What Is the Cost of Aerospace Certification?

Aerospace certification, such as AS9100, AS9110 and AS9120, can help your organization build trust, enter new markets, and meet customer and regulatory requirements.

Whether you make, service, or distribute aerospace products, certification shows you’re serious about quality and safety and helps you stand out.

While the upfront investment may seem significant, the long-term benefits of certification typically make it worthwhile. Knowing what to expect upfront allows you to plan your budget and grow with confidence.

Read on to see what affects the cost of aerospace certification and what costs to expect for different types of certifications.

What Influences Certification Costs?

The cost of aerospace certification depends on several things, and the total will vary by organization.

• Organization size: The number of employees and locations in a company plays a big role. Larger organizations typically require more time and resources for audit and implementation, which increases costs.
• Scope of certification: Certifying one product line costs less than certifying your whole operation. The broader the scope, the more complex and expensive it can be.
• Existing management systems: If you already use a Quality Management System (QMS) certified to ISO 9001, some of the required structures and processes may already be in place. This can reduce the effort needed to implement additional management system standards and may lead to greater audit efficiency.
• Readiness level: The closer your current processes are to the standard, the less you’ll spend on gap analysis, corrective actions, and training.
• Consultants and training needs: Some businesses choose to bring in outside experts or invest in staff training to help them meet certification standards. While this support may be helpful, it does add to the total cost. Consultant fees can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands.
• Audit time and frequency: Bigger, more complex organizations need longer audits and more follow-ups, which increases costs.
• Location: Travel for auditors and multiple sites can raise expenses.
• Certification body: Different certification bodies charge different fees and offer various service levels.

For example: A small aerospace parts distributor with 15 employees, one location, and some experience of ISO 9001 could enjoy lower costs due to their limited scope and minimal potential need for consultancy.

However, a global aircraft maintenance provider with hundreds of employees, multiple sites and no previous certification experience could face higher costs due to a broader scope, multiple locations, longer audits, training and consultancy.

What Aerospace Certifications Are There?

The Cost of Aerospace Certifications

AS9100

AS9100’s focus is on comprehensive quality management across all business processes, making it the most widely adopted standard in the aerospace sector.

AS9100 covers all aspects of quality management, from design and development to production and continual improvement efforts. This broad scope means more departments and processes are involved.

For SMEs (often an organization with fewer than 250 employees and annual revenue under $50 million), AS9100 certification in the US could range from $8,000–$30,000 for initial certification, including audit and registration fees. Larger organizations with an existing Aerospace Quality Management System (AQMS) in place, or those with more complex operations, could see costs reach $100,000 or more.

Costs can be incurred in a variety of ways. If an organization has little to no previous experience with management systems, hiring a consultant to help with the gap analysis and implementing an AQMS could speed up the process but this will incur additional costs. As part of the AQMS implementation, organization may also need to invest in new software or tools.

Auditing fees are often the primary expense associated with certification. The final amount depends on the number of days the audit takes.

Providing additional training for employees to achieve certification and maintain certification successfully will be an extra cost.

Once an organization successfully achieves certification, annual surveillance audits (to confirm continued conformity with AS9100) typically cost around $3,000–$15,000.

AS9110

AS9110 is a certification specifically for aerospace maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) organizations. This certification is centered around risk management and regulatory compliance, with an emphasis on documentation and traceability.

AS9110 certification could fall between $8,000 and $22,000 for smaller companies. For larger MRO providers, costs could rise to $25,000–$30,000 due to greater complexity and regulatory requirements.

Process mapping and documentation, training, and auditing are key areas of AS9110 certification that could incur costs.

Process mapping and documentation involves reviewing and formalizing maintenance and repair procedures. This may require internal resources or external support.

Ongoing staff training in human factors, safety, and documentation may also be required.

Organizations would need to budget for gap analysis and audit fees. In addition to maintaining certification, annual surveillance audits are required, and typically cost $3,000–$7,000.

AS9120

AS9120 is designed for aerospace parts distributors and suppliers. This certification is for supply chain integrity and traceability—helping to ensure parts are properly identified and traceable, and reduce the risk of counterfeit or unapproved parts. Its tighter scope often means a simpler and more cost-effective certification process compared to AS9100 or AS9110.

This more focused scope is reflected in the costs—initial AS9120 certification for small distributors could cost $6,000 to $12,000, while larger or multi-site organizations may spend $15,000–$20,000.

While gap analysis costs are often lower compared to the other aerospace standards, you will need to budget for audit fees and surveillance audits to maintain certification.

AS9120 includes requirements for inventory control and traceability, particularly relevant to organizations that procure, stock, and distribute aerospace parts. During the audit process, organizations must demonstrate their ability to manage inventory in a way that supports traceability, accuracy, and control.

Depending on the maturity and complexity of their existing systems, some organizations may choose to enhance their documentation processes or systems to meet these requirements. While the standard does not mandate specific tools or software, effective record-keeping and inventory control are essential components for demonstrating conformity.

As time goes on, many organizations find that long‑term benefits can outweigh initial costs.

Remember—these are estimated costs, and the amount your organization will pay will be entirely dependent on its unique scope and position.

Contact our helpful team today to find out how much certification might cost for your business.

How Can My Organization Reduce The Cost of Aerospace Certifications?

Organizations can lower the cost of aerospace certification by taking a few practical steps.

• Leveraging existing systems: Organizations that already use ISO 9001 or other management systems may meet many requirements, reducing preparation time and resources.
• Engaging teams early: Involving employees across functions from the outset could build shared understanding and avoid costly last-minute changes.
• Defining the proper scope: Focusing certification on the most relevant products, processes, and sites could streamline effort and control costs.
• Investing in targeted training: Directing training to specific skills gaps could deliver better value than broad, generic programs.
• Using internal audits effectively: Regular internal audits could identify issues early for correction before certification audits, supporting a smoother process.
• Streamlining documentation: Clear, organized, and current records could reduce the risk of delays and rework during audits.
• Considering independent expertise if needed: Some organizations engage an independent consultant for specific areas rather than full‑scope projects.

Achieve Aerospace Certification With Amtivo

With the support of an ANAB-accredited certification body, such as Amtivo, your organization could implement and maintain a robust Aerospace Quality Management System.

A robust AQMS could offer many benefits, including opportunities for new market access and long-term growth.

Whether you wish to pursue AS9100, AS9110, or AS9120 certification, Amtivo provides ANAB‑accredited auditing and certification services to help support your goal.

Get started on your journey to aerospace certification—get a quote today or contact our team of experts to discuss your needs.