What Is a Certification Body?

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published more than 25,000 international standards. They span 17 sectors and this number continues to grow each year. It’s especially true for ISO’s industry, innovation and infrastructure goals. 

But even if you’re familiar with ISO standards, why are they important? And how do businesses implement them and achieve certification? That’s where the certification body comes in. 

ISO is the International Organization for Standardization. It’s an independent, non-governmental organization. Its membership consists of 165 national standards bodies. 

Delegates from 25 countries met in London in 1946 to establish ISO. Today, ISO’s Central Secretariat is in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1951, the organization published its first standard, ISO/R 1:1951. Although revised over time, its principles continue to influence modern standardization practices. 

The organization’s name varies by language, but the founders chose the short form ‘ISO’, derived from the Greek word ‘isos’, meaning ‘equal.’ It is pronounced as ‘eye-so’ as opposed to individual letters (I.S.O.). 

ISO certification provides independent verification that your management system conforms to the requirements of a recognized international standard. 

Organizations pursue certification for many reasons, including: 

• Increased customer confidence and trust 
• Improved operational efficiency and consistency 
• Enhanced risk management and regulatory compliance 
• Greater employee engagement and accountability 
• Competitive differentiation in the marketplace 
• Qualification for customer, supplier, or government contract requirements 

Implementing an ISO management system requires organizations to define processes, establish measurable objectives, monitor performance, and drive continual improvement. As a result, certification often delivers benefits that extend beyond compliance, helping organizations improve overall business performance. 

A certification body (CB) is an independent third-party organization that assesses an organization’s management system against the requirements of a specific ISO standard. 

It is important to note that ISO does not perform certifications or issue certificates. Instead, certification bodies—such as Amtivo—conduct independent audits and, when all requirements are met, issue certificates confirming conformity with the requirements of the relevant management system standard. 

A certification body provides: 

• Audits, which conclude with reports detailing the audit findings and, where applicable, any nonconformities identified against the requirements of the standard. 
• Certification – subject to successful completion of the audit process and certification decision. 
• A logo or badge that certified organizations can use to show their certification status. 

When pursuing ISO certification, it is important to understand the difference between certification and accreditation. 

Certification bodies conduct audits and issue certificates demonstrating conformity to ISO standards. Accreditation bodies evaluate certification bodies, providing independent verification that they operate competently, impartially, and consistently. 

In the United States, the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) is a widely recognized multi-disciplinary accreditation body. ANAB accredits certification bodies against internationally recognized requirements, helping ensure organizations receive credible, reliable, and professionally delivered certification services. 

ANAB accreditation supports a wide range of management system standards, including: 

• ISO 9001 
• ISO 14001 
• ISO 27001 
• ISO 45001 
• ISO 13485 

Choosing an accredited certification body provides confidence that your certification has been achieved through a rigorous audit process conducted by qualified auditors and supported by internationally accepted accreditation requirements.  

Many customers, regulators, supply chain partners, and procurement organizations prefer or require certification from an accredited certification body, making accreditation an important consideration when selecting a certification provider. 

Working with an accredited certification body offers several benefits, including: 

• Greater confidence in the integrity of the certification process. 
• Independent verification of auditor competence and impartiality. 
• Increased credibility with customers, suppliers, and stakeholders. 
• Recognition in domestic and international markets. 
• Consistent application of certification requirements. 
• Greater confidence that certification activities are conducted under internationally recognized accreditation requirements. 

ANAB is widely recognized internationally through global accreditation recognition arrangements, allowing accredited certifications to be accepted by organizations and customers around the world. 

Whether you’re pursuing ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), ISO 27001 (Information Security), ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety), ISO 13485 (Medical Devices), or another management system standard, choosing an accredited certification provider helps maximize the value, credibility, and recognition of your certification. When evaluating certification providers, always verify that the certification body holds accreditation for the specific standard and industry sector relevant to your organization. 

The certification journey begins by selecting the standard— or combination of standards—that best aligns with your organization’s goals and requirements. 

If you’re considering certification, our team can explain our certification services and the available certification options.

Before certification can be achieved, your organization must develop and implement a management system that meets the requirements of the selected standard. 

Organizations commonly achieve this by: 

• Purchasing a copy of the standard and implementing its requirements internally. 
• Employing an ISO consultant to work with your business. 

Once your management system has been implemented and is operating effectively, the certification process begins. 

Certification is conducted in two stages: 

Stage 1 Audit: An evaluation of the management system documentation, scope, site-specific conditions, understanding of requirements, and readiness for the Stage 2 Audit. 

Stage 2 Audit: A detailed audit of the effectiveness of your management system and its conformity with the standard’s requirements. 

If nonconformities are identified, corrective actions must be completed and verified before certification can be granted.

Following successful completion of the audit process, the certification body conducts an independent technical review and certification decision process before issuing certification. 

Certification is not a one-time event. Organizations must demonstrate ongoing conformity through regular surveillance audits, typically conducted annually. 

Most accredited certifications operate on a three-year certification cycle, with recertification audits required at the end of each cycle to maintain certification. 

ISO certifications are widely recognized indicators of effective management systems. They can help organizations improve efficiency, strengthen customer confidence, and access new market opportunities. Certification can support improvements in processes, consistency, and customer confidence.  

Contact us at Amtivo to find out more about partnering with an ANAB-accredited certification body, or request a quote. Our team can provide information about certification services available for your organization. 

If you are approaching ISO certification for the first time, you may want to download our free ISO Buyer’s Guide—it contains a checklist of key factors you should consider when choosing a certification body. Enter your email address below to receive your free copy.