NIJ Compliance Statement

At National Body Armor, 100% of our soft armor is Made in the USA and produced in an ISO-certified facility. Our Light, Lighter, and Lightest soft armor models are all NIJ-Listed Models per NIJ Standard 0101.06, meeting the requirements of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Compliance Testing Program (CTP) for law-enforcement body armor for Level IIIA.

If you have a handgun or rifle threat we can protect you. You must be over the age of 18 to buy and not a convicted felon. There is no background check or holding period in the USA.

The NIJ has stated:

“The only ballistic-resistant product that NIJ certifies is law-enforcement body armor that meets the requirements of NIJ’s Compliance Testing Program (CTP).”


Our soft armor meets those requirements based on its tested design, certified materials, and approved shape. Each armor panel is manufactured under strict quality-control procedures, serialized for traceability, and fully supported by documentation verifying its NIJ-compliant status.


Our Level IIIA+ armor includes special threat protection, meaning it not only meets the NIJ Level IIIA standard for handgun threats but also exceeds it by providing additional protection against special-threat rounds as defined through independent testing.

Important Clarifications:

  • The NIJ does not certify armor carriers, vest covers, or plate carriers. These are considered non-ballistic components designed to hold certified soft or hard armor panels.

  • The NIJ only certifies ballistic-resistant soft armor and hard armor that have been tested and listed under the NIJ Compliance Testing Program (CTP).

  • Carriers may vary in design, comfort, or materials, but they are not subject to NIJ testing or certification.

Our intention—and the representation on our website—is solely to state that our soft armor is NIJ certified. Carriers are not NIJ certified, but they are engineered for compatibility and performance with NIJ-listed armor panels.


National Body Armor does not misrepresent non-listed or untested products as NIJ certified. We proudly adhere to all NIJ labeling, testing, and compliance standards to ensure complete transparency and the highest level of ballistic protection available. 100% of our soft armor qualifies as law-enforcement body armor.