ISO Certification vs Accreditation – What’s the Difference?
“Certification” and “accreditation” are often confused, but they are very different things.
Understanding the difference is critical for compliance and credibility. Let’s go back to the driving analogy we sometimes use:
- You, the client – are the driver of your ISO bus
- Potentially, a consultant – (like Statius) is your ISO driving instructor
- The driving examiner – is a UKAS accredited certification body
- UKAS – your driving examiners, driving examiner!
What is accreditation?
The only legitimate body in the UK allowed to “accredit” organisations is The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). Consequently, UKAS, accredit organisations that are then allowed to “certify” other organisations. There is a complete list on the UKAS website but links to some of the more popular bodies are given below:
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UKAS essentially audits, approves and accredits these and other bodies to ensure they are following and applying the rules correctly. Interesting (or otherwise) these rules are also set out in an ISO standard – ISO 17021. Essentially then, UKAS is the driving examiner for those bodies awarding ISO registrations.
- Accreditation is for certification bodies, not companies
- It confirms the certification body is competent and impartial
- In the UK accreditation is granted by UKAS
What is ISO certification?
Why it matters?
- A certificate from a non-accredited body may not be accepted by Blue Chip companies, Central and Local Governments, The NHS or for PQQs and tenders.
- UKAS accreditation ensures international recognition and trust.
How to check
- Verify your certification body on the UKAS website.
- Ask for proof of “accreditation” by UKAS before signing up. Where anyone suggesting they are accredited by anyone other than UKAS, it is almost certainly a rogue non-UKAS certification body.
The exception
There is one obvious exception to the above which actually only matters if you are a laboratory. If you’re not a laboratory this is of no concern to you whatsoever.
The anomaly, however, is for those that are the laboratories and the need accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025. ISO 17025 is accredited directly by UKAS as 17025 is an accreditation standard, not a certification standard, and the assessment is carried out by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) themselves because UKAS is the sole national body appointed by the government to formally recognise the technical competence and impartiality of laboratories.