United States Testing, Inspection, And Certification (TIC) Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends And Forecast (2025 - 2030)

United States Testing, Inspection, And Certification (TIC) Market Trends and Insights

Stricter Multi-Agency Regulatory Compliance Mandates

Federal agencies are imposing unprecedented requirements that expand the US Testing, Inspection, And Certification market by compelling utilities, manufacturers, and consumer brands to verify compliance across overlapping rule sets. The EPA’s PFAS rule obligates 4,100-6,700 U.S. water systems to conduct compound-specific testing and remediation planning, creating a multi-year analytics backlog. Simultaneously, the FDA’s Cosmetics Regulation Act modernizes safety substantiation and GMP protocols, pushing personal-care companies toward third-party certification.^{[1]NSF, “The FDA Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act: What You Need To Know,” nsf.org} Providers able to maintain dual EPA-FDA accreditations gain an edge as clients seek single-source partners for complex, cross-regulatory portfolios.

Increasing Outsourcing of TIC by OEMs and Brand Owners

Persistent shortages in specialized technicians and engineers elevate external demand. The Semiconductor Industry Association foresees 70,000 unfilled U.S. positions by 2030, compelling fabs to import expertise or partner with accredited labs for critical verifications. Industry associations highlight managed-service models that combine skills-convergence training with stringent data-security controls, making outsourcing an attractive capability-building lever.^{[2]IAOP, “PULSE: Outsourcing's Role in Filling Talent Gap,” iaop.org} As supply-chain complexity rises, brand owners prioritize specialized laboratories that can scale quickly across multiple sites and regulatory regimes.

Digital and Remote Inspection Technologies Adoption

Remote platforms such as SGS QiiQ and TÜV Rheinland’s Virtual Expert deliver live video, augmented reality overlays, and secure documentation, enabling real-time audits without travel. Early adopters report reduced inspection cycle-times and lower carbon footprints. Regulatory bodies now allow virtual witnessing for defined scopes, accelerating client acceptance. Providers investing in 5G-enabled cameras, IoT sensors, and AI-driven analytics differentiate by offering predictive insights alongside compliance confirmation, reinforcing the digital pivot within the US Testing, Inspection, and Certification market.

Renewable-Energy and EV Build-Out Quality Requirements

Ramp-ups in wind, solar, and battery storage installations elevate demand for grid-code compliance testing. UL Solutions is conducting turbine certification against evolving European grid requirements, a template migrating to U.S. projects as interconnection rules tighten. IEEE 1547-2018 and UL 1741 SB establish uniform inverter benchmarks, driving laboratory workflows for distributed generation assets. Parallel EV acceleration expands demand for battery material validation and high-voltage safety certification, enlarging the addressable pool for Testing, Inspection, and Certification providers.

High Cost and Price Sensitivity Among SMEs

Construction inflation and higher wage bills squeeze smaller enterprises, forcing them to triage compliance spending. The Congressional Budget Office projects a 24.3% erosion in the purchasing power of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocations by 2031, reshaping bid strategies toward basic compliance at minimal cost. Without volume-based discounts, SMEs defer non-mandatory testing, curbing addressable revenue for Testing, Inspection, and Certification vendors focused on value-added services.

Acute Shortage of Specialized TIC Workforce

The scarcity of metrologists, chemists, and cybersecurity auditors caps throughput and inflates wages. Semiconductor fab expansions underscore the problem, as companies import technicians to bridge domestic gaps. Thin regional talent pools elevate project lead-times and complicate nationwide service coverage, dampening growth prospects where staffing becomes the critical path.

Segment Analysis

By Service Type: Testing Remains Core as Certification Accelerates

Testing dominated the US Testing, Inspection, And Certification market size with 55.8% share in 2024 due to immutable regulatory mandates. High-volume water, materials, and electronics analyses continue to flow through accredited labs, anchoring revenue stability. Conversely, certification is set to outpace with a 4.2% CAGR, fueled by the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark and grid-code compliance programs that require periodic reassessments. The segment’s ascent mirrors a customer shift toward validation credentials that unlock market access. Major laboratories broaden scope by integrating certification into existing testing chains, strengthening one-stop value propositions across consumer IoT, EV batteries, and renewable components.

Testing growth is hampered slightly by automation that reduces repetitive manual tasks; however, complex chemistries and evolving standards sustain minimum testing volumes. Certification’s faster trajectory stems from policy-driven expansion in connected-device labeling and ESG-linked supply-chain audits. Laboratories equipped with both ISO 17025 and ISO 17065 accreditations command premium pricing as clients consolidate providers to streamline oversight. The interplay between mandatory tests and voluntary labels keeps both sub-segments central to the US Testing, Inspection, And Certification market.

By Sourcing Type: Outsourcing Gains on Capability Gaps

In-house labs controlled 53.6% of 2024 revenue, reflecting legacy investments in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, aerospace, and petrochemicals. These captive units ensure intellectual-property protection and immediate turnaround times. Outsourcing, advancing at a 3.9% CAGR, benefits from the widening gap between regulatory scope and internal capacity. OEMs favor external partners that guarantee multi-jurisdictional compliance while absorbing capital expenditures on advanced equipment.

Cost is no longer the sole driver for externalization. Skill shortages, cybersecurity complexity, and accelerated product cycles push corporations to contract accredited specialists. Framework agreements featuring performance KPIs, secure data pipelines, and co-development of test protocols become common. Providers deepen partnerships by embedding staff onsite, blending outsourced expertise with client oversight, thereby expanding the US TIC market size attributed to managed-service models.

By Industry Vertical: Life Sciences Leads as Automotive Accelerates

Life Sciences and Healthcare accounted for 22.1% of 2024 revenue, boosted by FDA modernization, biologic innovations, and constant GMP upgrades. High test volumes for sterility, potency, and bioequivalence underpin stable demand. The vertical’s reliance on third-party validation remains pronounced due to the criticality of patient safety and escalating global submission requirements.

Automotive and Transportation is projected to register the fastest 5.3% CAGR, propelled by EV drivetrain testing, functional safety for autonomous features, and stringent battery performance metrics. Laboratories with climatic chambers, shaker rigs, and high-voltage expertise attract automakers racing to meet ambitious rollout timelines. Investments in energy transition materials testing further swell workloads. Other verticals-ICT and Telecom, Energy and Utilities, Industrial Manufacturing-continue to contribute but at lower incremental rates, ensuring diversity within the US TIC market.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Mode of Service Delivery: Remote Formats Scale Rapidly

On-site activities held 57.4% share in 2024 because many inspections require direct asset access. Despite travel logistics, physical presence remains indispensable for weld integrity checks, structural assessments, and destructive sampling. Remote and Digital services, expanding at a 5.8% CAGR, exploit high-bandwidth networks and sensor proliferation to reduce field visits.

Providers deploy secure mobile applications and AR headsets enabling clients to livestream evidence to off-site experts. Hybrid models emerge: preliminary remote verification followed by targeted onsite follow-up. Off-site laboratories retain value for specialized analyses that demand controlled environments; however, throughput is optimized by digital intake portals and automated data processing. Combined, these advances broaden the US TIC market by integrating flexibility without sacrificing rigor.

Geography Analysis

Federal funding steers demand toward states with the largest infrastructure allocations. California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois collectively attracted the bulk of awards through early 2023, concentrating materials testing and compliance workloads in their metropolitan corridors. Texas alone secured USD 31.7 billion for transportation, enhancing long-term pipelines for asphalt, concrete, and structural lab work. Parallel PFAS restrictions in California, Washington, and Maine amplify analytical chemistry requirements, bolstering revenues within highly regulated coastal markets.^{[3]UL, “Global Market Access Regulatory News Update,” ul.com}

Regional infrastructure quality shapes TIC needs. The American Society of Civil Engineers graded national assets a C in 2025, an uptick credited to sustained funding yet still indicative of substantial rehabilitation tasks. Harsh climates across the Midwest accelerate material degradation, spurring routine inspection contracts. Meanwhile, high-tech clusters in Arizona and Ohio experience surges in clean-room validation linked to semiconductor fabs, intensifying demand for ISO-class verification services and advanced metrology.

Labor dynamics influence capacity distribution. California’s Independent Assurance Program mandates technician certification and laboratory accreditation for highway projects, reinforcing localized compliance ecosystems. In contrast, regions with limited talent pools face longer lead-times, pushing clients to relocate testing or adopt remote oversight. The heterogeneity of state procurement rules, notably Build America Buy America content thresholds, further diversifies local service mixes, collectively shaping a geographically varied yet integrally connected US TIC market.