The technician should be familiar with all methods of calibration and the conditions that require the use of the methods. Important calibration methods include direct calibration curve, bracketing, standard addition, and the method of internal standardization. A tutorial on several of these methods is available in PDF, HTML, or Mathcad (zipped) format.

Also critical is an understanding of the chemical, physical and spectral interferences that can bias analytical results using AA, and the methods used to overcome the interferences. Particulary important for the technician working with electrothermal (graphite furnace) AA is an understanding of the the method of standard addition to correct for multiplicative interferences as well as the different types of background correction methods (deuterium arc, Zeeman, Smith-Hieftje) commonly used to compensate for additive interferences.