Laser Institute of America is a professional society with a focus on laser

Laser

A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...

 use and laser safety

Laser safety

Laser safety is safe design, use and implementation of lasers to minimize the risk of laser accidents, especially those involving eye injuries. Since even relatively small amounts of laser light can lead to permanent eye injuries, the sale and usage of lasers is typically subject to government...

. The Laser Institute of America (LIA) was founded in 1968 and acts as secretariat and publisher of the American National Standards Institute

American National Standards Institute

The American National Standards Institute is a private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States. The organization also coordinates U.S. standards with international...

 (ANSI) Z136 laser safety standards .

LIA is also the publisher of the Journal of Laser Applications and is the organizer of several large international conferences related to laser use and laser safety .

The Board of Laser Safety, a part of LIA, develops and administers the professional certification

Professional certification

Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply certification or qualification, is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task...

of Certified Laser Safety Officers (CLSO) and Certified Medical Laser Safety Officers (CMLSO) .