6 rules for Accreditation of Personnel Certification Bodies ISO 17024

ISO/IEC 17024:2012 specifies general requirements for bodies operating certification of persons. The standard aims to ensure that the certification bodies operate in a consistent, comparable, and reliable manner. Here are six key rules and requirements from ISO/IEC 17024:

  1. Impartiality:
    • Certification bodies must demonstrate impartiality in their certification activities.
    • They should identify, document, and eliminate or minimize any risks to impartiality.
    • Conflict of interest must be avoided, and the certification process must not be influenced by other interests or relationships.
  2. Competence:
    • The certification body must ensure that its personnel (including examiners, decision-makers, and administrative staff) have the necessary competence to perform their duties.
    • This includes adequate training, qualifications, experience, and continuous professional development.
  3. Confidentiality:
    • Certification bodies must maintain the confidentiality of all information obtained during the certification process.
    • They must have procedures in place to protect sensitive information and only disclose it with appropriate consent or as required by law.
  4. Examination Development and Delivery:
    • The certification body must develop, validate, and administer exams that accurately assess the competence of candidates.
    • Exams should be fair, reliable, and legally defensible, and the process should include mechanisms for feedback and continuous improvement.
  5. Management System Requirements:
    • Certification bodies must establish, document, implement, and maintain a management system capable of achieving the consistent fulfilment of the requirements of ISO/IEC 17024.
    • This includes regular internal audits, management reviews, and corrective actions to address any non-conformities.
  6. Continual Improvement and Monitoring:
    • Certification bodies must implement procedures to continuously monitor and improve their certification processes.
    • They should have mechanisms for collecting and analyzing data, including feedback from candidates and stakeholders, to enhance the effectiveness and quality of their certification activities.

These rules ensure that certification bodies operate transparently, competently, and impartially, providing reliable and valid certifications for personnel across various industries.