What is Accreditation? Process, Standards and 2026 Updates
Accreditation is the assessment of a conformity assessment body's ability to work competently, impartially and consistently within a specific scope. This guide explains the difference between accreditation and certification, ISO/IEC 17021-1, 17020, 17024 and 17065 standards, scope verification and the 2026 Global ACI change.
Accreditation is the assessment of a conformity assessment body's ability to work competently, impartially and consistently within a specific scope. This guide explains the difference between accreditation and certification, ISO/IEC 17021-1, 17020, 17024 and 17065 standards, scope verification and the 2026 Global ACI change.
What is accreditation?
Accreditation is a trust mechanism for assessing the competence, impartiality and ability to work consistently of laboratories, inspection bodies, certification bodies and other conformity assessment bodies in specific activities. The value of accreditation rests not merely on a logo or a certificate but on the assessed accreditation scope. Most important rule: A body being "accredited" does not mean that every service it offers is automatically within the accreditation scope. You must verify from the official registry that the standard, sector or activity you will use is currently within scope.
The difference between accreditation, certification and verification
Concept — What it assesses — Typical addressee — Example: Accreditation — Competence and impartiality in specific conformity assessment activities — Certification, inspection, laboratory or verification body — Accreditation of a management system certification body under ISO/IEC 17021-1 scope. Certification — Conformity of a management system, product, process or person to defined requirements — Company, product, process or person — ISO 14001 management system certification. Verification / validation — Conformity of declarations, data or forward-looking assumptions to the relevant program and criteria — Reporting organization or project — Independent verification of greenhouse gas declarations. ISO is the organization that develops standards; it does not directly grant management system certificates or accreditation to companies.
Fundamental ISO/IEC standards in accreditation
The roles of standards in the accreditation system are not the same. ISO/IEC 17011 is directed at accreditation bodies that accredit conformity assessment bodies. Standards such as ISO/IEC 17021-1, 17020, 17024 and 17065 define the competence and operating requirements of different types of conformity assessment / certification bodies. ISO/IEC 17011:2017 — Sets requirements regarding the competence, impartiality and consistent operation of accreditation bodies that accredit conformity assessment bodies. This standard defines the role of accreditation bodies; it is not an operating standard for certification or inspection bodies. Official source: ISO — ISO/IEC 17011:2017. ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 — Sets general requirements for the competence, consistency and impartiality of bodies auditing and certifying management systems. As of July 2026 it is listed by ISO as the published version. Official source: ISO — ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015. ISO/IEC 17020:2026 — Sets requirements for the competence, impartiality and consistent operation of inspection bodies. The new third edition was published in March 2026; the 2012 version has been withdrawn. Technical note: In ISO records the English "corrected version" is shown as June 2026. This record does not mean a new edition. Official source: ISO — ISO/IEC 17020:2026 registration and corrected version information. ISO/IEC 17024:2026 — Sets general requirements for personnel certification bodies to operate reliably and consistently. Published in March 2026, replacing the 2012 edition. Official source: ISO — ISO/IEC 17024:2026. ISO/IEC 17065:2012 — Sets requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services. As of July 2026 it is the edition in force; ISO/IEC FDIS 17065 is under development for a second edition. Official sources: ISO — ISO/IEC 17065:2012 · ISO — ISO/IEC FDIS 17065. Which activity is related to which standard? Activity / body type — Related core standard: Accreditation bodies — ISO/IEC 17011. Testing and calibration laboratories — ISO/IEC 17025. Medical laboratories — ISO 15189. Inspection bodies — ISO/IEC 17020. Management system certification bodies — ISO/IEC 17021-1. Personnel certification bodies — ISO/IEC 17024. Product, process and service certification bodies — ISO/IEC 17065. Validation / verification bodies — ISO/IEC 17029. Proficiency testing providers — ISO/IEC 17043. Reference material producers — ISO 17034. For standards without a specified edition year in the map, no version-year claim is made in this table; the current edition and transition requirements should be checked from the relevant official source at the time of the transaction.
2026 accreditation update: Global ACI
Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI) became fully operational on 1 January 2026, merging the operational roles of IAF and ILAC into a single international structure and putting its own Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MRA) system into effect. The organization's official "Global ACI" abbreviation, new logo and digital identity were announced on 14 April 2026. Official sources: Global ACI — 1 January 2026 establishment and transition announcement · Global ACI — 14 April 2026 name and digital identity announcement. What does this mean? When assessing an international recognition claim, instead of just looking at the mark on the certificate, it is necessary to verify the status of the accreditation body and the relevant scope in the current Global ACI MRA structure from official sources. For the current 2026 MRA structure, Global ACI records are the primary international verification source. Transition note: Global ACI has taken over the operational roles of IAF and ILAC as of 1 January 2026. However, during the transition period, recognition of accreditations based on the existing IAF MLA and ILAC MRA arrangements continues; certain IAF/ILAC MLA-MRA mark and document usage arrangements may also continue to be used within the framework of relevant transition decisions until equivalent Global ACI arrangements are completed. Therefore, one should not conclude that a certificate is invalid solely based on the presence of an old IAF or ILAC mark. Transition sources: Global ACI — recognition continuity announcement · Global ACI — IAF/ILAC document cross-reference table, 10 June 2026.
How should IAB accreditation be assessed?
The International Accreditation Board (IAB) is an organization that publishes its own accreditation programs in areas such as management systems, personnel, inspection and product certification. IAB's program pages describe accreditation requirements according to the relevant conformity assessment standards. IAB program source: IAB — ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation program. IAB – Global ACI relationship: As of July 2026, the International Accreditation Board (IAB) is not shown as an MRA signatory accreditation body recognized under the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI) MRA. Therefore, an accreditation granted by IAB should not be assumed to have international mutual recognition under the Global ACI MRA. IAB running its own accreditation programs does not mean Global ACI membership, affiliation or MRA signatory status. If international recognition under the Global ACI MRA is required, the accreditation body and relevant scope should be verified only from Global ACI's current official MRA / Full Member records. Official recognition check: Global ACI — Full Members / MRA signatory records · Global ACI — MRA structure and signatory explanation.
How is an accreditation or certificate verified?
Match the legal entity — Make sure the company name, address and organization details on the certificate are the same as the official record. Find the accreditation body — Check the accreditation mark and accreditation number on the certificate and go directly to the official registry. Check the active status — Verify from the current registry that the accreditation is not suspended, withdrawn or expired. Check the scope — Confirm that the relevant standard, sector code or activity area is actually included in the accreditation scope. Assess MRA recognition — If international recognition is required, check the status of the accreditation body under the relevant Global ACI MRA scope from official sources. Confirm the acceptance requirement — Verify through the written specification whether the tender, customer, regulatory body or supply chain requirement accepts this accreditation and scope.
How does the general accreditation process proceed?
The exact process and terminology vary by accreditation body and program. The general model includes the following steps: 1. Scope and application — The requested activity, standard and technical scope are defined; the application and required information are prepared. 2. Document review — Management system, procedures, impartiality arrangements, competence records and technical documentation are reviewed. 3. Assessment — Office assessment, technical review and, depending on the program, assessment activities such as witnessing may be carried out. 4. Findings — Nonconformities or areas requiring improvement are recorded and necessary corrective actions are completed. 5. Decision — Independently of the assessment result, the authorized decision mechanism makes the accreditation decision and the scope is published. 6. Maintenance — Surveillance, reassessment, scope change and transition to current standards are carried out according to program requirements.
What does Europecarbon provide in accreditation and certification preparation?
Europecarbon's role is not to replace the independent accreditation or certification decision, but to help organizations understand the requirements, correctly define their scope and raise their level of readiness for assessment. Determining the applicable standard and program; analysis of accreditation scope and activity boundaries; current status / gap analysis; review of procedure and record structure; verification of impartiality and competence evidence; preparation support for internal audit and management review; application file check; pre-assessment rehearsal and finding closure support. You can also review our certification services, verification services, ISO 14001, ISO 50001 and greenhouse gas verification pages.
How we work
- 1Scope and application: the requested activity, standard and technical scope are defined; the application and required information are prepared.
- 2Document review: management system, procedures, impartiality arrangements, competence records and technical documentation are reviewed.
- 3Assessment: office assessment, technical review and, depending on the program, witnessing-type assessment activities may be carried out.
- 4Findings: nonconformities or areas requiring improvement are recorded and necessary corrective actions are completed.
- 5Decision: independently of the assessment result, the authorized decision mechanism makes the accreditation decision and the scope is published.
- 6Maintenance: surveillance, reassessment, scope change and transition to current standards are carried out according to program requirements.