Ames Lab Badges
Ames Lab Badges: Details and FAQs
If you're a contributor, temporary employee, graduate student, undergraduate student, or foreign national employee who has lived in the U.S. for less than 3 years, you'll get an Ames Lab Badge.
What you can do now:
Come get your Ames Lab Badge! Stop by 105 TASF anytime, or email us at badgingoffice@ameslab.gov if you prefer to schedule an appointment.
Your Ames Lab Badge will immediately replace your ISUCard for door access to Ames Lab facilities.
Plan to wear your Ames Lab Badge for identification in Ames Lab spaces starting in January 2025.
Need a clip or lanyard? Stop by the Badging Office for a variety of options, or choose your own.
More details about Ames Lab Badges
Vertical, hard plastic card
Has the Ames Lab logo and an employee’s first and last name, picture, and Ames Lab ID number printed on the front
The Ames Lab Badge is also known as a “Local Site-Specific Only” badge, or LSSO.
These badges are printed on site in our Badging Office—and yes, you can smile for this photo.
Do you need both a PIV Badge and an Ames Lab Badge? If not, can I forgo getting the Ames Lab Badge and wait for the PIV?
You do not need both an Ames Lab Badge and a PIV Badge. If you are eligible for a PIV Badge, we recommend waiting until we notify you that it’s your turn to get one and continuing to use your ISUCard for identification and door access in the meantime. If you are eligible for a PIV Badge, you can get an Ames Lab Badge now if you want to, but you will still need to get a PIV Badge later.
I’m a foreign national who has lived in the U.S. for less than 3 years. What happens once I’ve lived in the U.S. for 3 years?
If you are a foreign national who has lived in the U.S. less than 3 years, you will get an Ames Lab Badge for now. Once you’ve lived in the U.S. for 3 years, you’ll be eligible for a PIV Badge, and the Badging Office will reach out to you to start the process to get one.
Will I have to get my picture taken?
Yes, you will have your picture taken for both the PIV Badge and the Ames Lab Badge. You’ll get your picture taken in the Badging Office. You are allowed to smile (and show teeth if you prefer) for an Ames Lab Badge photo.
Is fingerprinting part of the badge process too?
No, fingerprints are not required for an Ames Lab Badge.
Do I have to use a special badge holder?
Ames Lab Badges and ISUCards do not need to be kept in RFID-blocking badge holders (unlike PIV Badges). You'll receive a clear plastic holder for your Ames Lab Badge when you come to pick it up.