Certification Process

General Process Notes

1. This process covers certification for Fast Pair (FP) and/or Audio switch devices.
   1. Fast Pair self-tests can be found here.
   2. Audio switch self-tests can be found here.
2. Devices implementing Audio switch must be also be certified for Fast Pair version 3.2 or later.
3. Devices that implemented Fast Pair 2.0 or 3.1 do not need to support or certify Audio switch.
4. OEMs are expected to interface with their preferred System Integrator (SI) or SoC Partner for the majority of the process.
   1. See SI Roles and Responsibilities for more details.
5. OEMs should start Fast Pair and Audio switch certification around Product Verification Testing (PVT).
6. Contact your SI/SoC partner, with technical, scheduling, or process questions.

The Certification Process

Pre-Submission:

1. OEM: validate your business proposal with your SI or SoC Partner.
2. OEM: submit your business proposal to Google for review.
   1. This includes signing an NDA.
3. Google: review and accept the OEM’s business proposal.

Post Approved Business Proposal:

1. OEM: request assistance for creating the Technical Proposal (TP) from your SoC/SI Partner.
2. SI Partner (only): create a TP tracking bug in the appropriate Buganizer.
   1. OEM: Contact [e-mail] if you do not work with an SI Partner and need a Technical Account Manager (TAM).
3. Google: review and verify TP tracking bug.
   1. See SI Roles and Responsibilities for more details.

Preparing for Certification via Self Testing:

1. OEM: register your device Model ID at the Nearby console.
2. OEM: provide your device Model ID to your SI/SoC Partner.
3. OEM: create a Google Cloud Platform (GCP) project if one does not exist.
4. OEM: associate all devices with your GCP project.
   1. Each project can contain an unlimited number of devices.
5. OEM: follow the testing preparation provisions defined in the Fast Pair specification and Audio switch specification.
   1. Your SI/SoC Partner may need to enable these functions.
6. OEM: run the Fast Pair Validator to ensure the implementation is correct and meets the certification criteria.
   1. Additional documentation on how to use the validator can be found here.
   2. When preparing for certification of Fast Pair 3.1 or earlier, partners only need to run and submit the Calibration and End-to-End (E2E) tests, as shown below:

      

7. OEM: test according to the Fast Pair certification guidelines and Audio switch certification guidelines and template.
   1. Fast Pair self-tests can be found here.
   2. Audio switch self-tests can be found here.

Submitting for Official Lab Certification:

1. OEM: submit self-test reports of Fast Pair and Audio switch to your SI/SoC partner.
2. OEM: complete the certification application form.
3. OEM: prepare 3 samples for QA testing.
   1. See shipping guidelines for detailed instructions.
4. SI Partner (only): create a corresponding Technical Approval ticket in Buganizer.
   1. OEM: Contact [e-mail] if you do not have a Technical Account Manager (TAM) or SI Partner.
5. Google: provide a lab certification ticket ID for official testing.
6. Google: validate the self-test results provided by the OEM.
7. Google: coordinate formal testing with the appropriate 3rd party lab (3PL).
8. Google: inform the SI/SoC partner when testing is scheduled to start.
9. SI/SoC Partner: provide the testing date to the OEM.
10. OEM: deliver your QA samples to Google or the appropriate 3PL at least one week before official certification.
    1. You must send 3 sample units for QA testing and certification.
11. 3PL: perform official certification.
12. 3PL: provide certification results to Google.
13. Google: provide certification results to the SI/SoC partner.
    1. Certification results will be shared in 2-4 weeks.
       1. If passed, your device’s Fast Pair and Audio switch functionality will be turned on immediately.
          1. Device status and model ID will be visible on your Nearby console.
          2. Google will provide a Technical Approval Letter to the SI/SoC partner and OEM.
             1. Congratulations on passing certification!
       2. Otherwise, the Google team or your SI partners will contact you with a list of issues.
          1. Restart from the Self-Test section once the issues have been resolved.

Post Certification:

1. When updating firmware/BlueTooth (BT) stacks, OEMs must submit Fast Pair/Audio switch self-test results to their SI/SoC Partner/TAM.
   1. See the Self-Test section for details.