What the New NIJ Certification Levels of Body Armor Mean for Your Agency

Law enforcement, military, and other government organizations often end up in dangerous situations protecting life and liberty. In these instances, quality body armor can mean the difference between life and death.


Some people may think all is the same – but they’re not. There is no one ballistic resistant product that stops all threats. Getting stabbed with a knife is a totally different threat than getting shot with rifle rounds. Basically, body armor may protect you from handgun rounds but not rifle rounds.


That’s where the NIJ (National Institute of Justice) ballistic threat levels come in. NIJ uses science to improve understanding and knowledge of crime and justice. They designed the NIJ certification levels to help agencies select the most appropriate protection for the job. This is what you need to know about the most recent NIJ standards.

NIJ Ballistic Threat Level Standards

The government formed the National Institute of Justice as a part of a larger system of federal agencies and institutes in 1968 to address rising crime in America. NIJ concentrates its research on technology advances for criminal justice purposes.


The NIJ body armor tests are the gold standard to help agencies choose the right bulletproof solution for their agencies. When researching ballistic solutions, if they aren’t NIJ-certified, you need to avoid them at all costs. When your life is on the line, you don’t want to take the chance on something that may or may not work.


NIJ standard 0101.07 covers the NIJ Compliance Testing Program for evaluating, testing, and certifying ballistic resistant body armor. NIJ standard 0123.00, Specification for NIJ Ballistic Threat Levels and Associated Threats, is the first of its kind. It defines the ballistic threats associated with the NIJ standards U.S. law enforcement identified.


The NIJ recently changed its threat levels. NIJ Level I body armor is no longer relevant and is out of commission. Also, stab-resistant body armor is outlined in NIJ 0115.00 and not under NIJ Standard 0101.07.

NIJ HG1 Threat Level

Formerly, NIJ Levell II is now the most flexible and lightest armor on the market. It’s usually soft, easily concealed under your clothes, and the lowest protection today. The HG stands for handgun, and this body armor protects up to .357 Magnum rounds and offers no rifle protection.

NIJ HG2 Threat Level

Previously, NIJ Level IIIA, this threat level stops .44 Magnum and .357 SIG. These ballistic vests also don’t cover rifle ammunition but are soft and flexible and provide more protection than NIJ HG1.

NIJ RF1 Threat Level

Formerly NIJ Level III, this body armor is hard and uses plates with composite materials or metal to withstand .762mm FMJ lead core rifle rounds. Here, RF stands for rifle.

NIJ RF2 Threat Level

This new standard covers intermediate rifle protection that includes all the NIJ RF1 threats with the addition of 5.56mm M855 rounds.

NIJ RF3 Threat Level

Previously NIJ Level IV, this body armor is the highest level of protection and consists of hard plates like NIJ RF1. It is commonly used by the military and law enforcement that may encounter high-caliber ballistic threats like .30 caliber steel core armor-piercing rifle rounds.

The Positive Impact of the New Ballistic NIJ Certification Levels

The new standards describe the threats in more detail to reduce any confusion users may experience. Here are some of the positive impacts law enforcement and military users will see.

Improved Testing Methods for Women’s Body Armor

Ballistic vests fit women differently and aren’t shaped the same as men’s. The new NIJ certification levels ensure better clay shaping to test the contours of women and how it affects the ways vests fit and protect. The new clay appliques support body armor designed for women during the testing phase better.
All this means we can design and create body armor that fits women better and provides more protection.

Soft Armor Standards

Soft armor is designed to protect against handguns and for everyday use by deputies, officers, and other law enforcement personnel. By eliminating the old Level 1 certification, the testing and design of soft vests are updated to contemporary threat standards. Now, armorers can create body armor that’s more comfortable to wear and protects better.

Hard Plate Armor Standards

The new NIJ RF2 standard introduces a new rifle protection level that includes an additional threat. These new standards reflect the current threats military and law enforcement face every day, including a broader range of rifle threats.


The new threat-level certifications mean the NIJ tests are more accurate, leading to body armor that better protects against contemporary threats. Pair these vests with rifle combat helmets or other ballistic-resistant gear, and you have critical equipment that could save your life one day during an active shooter incident or something similar.

What Law Enforcement Agencies Need to Know to Update Their Gear by 2027

So, what do the updated NIJ certification levels mean for you? The NIJ provides this list of products that comply with NIJ certification levels. The testing program will stop accepting new armor for assessments in early 2024 and begin testing them to the updated standards.


Law enforcement agencies should see bulletproof vests certified by the NIJ standards in late 2024 or early 2025. Knowing and understanding how NIJ’s testing and certification process works is one of the most important parts of choosing the right body armor for your department.


NIJ will continue to maintain its current list of previously certified body armor through the end of 2027 due to the large number of bulletproof vests throughout the United States. This extra time allows agencies and manufacturers to gradually transition over to ballistic armor that meets the new standards.
But be prepared to start switching over to the new body armor recommendations once NIJ completes the new testing and publishes an updated list of certified armor.

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