FAQS
What is accreditation in the context of ISO standards?
Accreditation is an independent, formal recognition that a certification body (CB) is competent to perform conformity assessment activities, such as auditing and certification, against specific ISO standards. An accreditation body evaluates the CB against internationally recognized criteria (for example ISO/IEC 17021-1 for management system certification bodies) to ensure consistent, impartial and technically reliable services.
What is the difference between accreditation and certification?
Accreditation is the recognition of a certification body’s competence by an accreditation body such as IASCB. Certification is the process by which that accredited certification body assesses an organization’s management system and, if it meets the requirements of a standard (for example ISO 9001), issues a certificate to the organization. In simple terms: accreditation approves the certifier, certification approves the client organization.
What is a certification body (CB)?
A certification body is an independent organization that evaluates and audits clients’ management systems against ISO standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 or ISO 45001. When the requirements are met, the CB issues certificates to its clients. IASCB assesses certification bodies to ensure they operate competently, consistently and impartially.
Which ISO standards can IASCB-accredited certification bodies certify?
IASCB-accredited certification bodies may be approved for a range of management system standards, typically including ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety) and other sector-specific or related standards. The exact scope depends on each certification body’s competence and is defined in their accreditation schedule.
How does a certification body become accredited by IASCB?
The accreditation process normally involves an application review, document evaluation, on-site or remote assessments, witness audits (observing the CB auditing its clients), and resolution of any nonconformities. Only when all requirements of the relevant accreditation criteria are met will IASCB grant accreditation for a defined scope. Ongoing surveillance and reassessment are then used to confirm continued compliance.
How long is accreditation valid and how is it maintained?
Accreditation is typically granted for a multi‑year cycle, subject to regular surveillance assessments and a full reassessment at defined intervals. Certification bodies must demonstrate continual compliance with accreditation requirements, address nonconformities promptly, and notify IASCB of significant changes to their organization, scope or key personnel.
Why should organizations choose an IASCB-accredited certification body?
Using an IASCB-accredited certification body gives organizations and their stakeholders greater confidence that audits are competent, impartial and based on recognized international criteria. Accredited certificates are more widely trusted by regulators, customers and supply chain partners, supporting market access, tender requirements and risk management.
How can I verify whether a certificate is valid and accredited?
You can verify a certificate by checking directly with the issuing certification body and confirming that the CB itself is accredited by IASCB for the relevant standard and scope. IASCB may also provide tools or guidance to support certificate verification and to help users distinguish accredited certificates from non‑accredited or misleading claims.
What is impartiality, and how is it ensured in accreditation and certification?
Impartiality means that decisions are based solely on objective evidence and conformity with requirements, free from conflicts of interest, bias or undue influence. Both IASCB and accredited certification bodies operate under strict impartiality policies, risk analyses and oversight mechanisms to ensure that commercial, consulting or personal interests do not influence accreditation or certification decisions.
Does IASCB provide training for auditors and certification bodies?
Yes. IASCB supports the competence of certification bodies and auditors through guidance, awareness programs and training related to ISO standards, accreditation criteria and best practices in auditing and conformity assessment. Dedicated training and development initiatives help ensure that accredited bodies maintain competent personnel and robust audit processes.