UKAS Accreditation
The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is a globally recognised accreditation service appointed by the UK government to assess the competencies of organisations providing ISO certifications. In simple terms, UKAS certifies certifiers.
But why does UKAS accreditation matter, and why is it crucial for the validity of ISO certifications?
UKAS accredited ISO certification gives assurance that all elements of the certification have been applied correctly to a defined high standard. It shows that the certification body will be
diligent when awarding and assessing each element needed to achieve ISO certification. Organisations that require ISO certifications from their suppliers will often not accept ISO certifications without UKAS accreditation. This is because, without UKAS, the certification may not have quality assurance and strict standards may not be being met.
So, how does UKAS accreditation affect ISO certification validity?
ISO certification providers who operate under UKAS standards, automatically have more validity than those without UKAS accreditation. There are many reasons for this. For instance:
- UKAS accredited ISO certification processes are tailored for the business being
audited.- UKAS approved ISO certifications are not just generic or blanket certifications.
Committed businesses will put a lot of time and resources towards gaining a full
UKAS accredited ISO certification. This is because of their thorough audit process and
global recognition of the standard’s validity. Certifiers backed by UKAS gather rich
and highly valid data about the business striving for ISO certification, rather than just
ticking off boxes.
- UKAS approved ISO certifications are not just generic or blanket certifications.
- Without UKAS backing, ISO standards may vary.
- For accrediting bodies to become UKAS certified, they must comply with defined rules and regulations as set out by UKAS. Without operating within the scope of these regulations, non-UKAS accredited ISO providers may not have received the quality assurance needed to credibly verify whether a business has truly earned certifications to the same degree of quality that a UKAS accredited provider may be able to provide. Therefore, standards may vary, and the ISO certification may not always be valid for your requirements.
- Why organisations without UKAS governance are not the best choice.
- For many buyers, there is a requirement that their suppliers’ ISO certifications have to be UKAS accredited. However, none UKAS accredited bodies are issuing certificates on
their accreditation requirements. This is not to a set standard and each body will have different standards. These may be less exacting than UKAS.
- For many buyers, there is a requirement that their suppliers’ ISO certifications have to be UKAS accredited. However, none UKAS accredited bodies are issuing certificates on
- How can you be sure your supplier’s ISO certificates are carried out in line with UKAS standards?
- You can ensure your suppliers have UKAS verified ISO certifications by looking at their accreditation certificates.
- Towards the bottom of the certificate, you should see the UKAS logo alongside the logo of the awarding body. If your supplier’s ISO certificates do not contain the UKAS logo, you would be right to raise questions about the applicability of the ISO certification process.