Electronic card readers for Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC®) are essential devices ensuring security compliance across various transportation sectors. These readers, designed to meet the stringent specifications set by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), are manufactured by numerous vendors, each offering a range of models tailored for different operational needs and TWIC Authentication Modes.
To ensure reliability and compliance, TWIC readers undergo rigorous evaluation against a comprehensive suite of Test Cases. Readers that successfully pass these tests are included on the TWIC Self-Certification Qualified Technology List (TWIC SC-QTL). This list, maintained and published by the TSA, serves as a valuable resource for maritime facilities, vessel operators, and other stakeholders seeking certified and dependable TWIC reader technology. The TWIC Reader SC QTL is regularly updated to incorporate newly tested and Self-Certified readers, providing the most current information available.
The Significance of the TWIC Reader SC-QTL
The TWIC Reader Self-Certification Qualified Technology List (SC-QTL) is designed with several key objectives:
- To function as an accessible and user-friendly “TWIC Reader Catalog,” enabling maritime operators, relying parties, and product specifiers to easily identify TWIC reader products that align with their specific operational and technical requirements, as well as relevant local and TSA mandates.
- To provide a public platform for manufacturers to showcase their certified TWIC reader products, clearly indicating the Mode(s) of Operation each product is capable of supporting.
- To instill confidence in maritime operators that their chosen products are suitable for their unique operational context and have been assessed by independent laboratories to verify compliance.
It’s important to note that readers currently listed on the SC-QTL may be subject to firmware or hardware updates by their respective manufacturers. In such instances, manufacturers are required to re-test and re-certify these updated readers to maintain their listed status and ensure continued compliance.
