Login Accreditation of
Citation ISO Certification
Find out more about our accreditation
What is accreditation?
Accreditation is a formal, third party means of assessing the technical competence and integrity of a Certification Body.
The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), which publishes international Standards, such as ISO 9001, does not directly certify organisations or products. However, it does publish a Standard for the requirements of bodies providing Audit and Certification of Management Systems (ISO 17021) which is intended for use by Certification Bodies.
Certification Bodies (such as us!) which intend to issue accredited certification must be audited and accredited by an Accreditation Body against the requirements of the ISO 17021 Standard.
Accreditation is not compulsory, and non-accreditation does not necessarily mean it is not reputable, but it does provide independent confirmation of competence. ISO.org
Are we accredited?
Citation ISO Certification operates two clearly divided departments as part of its operations: a consultancy department and an independent Certification and Auditing department. All of our relevant activities operate to the ISO 17021:2015 standard which is verified by Accreditation Services for Certification Bodies (ASCB) through whom Citation ISO Certification is accredited.
To verify the accreditation of Citation ISO Certification (t/a QMS International), please view our certificate of accreditation.
Are we UKAS accredited?
UKAS stands for the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. UKAS has been appointed as the National Accreditation Body for the UK. This means they perform accreditation with authority derived from the State and represent the UK in the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).
Citation ISO Certification are not accredited by UKAS but instead achieve their accreditation through ASCB. We are accredited and audited to ISO 17021:2015 by ASCB – a most respected accreditation organisation founded in the UK.
Accreditation Services for Certification Bodies (ASCB)
http://www.ascb.co.ukASCB is an Accreditation Body founded in the UK which is respected for its integrity and impartiality throughout the World.
To date ASCB has accredited over 100 Certification Bodies and registered over 3500 Assessors, Auditors and quality related personnel achievements.
ASCB provides a high level of assurance to organisations that they are successfully assessed against the requirements of the Standards to which they are accredited.
ASCB is a member of the Global Accreditation Forum (GAF) which promotes the best practices in quality assurance, and operates with its own standards and procedures based on the needs of international accreditation. Any disputes between an accredited certification body and a registered organisation may always be referred to the GAF for review.
Focused on being technically outstanding while delivering a swift path through to compliance, ASCB work in accordance with the requirements of the ISO Standards, free of government and political interference.
What is the difference between ASCB and UKAS accreditation?
The key difference is that ASCB are an independent organisation which means they are not approved or affiliated with government nor have they been appointed as, or affiliated with, the UK’s National Accreditation Body UKAS.