TDA Scale Certification in Texas: Registration, Placing in Service and Inspections

TDA scale certification in Texas takes three steps: placing the scale in service, registering it with the TDA and staying in tolerance for inspections. MNM Scales is TDA licensed, with registered technicians who place your scale in service and file the RWM-780.

If you just opened a store, added a scale at a counter, or got a renewal notice from TDA, this guide explains what TDA requires, what it costs and how to get it done without delays. MNM Scales has been in business for over 30 years and is one of the largest scale distributors in the country, and our registered technicians place commercial scales in service across the Houston area.

Which scales need TDA registration?

TDA’s Weights and Measures program covers commercial weighing devices: scales used to buy, sell, barter or charge for a product or service by weight. Typical examples are grocery, deli, meat and seafood counters, produce stands, shipping counters that charge by weight, gold and jewelry buyers, and recyclers. A commercial scale must meet NIST Handbook 44 and be suitable for its use and accuracy class. TDA does not require an NTEP certificate for every device, but a scale with one meets the Handbook 44 minimums and some scales do need one, so we recommend an NTEP model and can tell you whether yours needs one (see what NTEP means).

TDA lists a few device types that are exempt from registration, including pharmaceutical scales, U.S. Postal Service scales and scales used only to weigh taxable ready-to-eat food. Lab, QC and general testing scales that are not used in trade are not commercial devices; for those, a calibration certificate documents accuracy (see in-house vs NIST-traceable certificates). Not sure whether your scale counts? Call us or check TDA’s device page. You can also run your scale through our Texas legal-for-trade scale checker.

Step by step: getting a scale registered with TDA

1. Choose a legal-for-trade scale. Pick an NTEP model for your application, such as a shipping scale, a Class II jewelry scale, a washdown scale for food counters or a checkweigher for packers. Browse our NTEP legal-for-trade scales.
2. Have it placed into service. TDA requires a commercial scale to be placed in service by a licensed service technician employed by a licensed service company. Placing in service includes installing and calibrating the device to NIST Handbook 44 tolerances and sealing the calibration. The service company then files the service report, form RWM-780, within 10 days (see RWM-780 explained).
3. Register the device with TDA. The business that operates the scale registers its location and devices online through the Texas Agriculture Portal (TAP) or on paper with form RWM-700, before using the scales in trade, and pays a fee per device.
4. Post the certificate and stickers. TDA requires the certificate of registration to be posted prominently in the consumer’s view, and a TDA consumer information sticker on each scale. Replacement stickers are ordered with form RWM-707.
5. Renew every year. Registration is valid for one year. TDA mails a renewal notice about 45 days before it expires, and you can renew online or by mail. If the business moves or changes owners, a new application is required.
6. Report changes. Adding or removing devices is reported to TDA within 10 days with form RWM-701. Replacing a scale with one of the same type does not need that form, but the new scale still has to be placed in service.

What TDA registration costs

Device	Annual TDA fee per device
Scale up to and including 2,000 lb capacity	$35
Most other scales over 2,000 lb capacity	$250

Fees are set in the Texas Administrative Code (Title 4, Section 12.12) and paid to TDA, not to the service company; check TDA for current amounts and other device categories. Service company charges for placing a scale in service and calibrating it are separate.

TDA inspections and out-of-order tags

TDA field inspectors test commercial scales for accuracy against NIST Handbook 44 tolerances. Our Handbook 44 tolerance calculator shows the maintenance and acceptance tolerance for your scale’s accuracy class, e and test load. A scale that fails can be tagged out of order and must not be used in trade until it is repaired. Removing the tag is work for a TDA-registered technician of a licensed service company, and the company files an RWM-780 when it does. Regular calibration between inspections is the best way to avoid a tag (see how often to calibrate).

Licensed service companies and registered technicians

TDA licenses service companies and registers their technicians by scale class based on capacity: for example, Class 1 covers scales up to 300 lb and Class 2 covers 301 to 3,000 lb. Technicians pass a written exam for each class and retest every five years, and they must be registered before they are paid to place a device in service or remove an out-of-order tag. When you hire a service company, ask whether its technicians hold the class for your scale.

How MNM Scales helps

• TDA licensed with registered technicians who inspect, test, calibrate and place commercial scales in service, file the RWM-780 service report and help with your RWM-700 device registration.
• On-site service across Houston and suburbs: a $295 service call plus $2 per mile round trip, charged once per visit, with calibration priced per scale. Dallas, Austin and San Antonio on request.
• Same-day and emergency visits depend on availability, so call first if a tagged scale has your counter down.
• Mail-in calibration is available nationwide, with in-house calibration and NIST calibration, usually in 1 to 3 business days.
• Repairs and rentals: we repair all brands and types of scales, in-shop and on-site, and rent scales while yours is being fixed.
• The scale itself: NTEP legal-for-trade scales, indicators and parts from an authorized dealer. Floor and crane scale owners can also see our floor scale and crane scale calibration guides.

Calibration is priced by the scale’s maximum capacity (full price list). Add the tier you need, or request a quote for several scales or locations:

Frequently asked questions

What does TDA scale registration involve?

In Texas, a commercial scale used to buy or sell by weight must be placed in service by a TDA-licensed service company and registered technician, registered with the Texas Department of Agriculture every year, and kept within NIST Handbook 44 tolerances for TDA inspections.

How much does it cost to register a scale with TDA?

TDA charges an annual fee per device: $35 for each scale up to and including 2,000 lb capacity and $250 for most scales over 2,000 lb, set in Texas Administrative Code Title 4, Section 12.12. Calibration and service charges are separate.

Do I need to register my scale with TDA?

You need to register scales used in commercial transactions, such as pricing products by weight. TDA lists exemptions, including pharmaceutical scales, U.S. Postal Service scales and scales used only to weigh taxable ready-to-eat food.

Who can place a scale in service in Texas?

A licensed service technician employed by a TDA-licensed service company. Placing in service includes installation and calibration, and the company files a service report (RWM-780) with TDA within 10 days.

How often do I renew a TDA scale registration?

Every year. Registration is valid for one year and TDA mails a renewal notice about 45 days before it expires. A business that moves or changes ownership needs a new application.

Can MNM Scales place my scale in service for TDA?

MNM Scales is TDA licensed with registered technicians who inspect, test, calibrate and place commercial scales in service across the Houston area, with Dallas, Austin and San Antonio on request, and offers mail-in calibration nationwide, with in-house calibration and NIST calibration.