How much does a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) cost?
The certificate itself costs nothing: CPSC says creating a CPC has no cost, and you may draft it yourself in a word processor. What costs money is the testing behind it, by a CPSC-accepted lab, and periodic retests, every 12 months for most children’s products. Labs and consultants may draft the CPC for a fee; CPSC calls that help optional.
What CPSC says about the cost
CPSC’s CPC FAQ answers the question directly: “Creating a CPC has no cost.” The manufacturer or importer may draft it with word-processing software, following CPSC’s examples. “Some laboratories and consultants may offer to draft or assist with drafting a CPC for a fee, but their assistance is optional,” and CPSC’s Small Business Ombudsman offers help at no charge. The lab provides the testing and results; it does not issue the CPC CPSC CPC FAQ.
Where the money goes
| Item | Who is paid | When |
|---|---|---|
| The CPC document | Nobody, if you draft it; a lab or consultant, only if you choose to delegate CPSC CPC FAQ | Reissued after each periodic test CPSC online sellers FAQ |
| Certification tests, for each rule on CPSC’s list that applies CPSC CPC rules list | A CPSC-accepted third-party lab CPSC lab list | Before you certify, and again after a material change 16 CFR 1107.23 |
| Periodic tests | A third-party lab, always 16 CFR 1107.21 | At least once a year, unless a production testing plan or continued ISO/IEC 17025 testing allows longer 16 CFR 1107.21 |
What changes the size of the lab bill
- Paints and components. If you certify lead in paint through paint testing, each paint used on the product is tested 16 CFR 1109.11. Passing tests on a component can support the products that use it, if the tested part is identical in all material respects and component testing is sufficient for the rule; when in doubt, test the finished product 16 CFR 1109.5(a). For chemical content limits, paints or components may be tested as a composite when no failure can go undetected 16 CFR 1109.21, and component tests may support periodic testing 16 CFR 1107.21.
- Testing exclusions. Textiles, dyed or undyed, with no treatment other than dyes, need no lead-content test 16 CFR 1500.91(d)(7); prints and coatings on them still do. No lab is needed to decide whether such a determination applies: the certifier can assess it CPSC example CPC.
- Small batch status. Registered Small Batch Manufacturers may meet Group B rules with in-house tests, a lab not on CPSC’s list or a supplier’s written assurance, but never Group A rules such as lead in paint or small parts CPSC small batch FAQ.
- Your supplier’s tests. You may base your CPC on them with due care, once you have the documents the rule lists 16 CFR 1109.5(g).
Writing the CPC yourself costs nothing, and CPSC’s Small Business Ombudsman helps for free. If you would rather delegate, our free check tells you within one U.S. business day which tests to order; the Certificate Package then writes the CPC from your lab reports, with the Registry import file and broker sheet: $79 per product, 2 U.S. business days, or the next business day for +$40.
Lab fees are paid to the lab, not to us. We do not test products or recommend a particular lab.
Last reviewed: October 12, 2026 · First published: October 12, 2026 · Not legal advice.
Sources read October 12, 2026
- CPSC, Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) FAQ
- CPSC, Small Business Ombudsman (contact form)
- CPSC, Online Sellers Safety Guide FAQs
- CPSC, Rules requiring third-party testing and a CPC
- CPSC, list of CPSC-accepted testing laboratories
- 16 CFR 1107.23 — Material change
- 16 CFR 1107.21 — Periodic testing
- 16 CFR 1109.11 — Component part testing for paint (each paint used)
- 16 CFR 1109.5 — Relying on another party’s tests or certificates (due care, documentation)
- 16 CFR 1109.21 — Composite testing of paints and component parts
- 16 CFR 1500.91(d)(7) — Lead content determination for textiles
- CPSC, example CPC for children’s clothing
- CPSC, Small Batch FAQ (Group A and Group B requirements)