An accreditation body, also known as a conformity assessment body or a certification body, is an independent organization responsible for evaluating and accrediting certification bodies and other conformity assessment bodies. Its primary role is to ensure that these bodies are competent and impartial in assessing and certifying organizations against specific standards or criteria.

An accredited certification body, also known as an accredited registrar, is a certification body that has been granted accreditation by an independent accreditation body. Accreditation is a formal recognition that a certification body has demonstrated its competence, impartiality, and adherence to internationally recognized standards and requirements for certification.

Accredited certification bodies have undergone a thorough evaluation process by independent accreditation bodies. Their competence, impartiality, and adherence to recognized standards have been verified. By choosing an accredited certification body, you can have confidence in the credibility and reliability of the certification process. It helps build trust among stakeholders, including customers, partners, and regulatory authorities.

The cost of ISO certification can vary depending on several factors, including the size and complexity of the organization, the specific ISO standard being pursued, and the geographic location.

In ISO certification, an audit refers to a systematic and independent examination of an organization’s processes, procedures, and practices to assess its compliance with the requirements of a specific ISO standard. The audit is conducted by qualified auditors, either from the certification body or external auditors contracted by the certification body.