Accredited vs Non-Accredited ISO Certification: What Is the Difference?
What Does Accredited Certification Mean?
Certification and accreditation are related, but they are not the same.
Certification provides assurance that an organization, management system, product or service meets specified requirements. Accreditation is independent recognition that a conformity assessment body, such as a certification body, is competent to perform specified certification activities.
An organization is certified. A certification body is accredited.
ISO develops International Standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 22000, but ISO itself does not certify organizations. Independent certification bodies conduct certification audits and make certification decisions.
What Is an Accredited Certification Body?
An accredited certification body has been independently assessed by an accreditation body against applicable requirements.
For management-system certification, ISO/IEC 17021-1 establishes requirements relating to areas such as competence, impartiality, audit processes, certification decisions, complaints and certification controls.
In the UAE, the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC) provides accreditation services to conformity assessment bodies, including management-system certification bodies. Accreditation therefore provides an additional level of independent oversight of the certification body.
What Is Accredited ISO Certification?
Accredited ISO certification means that certification has been issued under an applicable accredited scheme and within the certification body's approved accreditation scope.
This distinction is important because a certification body may be accredited for one standard or activity but not another.
Instead of asking only, “Is the certification body accredited?”, organizations should also ask: “Is this particular certification covered by the certification body's approved accreditation scope?”
What Is Non-Accredited ISO Certification?
Non-accredited certification is certification that is not issued under an applicable accreditation for that particular certification activity.
This does not automatically mean that the certificate is fake or fraudulent.
Accreditation is not compulsory for every certification activity, but it provides an additional level of independent confirmation of a certification body's competence.
Whether non-accredited certification is appropriate therefore depends on the intended purpose and the requirements of the customer, tender, contract, regulator or other interested party.
Accredited vs Non-Accredited ISO Certification: Key Differences
The main difference between accredited and non-accredited ISO certification is the level of independent oversight supporting the certification activity.
Accredited certification is issued within a certification body's approved accreditation scope, while non-accredited certification is issued outside an applicable accredited scope.
The comparison below summarizes the key distinctions.
| Comparison Factor | Accredited ISO Certification | Non-Accredited ISO Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Accreditation oversight | The certification activity operates within an applicable accreditation framework. | The certification activity is not covered by an applicable accreditation for that specific scheme or scope. |
| Independent assessment of the certification body | The certification body has undergone independent assessment for the activities covered by its accreditation. | Competence for that specific activity is not independently confirmed through accreditation. |
| Applicable scope | Certification must fall within the certification body's approved accredited scheme and scope. | Certification is provided outside the body's applicable accredited scope. |
| Independent assurance | Provides an additional level of assurance through accreditation-body oversight. | Does not include accreditation-body oversight for that specific certification activity. |
| Tender requirements | May be specifically requested in tenders, contracts or procurement systems. | Acceptance depends on the requirements established by the tendering organization or customer. |
| Supplier approval | May be required where supplier qualification criteria specify accredited certification. | May be accepted where accredited certification is not specifically required. |
| Verification | Accreditation status, certification-body scope and certificate status should be checked using relevant official sources. | Verification should focus on the issuing certification body, certification process and certificate status. |
| Does it automatically prove authenticity? | No. The certificate, certification scope and current status should still be verified. | No. Non-accredited does not automatically mean fraudulent, but the certification route should be checked carefully. |
| Suitability | Appropriate where accredited certification is required or additional independent assurance is important. | May be appropriate where accreditation is not required and the certification route is acceptable to the relevant interested parties. |
Which Type of ISO Certification Should an Organization Choose?
The starting point should be the purpose for which certification is required.
If a tender, customer, supplier-registration system, contract or other interested party specifically requires accredited certification, the organization should confirm that both the relevant management-system standard and its applicable activities fall within the certification body's approved accreditation scope.
Where accredited certification is not specifically required, a non-accredited certification route may still be considered depending on the applicable scheme and intended purpose.
Organizations should evaluate the certification body's credibility, certification process, certificate scope and the requirements of the party relying on the certificate rather than making a decision based solely on a logo or certificate appearance.
Accredited Does Not Mean Every Service Is Accredited
Not every certificate issued by an accredited certification body is automatically accredited.
Accreditation is scheme- and scope-specific, meaning a certification body may provide both accredited and non-accredited certification services.
For example, NORMEIRA's current accreditation information identifies ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 22000 and HACCP among its EIAC-accredited certification schemes, subject to the applicable approved accreditation scope.
The accreditation status of the specific certification service should therefore always be checked rather than assumed.
Why Does Accreditation Matter?
Accreditation adds independent oversight of the certification body and may provide additional confidence when certification is used for:
- Tenders and prequalification
- Supplier approval
- Contractual requirements
- International supply chains
- Stakeholder assurance
However, organizations should always review the actual requirement. Holding an ISO certificate does not automatically satisfy every tender, customer, contractual or regulatory condition.
Does Accredited Certification Mean a Company Is Better Than Its Competitors?
No.
Accredited management-system certification indicates that the organization's management system has been assessed against specified requirements through an accredited certification process.
It does not guarantee that every product will be defect-free, every service will be superior or the organization will never experience problems.
Certification should therefore be understood as evidence of conformity within a defined certification scope, not as an unlimited guarantee of performance.
How Can You Check Whether an ISO Certificate Is Accredited?
A certificate should be verified using official information rather than relying only on its appearance or accreditation logo.
- Certification body: Identify who issued the certificate.
- Accreditation body: Confirm which accreditation body is claimed.
- Accreditation listing: Check the certification body's official accreditation information.
- ISO standard: Confirm that the applicable standard is covered.
- Accreditation scope: Verify that the relevant activity falls within the approved scope.
- Certificate status: Use the certification body's official verification system to confirm current validity.
Accreditation Logo vs Actual Accreditation
An accreditation logo alone should not be treated as proof that a certificate is accredited.
Organizations should verify the:
- Certification body
- Accreditation body
- Applicable ISO standard
- Accreditation scope
- Certificate number
- Certified organization
- Certification scope
- Current certificate status
Official verification provides stronger evidence than simply relying on logos shown on a PDF certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is accredited ISO certification mandatory?
Not always. The requirement depends on the certification scheme and the expectations of the customer, tender, contract, regulator or other interested party.
Is non-accredited ISO certification fake?
No. Non-accredited and fraudulent certification are not the same thing. The issuing body, certification process and intended purpose should be evaluated before accepting the certificate.
Can an accredited certification body issue a non-accredited certificate?
Yes. Accreditation is scheme- and scope-specific, so an accredited certification body may also provide certification activities outside its accredited scope when their status is represented clearly.
Is accreditation the same as ISO certification?
No. Certification evaluates conformity with specified requirements, while accreditation provides independent recognition of a certification body's competence to carry out specified conformity assessment activities.
Does ISO issue certificates?
No. ISO develops International Standards. Independent certification bodies conduct certification and issue certificates.
The Key Difference
The simplest distinction is:
Certification assesses whether specified requirements have been met.
Accreditation provides independent recognition of the certification body's competence to perform the relevant conformity assessment activity within an approved scope.
Before accepting an ISO certificate, organizations should check its issuing certification body, scope, accreditation status where applicable and current validity.
For NORMEIRA-issued certificates, users can review applicable accredited schemes through the Our Accreditation page and check issued certificates through NORMEIRA's official Certificate Verification facility.
Trusted ISO Certification Body for Business Excellence