Guide: accreditation
Accredited and non-accredited ISO certification: the difference
Two certificates can sound almost identical and still mean different things. Here you will learn what accreditation is, who grants it and when each kind of certificate makes sense for you.
01: Definition
What accreditation means
Accreditation is formal confirmation that a body is technically competent and impartial. In ISO certification it is not your company that is accredited but the certification body that examines your management system. For management system certifiers the benchmark is the standard ISO/IEC 17021-1.
In each country a state-recognised accreditation body takes on this task. It assesses certification bodies regularly and can withdraw recognition. ISO itself does not issue certificates and does not accredit anyone.
02: Bodies
Who accredits: the accreditation bodies
Four bodies matter most for the German-speaking region and France. Certification bodies carry the mark of their accreditation body and are listed in its register.
- SAS, Switzerland
- The Swiss Accreditation Service SAS is part of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO and accredits certification bodies in Switzerland.
- DAkkS, Germany
- The German Accreditation Body DAkkS is the national accreditation body of Germany.
- Akkreditierung Austria
- Akkreditierung Austria is the state accreditation body of Austria.
- COFRAC, France
- The Comité français d'accréditation, COFRAC for short, is the French accreditation body.
The national bodies are linked through multilateral agreements of the IAF and EA. That is why a certificate from an accredited body is generally recognised in the participating countries. To see whether a body is accredited for your standard and sector, check the database of the responsible accreditation body.
03: Accredited
What an accredited certificate means
An accredited certificate shows that an audit took place under recognised rules: stage 1 and stage 2, sampling on your premises, findings of nonconformities and their correction. It is valid for three years. In years one and two the body checks through surveillance audits that you keep running the system.
Authorities, corporations and contracting bodies usually accept such a certificate without further questions, across borders as well. The price is effort: you need documented processes, an internal audit, a management review and time for the auditors.
The scope matters. A certification body is only ever accredited for certain standards and sectors. If the certificate names a sector that does not fit your business, a customer may reject it. So look not only at the logo but also at the scope of the accreditation.
04: Not accredited
What a non-accredited certificate means
A non-accredited certificate comes from a body without accreditation. It is not worthless, but what it states is narrower. At Zertify it is a certificate based on a self-assessment: you answer 30 yes or no questions, and SICE issues the certificate if you pass.
There is no audit, and SICE is not an accredited body. Other non-accredited providers work differently, some for example reviewing documents remotely. With any offer, ask what exactly is checked and who stands behind it.
Non-accredited does not mean disreputable. What is disreputable is hiding the difference.
05: Comparison
Comparison table
The table sets both variants side by side. Costs are guide values for a small company, not quotes.
| Feature | Accredited | Not accredited (Zertify) |
|---|---|---|
| Recognition | International, through accreditation agreements | Evidence for customers, no formal recognition |
| Tenders | Usually accepted | Not suitable where accreditation is required |
| Cost | Initial audit several thousand CHF, plus annual surveillance | One-off CHF 599 to 849 depending on the standard |
| Duration | Several months, depending on maturity | Certificate within 4 hours of passing the assessment |
| Effort | Documentation, internal audit, management review, audit days | 30 questions, 20 to 30 minutes |
| Validity | 3 years, with annual surveillance audits | 3 years, renewal by a new assessment |
06: Tenders
Tenders and customer rules: what is really required
In public tenders the requirement sits in the suitability criteria. Contracting authorities often ask for proof of a quality management system, for example an ISO 9001 certificate from an accredited body. A certificate based on a self-assessment will as a rule not meet that requirement.
Some authorities accept equivalent evidence, such as a description of quality assurance measures. Whether a document is equivalent is for the authority to decide in each case, not you and not us. Clarify it in writing before you submit a bid.
Large corporate customers work in a similar way. The requirement is in the supplier handbook and is often checked when a supplier is approved. A certificate that is not accepted then costs you time instead of earning trust. A short question to the purchasing team settles it.
Rule of thumb: if the documents say the word accredited, you need accredited certification. If they only ask for proof under ISO 9001, ask what is meant.
07: Myths
Four common misunderstandings
A few assumptions about accreditation persist and lead to expensive wrong decisions.
- Every ISO certificate is accredited
- No. Whether a certificate is accredited depends on the body that issues it. The words ISO certificate alone say nothing about it.
- Accredited means ISO checked it
- No. ISO only publishes the standard. The checking is done by the certification body, whose work the accreditation body supervises.
- A logo on a website proves accreditation
- No. Logos can be copied. What is reliable is the entry in the accreditation body's register.
- Non-accredited means useless
- No. It only means the certificate does not carry the recognition of an accreditation. For customer evidence and internal order it can be enough.
Anyone who knows these four points asks better questions of every provider, including us.
08: Decision
A decision guide in five questions
Answer the questions in order. For the first two, a single yes is often enough to settle it.
Does a law, contract or tender require accredited certification?
Then you need it. The decision is made, and you request quotes from accredited bodies.
Does a large customer prescribe it in its supplier rules?
Ask whether an equivalent proof is accepted. If the answer is no, the accredited route it is.
Do you need the evidence for proposals, questionnaires and your website?
A self-assessment certificate is often enough then, as long as you label it openly as such.
Do you have documented processes and time for an audit?
Then accredited certification is quite doable. If both are missing, start with the self-assessment and build the system step by step.
What is your budget for the first three years?
If it falls below the guide value for an accredited initial audit plus surveillance, that route is hardly realistic. The cheaper proof is then worth it.
09: Questions
Common questions about accreditation
10: Guides
More guides
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The certificate is based on a self-assessment and is not accredited.