ISO Certification Audit Services From a UAF-Accredited Certification Body
Independent ISO certification audits for organizations that have built their management system and need a certificate customers trust. A senior auditor leads your Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits. A separate reviewer makes the certification decision, and surveillance audits keep your certificate valid. You get a fixed-fee quote after a free scoping review.
What Is an ISO Certification Audit?
An ISO certification audit is an independent assessment of whether your management system meets an ISO standard. A certification body runs it in two stages, Stage 1 and Stage 2. If the system conforms, the body issues a certificate for your defined scope. The certificate lasts three years, with surveillance audits every year.
ISO writes the standards but does not certify anyone. Certification comes from certification bodies. Accredited certification bodies are themselves assessed by an accreditation body against ISO/IEC 17021-1. That is why buyers and tenders often ask for an accredited certificate, not just any certificate.
Accredify Global is a UAF-accredited ISO certification body under the IAF MLA framework. We audit, report findings with evidence, and make an independent certification decision. We do not build or run your management system. Our impartiality commitments explain why that separation protects your certificate.
Accredited vs Non-Accredited ISO Certification: What Buyers Check
Not every ISO certificate carries the same weight. An accredited certificate comes from a certification body that an accreditation body has assessed for competence and impartiality. Accreditation bodies that sign the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) recognize each other's accredited certificates. That makes an accredited certificate easier for customers in other countries to accept.
Accreditation also covers specific standards and sectors, not everything a certification body offers. At scoping, we confirm the accreditation status for your standard and scope. Your certificate then states it clearly, so a buyer's supplier team can check it without guesswork.
Sources: ISO/IEC 17021-1 (ISO) · International Accreditation Forum (IAF) · UAF directory of accredited bodies
Who Needs an ISO Certification Audit?
Organizations whose management system is running and who now need independent proof of it.
You have built your system, completed an internal audit and management review, and need your first certificate.
You hold an accredited certificate and want to move to a new certification body at your next surveillance or renewal.
You are adding sites, products, or activities to an existing certificate.
You run more than one standard and want them audited together to save time.
A customer, government tender, or export market asks for an accredited certificate by a set date.
Your three-year cycle is ending and you need a recertification audit before expiry.
ISO Standards We Audit and Certify
Our most requested standards. The full list is on our ISO certification services page.
| Standard | Management system | Common buyers |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | Quality management | Manufacturers, service firms, and government suppliers |
| ISO 14001 | Environmental management | Manufacturers, construction, and firms with ESG targets |
| ISO 45001 | Occupational health and safety | Construction, energy, logistics, and manufacturing |
| ISO 27001 | Information security | SaaS, IT services, and data processors |
| ISO 27701 | Privacy information management | Organizations processing personal data at scale |
| ISO 42001 | AI management | AI builders and enterprises deploying AI |
| ISO 22000 | Food safety management | Food manufacturers, suppliers, and logistics |
| ISO 50001 | Energy management | Energy-intensive plants and EU large energy users |
| ISO 22301 | Business continuity | Financial services, IT, and critical suppliers |
| ISO/IEC 20000-1 | IT service management | Managed service and cloud providers |
Accreditation applies to specific standards and sectors. We confirm the accreditation status for your standard in your proposal.
How Our ISO Certification Audit Works
Six stages from application to a certificate that stays valid for three years. The full step-by-step guide is on our ISO certification process page.
Not sure your system is ready for Stage 1? A free scoping review confirms your scope and audit time before you commit.
Book a free scoping reviewStage 1 and Stage 2 of the ISO Certification Audit
Most findings can be avoided by knowing what each stage looks for.
Stage 1: readiness
- Scope and boundaries of the management system
- Documented information the standard requires
- Legal and customer requirements identified
- Risks, objectives, and how they are tracked
- A completed internal audit and management review
- Site conditions and plans for Stage 2
Stage 2: implementation and effectiveness
- Interviews with leaders, process owners, and staff
- Observation of work where it happens
- Records sampled against every applicable clause
- Objectives measured and reviewed
- Nonconformities from internal audit followed up
- Findings graded as major, minor, or opportunities
| Finding | What it means | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Major nonconformity | A requirement is not met, or the system fails to achieve its intended results | Correct it and send evidence before the certification decision |
| Minor nonconformity | A partial lapse that does not undermine the system | Send a corrective action plan; we verify it at the next audit |
| Opportunity for improvement | A point that could be stronger, with no requirement missed | Consider it; no response is required |
Client and Certification Body Responsibilities
Accreditation rules keep auditing and consulting apart. This is what that means in practice.
Your organization
- Designs, documents, and runs the management system
- Completes internal audits and management reviews
- Corrects nonconformities and provides evidence
- Tells us about significant changes during the cycle
- Uses the certificate and marks correctly
Accredify Global
- Plans and runs independent certification audits
- Evaluates evidence objectively and reports findings
- Makes a separate, independent certification decision
- Runs surveillance and recertification audits
- Keeps your information confidential under our confidentiality and conflicts of interest policy
We do not implement management systems, write procedures, or perform internal audits for certification clients. See our impartiality policy.
What Makes Our ISO Certification Audit Services Different
The outcomes quality, compliance, and leadership teams care about most.
A senior auditor competent in your sector leads every audit, so findings reflect how your business really works.
Your quote covers the audit man-days your scope needs. There are no hidden costs after scoping.
Each finding cites the requirement and the evidence behind it, so your team knows exactly what to fix.
Several standards audited together, with shared evidence and fewer days on site.
Surveillance Audits, Recertification, and Certificate Transfers
Our ISO audit services continue for the whole three-year cycle, and you can move an existing certificate to us.
| Audit | When it happens | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| First surveillance | Within 12 months of the certification decision | A sample of requirements, plus follow-up of earlier findings |
| Second surveillance | About a year later | The rest of the sample, changes, and complaints received |
| Recertification | Before the certificate expires in year three | The whole system and its performance over the cycle |
| Special audits | After major changes or complaints | Scope extensions, new sites, or issues that need checking |
| Certificate transfer | At any point in a valid cycle | A pre-transfer review of your certificate, last report, and open findings |
Transfers keep your cycle dates where possible, so there is no gap in certification while you change certification body.
ISO Certification Audit Cost and Timeline
There is no list price. The cost follows the audit man-days your scope needs under accreditation rules. A free scoping review gives you a tailored proposal with a fixed fee.
What sets the audit man-days
- Standard — each standard has its own audit time rules
- Employees — people working within the scope, across shifts
- Sites — how many locations, and whether sampling applies
- Complexity and risk — the nature of your activities and sector
- Integration — auditing several standards together can reduce time
How long it takes
| Application to decision | Typically 6–12 weeks, depending on scope and readiness |
|---|---|
| Before Stage 1 | System running, with internal audit and management review done |
| After certification | Surveillance every year, recertification in year three |
How to Choose an ISO Certification Body
The questions worth asking before you sign, and how Accredify Global answers them.
| Question to ask | Accredify Global's answer |
|---|---|
| Are you accredited, and for my standard? | We are UAF-accredited under the IAF MLA, and confirm the status for your standard at scoping. |
| Will you also help us implement? | No. A certification body that consults on your system cannot certify it impartially. |
| Who leads the audit? | A senior auditor competent in your sector, on every audit. |
| Is certification guaranteed? | No. Any body that guarantees certification is a warning sign. |
| How is it priced? | A fixed-fee quote after a free scoping review, based on audit man-days. |
| Can buyers verify our certificate? | Yes, on our certificate verification page. |
What You Receive From an ISO Certification Audit
Standard, sites, activities, and dates confirmed upfront.
Readiness findings to close before Stage 2.
Findings graded, with the evidence behind each one.
Made independently, after corrective actions are reviewed.
Clear scope wording, listed for verification.
Surveillance and recertification dates agreed.
Frequently Asked Questions About ISO Certification Audits
Straight answers on accreditation, audit stages, findings, cost, timeline, and impartiality.
What is an ISO certification audit?
An ISO certification audit is an independent assessment of whether an organization's management system meets an ISO standard. A certification body runs it in two stages. If the system conforms, the body issues a certificate for a defined scope, valid for three years with yearly surveillance audits.
What is an ISO certification body?
An ISO certification body is an independent organization that audits management systems and issues certificates against ISO standards. Accredited certification bodies are themselves checked by an accreditation body against ISO/IEC 17021-1. ISO itself does not issue certificates.
Is Accredify Global an accredited certification body?
Yes. Accredify Global is a UAF-accredited certification body under the IAF MLA framework. Accreditation covers specific standards and sectors, so we confirm the accreditation status for your standard at scoping. You can check our accreditation in the UAF directory.
What is the difference between Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits?
Stage 1 checks readiness: your scope, documented information, internal audit, and management review. Stage 2 evaluates whether the system is implemented and effective, using interviews, observation, and records. Certification can only follow a successful Stage 2.
How long is an ISO certificate valid?
An accredited ISO certificate runs on a three-year cycle. Surveillance audits take place at least once a year, and a recertification audit is due before the certificate expires.
How long does ISO certification take?
Most Accredify Global certification programs take 6 to 12 weeks from application to decision, depending on scope and readiness. Your system must already be running, with a completed internal audit and management review, before Stage 1.
How much does an ISO certification audit cost?
The cost depends on the number of audit man-days. Accreditation rules set these from your standard, employees, sites, and the complexity of your activities. Accredify Global reviews your scope for free and sends a fixed-fee quote.
Do you provide ISO implementation or consulting?
No. As a certification body, we must stay impartial. We do not implement management systems, write client procedures, or perform internal audits for certification clients. Your team or an independent consultant builds the system; we audit it.
What happens if the audit finds a nonconformity?
Major nonconformities must be corrected, with evidence reviewed by us, before a certification decision. Minor nonconformities need an accepted corrective action plan. Findings are graded against objective evidence, not opinion.
Who makes the certification decision?
A qualified person who did not take part in the audit makes the certification decision. They review the audit report and corrective action evidence. This separation is an accreditation requirement that protects the certificate's credibility.
Is ISO certification guaranteed?
No. No accredited certification body can guarantee certification. The decision depends on the evidence found during the audit and on any corrective actions you complete.
Can we transfer our certificate from another certification body?
Yes. Accredited certificates can usually be transferred between accredited certification bodies. We review your current certificate, last audit report, and open findings before accepting the transfer.
Can you audit several ISO standards together?
Yes. Standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and ISO 27001 share a common structure, so they can be audited together. An integrated audit can reduce total audit time compared with separate audits.
Which ISO standards can Accredify Global certify?
We audit a wide range of management system standards, including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001, ISO 42001, ISO 22000, and ISO 50001. See our ISO certification services page for the full list.
How can customers verify our certificate?
Every certificate we issue can be checked on our certificate verification page. Customers can confirm the certificate number, scope, status, and expiry date.
What do we need before booking a certification audit?
You need a management system that is in operation, with records. You also need a completed internal audit, a management review, and a clear scope covering activities and sites.
Book an ISO Certification Audit With an Accredited, Independent Certification Body
Tell us your standard, sites, and deadline. We'll confirm your scope and audit time, recommend dates, and send a fixed-fee quote.
Book your free scoping review →Last reviewed by the Accredify Global compliance team.