“NIJ certified” is a myth. And one that continues to mislead buyers, sellers, and even manufacturers. The National Institute of Justice does not certify body armor; it defines performance standards and oversees the Compliance Testing Program (CTP) that determines which models appear on the official Compliant Products List (CPL). In an industry where accuracy saves lives, using the right terminology matters. This article explains what NIJ actually does, why the “NIJ certified” claim persists, and how to verify legitimate compliance through the NIJ CPL and The Armor List.