmental sustainability;
5.1.4 Regulatory compliance;
5.1.5 The need for different levels of qualified professionals; and
5.1.6 Development of qualified training and certificationcertificate programs.
5.2 The primary objectives of this standardguide are as follows:
5.2.1 To provide Provide a general overview of the BoK required for the professional vocations professions listed in Section 6
(Table 1); and
5.2.2 This guide provides recommendations for vocations Provide recommendations to form the foundation for training and
subsequent recognition/certification or accreditation systems, or both, recognition/certificate systems that enable consumers,
employers, organizational management, government agencies, and others who rely upon a skilled workforce to distinguish between
qualified and non-qualified workers.
5.2.3 Recommend requirements that agencies can use to develop and document the specific criteria used for training or certificate
programs.
5.3 Users of this guide shall document deviations from the recommended requirements to inform their clients of the criteria
applied in either the training or the certificate programs offered. As the cannabis and hemp industries mature, this guide will be
updated to reflect current thinking and requirements.
5.4 The Bok elements are applicable to certificate Programs, while the BoK, experiential and educational elements are applicable
to certification process requirements.
6. Vocational Requirements for Analytical Laboratory Professionals within the Cannabis/Hemp cannabis and hemp
Industries
6.1 The vocations relative to analytical laboratory professionals within the cannabis/hemp industries cannabis and hemp analytical
laboratory-related professions are listed in Table 1. The general requirements, experience, education, and BoK for each
vocationprofession are provided in the section specified in specified.Table 1.
6.2 The vocationprofession titles used in this standard represent titles of the certifications. The certification guide represent
potential titles. The titles used are not intended to replace existing job titles thattitles, which fall under the employing organization’s
purview.purview of the employing organization. The titles for the certificate and certification programs are determined by the
administrating bodies.
7. Cannabis and Hemp Analytical Laboratory Professionals
7.1 Vocational RolesProfessional Role — Certified Cannabis Sampling Technician (CCST): and Hemp Sampling Technician:
7.1.1 The CCST Cannabis and Hemp Sampling Technician should:
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7.1.1.1 Be a professional responsible for conducting routine pickups adhering to regulatory compliance guidelines for laboratory
analysis of cannabis/hemp cannabis and hemp samples.
7.1.1.2 Record accurate sample and chain of custody documentation.
7.1.1.3 A CCST Cannabis and Hemp Sampling Technician should have current government-issued identification and be approved
to drive motor vehicles as defined by qualifications imposed by local regional or governmental jurisdiction.
7.1.2 Experience:
7.1.2.1 A CCST Cannabis and Hemp Sampling Technician should have had at least one (1) year of experience working in the
cannabis/hemp cannabis and hemp industries.
7.1.3 Education:
7.1.3.1 Candidates should have a minimum of a high school diploma or regional or governmental equivalent and demonstrated
mathematical proficiency.
7.1.3.2 A diploma, record of apprenticeship, an associate’s, or bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, life sciences,
environmental, horticulture, or a similar discipline is preferred but not required.
7.1.4 Body of Knowledge (BoK):
7.1.4.1 A CCST Cannabis and Hemp Sampling Technician should fulfill the minimum requirements for experience and education
as articulated by this guide, or the governmental or regional jurisdictional entities, and demonstrate proficiency for the topics listed
in the BoK as summarized in Table 2.
7.2 Vocational RolesProfessional Role — Certified Cannabis Laboratory Technician (CCLT): and Hemp Laboratory Technician:
7.2.1 The CCLT Cannabis and Hemp Laboratory Technician is a professional who:
7.2.1.1 Performs routine and non-routine sample preparations, tests, and analyses using the appropriate equipment and
instruments;
7.2.1.2 Is able Ability to receive samples and document data in laboratory electronic or paper-based sample tracking systems, if
available;
7.2.1.3 Is able Ability to prepare samples for analyses;
7.2.1.4 Is able Ability to log data and results using a computer or paper tracking system;
7.2.1.5 Is able Ability to maintain laboratory equipment in proper working order,
TABLE 2 Certified Cannabis and Hemp Sampling Technician (CCST) Body of Knowledge (BoK)(BoK)
1 Knowledge of cannabis business (processes and materials) 10 Time management
1 Cannabis and hemp business (processes and materials) 10 Time management
2 Assuring that appropriate lot numbers are recorded 11 Client relationship management
3 Representative random sampling and chain of custody 12 Seed-to-sale systems, if applicable
4 Sampling statistics and basic math 13 Conduct pickups as scheduled
5 Understand customer service relative to clients to be sampled 14 Secure transport protocol of all samples
5 Laboratory inventory and supplies control 14 Secure transport protocol of all samples
6 Best practices for collection of field data 15 Oral and written communication
6 Understand customer service relative to clients to be sampled 15 Oral and written communication
7 Good documentation practices 16 Maintenance of client confidentiality
7 Best practices for collection of field data 16 Maintenance of client confidentiality
8 Knowledge of effective cleaning and sanitation practices 17 Avoiding cross-contamination
8 Good documentation practices 17 Avoiding cross-contamination
9 Implementing sampling plans 18 Maintenance of sample integrity
9 Effective cleaning and sanitation practices 18 Maintenance of sample integrity
10 Familiarity with GACP 20 Food Safety Guidelines (SQF/GFSI/ICH/FDA, etc.)
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7.2.1.6 Is able Ability to maintain a work environment that is kept clean, sanitized, and organized;
7.2.1.7 Is able Ability to practice safe work habits, including complying with all safety, health, and environmental rules and
regulations.
7.2.1.8 Is able Ability to practice safe work habits, including complying with all safety, health, and environmental rules and
regulations.
7.2.2 Experience:
7.2.2.1 The CCLT Cannabis and Hemp Laboratory Technician should have had at least one (1) year of experience working in the
cannabis/hemp cannabis and hemp industries.
7.2.2.2 The CCLT Cannabis and Hemp Laboratory Technician should have at le
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