Certification
Certification is a third-party confirmation relating to a product, process, system, service, or person.
IACGSAccreditation
What Is Accreditation?
Accreditation is a formal recognition that a conformity assessment body is competent to perform specific conformity assessment activities within a defined scope.
A conformity assessment body may be involved in certification, inspection, testing, calibration, validation, verification, or related activities. Accreditation provides independent confidence that such a body operates with the required competence, impartiality, and consistency for the services it offers.
Accreditation vs Certification
Accreditation and Certification Are Not the Same
These terms are often confused, but they serve different purposes.
Accreditation
Accreditation is the formal recognition of the body that performs certification, inspection, testing, or related assessment activities.
In simple terms, certification is issued by a conformity assessment body. Accreditation is granted to that body to confirm it is competent to perform those activities.
Why It Matters
Accreditation matters because it increases confidence in the reliability of certificates, reports, decisions, and attestations issued by accredited bodies. It supports market trust, promotes better control of quality and competence, and strengthens the credibility of conformity assessment services.
IACGS supports accreditation as a practical mechanism for demonstrating competence, improving confidence, and encouraging consistent conformity assessment practices.
Benefits of Accreditation:
Accreditation delivers value to conformity assessment bodies, their clients, and the wider market.
For Conformity Assessment Bodies
- demonstrates technical competence and operational control
- supports credibility and market confidence
- improves consistency in service delivery
- strengthens internal governance and oversight
- provides external recognition of applied scope
For Clients and Certified Organizations
- adds confidence in certification or assessment results
- improves trust in the body performing the evaluation
- supports informed supplier and procurement decisions
- promotes acceptance of certificates and reports in the market
For Regulators and Stakeholders
- offers a structured method of confidence in conformity assessment outcomes
- supports transparency and accountability
- helps reduce uncertainty about competence and consistency
Accreditation is not only a mark of recognition. It is a framework that promotes discipline, confidence, and ongoing assurance.
IACGS Accreditation Services
IACGS provides accreditation services to selected categories of conformity assessment bodies. Each accreditation is granted only for the approved scope and is subject to applicable requirements, assessment findings, and ongoing surveillance.
A. Management System Certification Bodies
Management System Certification Bodies
IACGS provides accreditation for bodies that certify management systems against recognized standards and schemes. This program is intended for certification bodies that demonstrate effective controls over impartiality, competence, audit management, certification decision-making, and surveillance activities.
Typical management system areas may include:
- Quality Management Systems
- Environmental Management Systems
- Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
- Information Security Management Systems
- Food Safety Management Systems
- Energy Management Systems
- Business Continuity Management Systems
- Medical Device Quality Management Systems
- Education Management Systems
- Anti-Bribery Management Systems
- and other approved schemes
B. Personnel Certification Bodies
Personnel Certification Bodies
This accreditation applies to bodies that certify individuals against defined competence criteria. IACGS assesses the structure, governance, examination controls, competence requirements, certification decisions, recertification arrangements, and impartiality safeguards relevant to personnel certification activities.
C. Product, Process and Service Certification Bodies
Product, Process and Service Certification Bodies
IACGS accredits bodies that certify products, processes, or services against specified requirements. Assessment focuses on technical competence, certification methodology, decision-making independence, scheme control, and consistency in certification activities.
D. Inspection Bodies
Inspection Bodies
Inspection bodies play an important role in evaluating products, processes, services, installations, assets, and operations against specified requirements or professional judgment criteria. IACGS accreditation for inspection bodies focuses on competence, independence, impartiality, reporting integrity, and operational control.
Inspection activities may relate to industrial, engineering, construction, safety, technical, regulatory, environmental, or sector-specific areas, subject to approved scope.
E. Testing and Calibration Laboratories
Testing and Calibration Laboratories
IACGS accreditation for laboratories is intended to provide confidence in technical competence, reliability of results, quality control practices, method application, traceability, equipment management, personnel competence, and reporting controls.
Laboratory accreditation may be granted for defined testing and calibration scopes only after successful evaluation and technical review.
F. Validation and Verification Bodies
Validation and Verification Bodies
IACGS may provide accreditation for bodies engaged in validation and verification activities where defined schemes and applicable criteria are in place. This includes evaluation of competence, methods, impartiality, records, reviewer controls, and decision integrity.
G. Sector-Specific or Specialized Programs
Specialized Accreditation Programs
Where applicable, IACGS may develop or administer sector-specific accreditation programs to address industry needs, emerging schemes, or specialized conformity assessment activities. Such programs are operated under documented requirements and defined scope conditions.
How to Apply for Accreditation
View the structured 10-step application process, required documents, and the official application start instructions.
Open How to Apply Page