Accreditation governance

Policies governing accreditation

QAC's policy framework supports impartial decisions, competent assessment, transparent responsibilities, and accurate accreditation claims, guided by ISO/IEC 17011.

Accreditation policy framework

Principles and responsibilities for credible accreditation

These policies define the expectations for reliable assessment and continued accreditation, including impartiality safeguards and the appropriate use of accreditation symbols.

Policy on impartiality

Impartiality is fundamental to credible accreditation. QAC places independent judgment, fairness, and objective evidence at the centre of assessment and decision-making, protecting these activities from commercial, financial, personal, and other undue influences.

Principal responsibilities

Keep management commitment to impartiality and communicate the principles governing accreditation activities.
Identify actual, potential, and perceived conflicts of interest; evaluate, manage, and monitor the associated risks.
Obtain confidentiality, impartiality, and conflict-of-interest agreements from personnel involved in accreditation.
Use consistent, non-discriminatory criteria to applicants and accredited conformity assessment bodies.
Protect balanced input and independent judgment in technical review and accreditation decisions.
Maintain assessment and decision-making separate from consultancy or other activities that could compromise objectivity.

Full Impartiality Policy

Legal identity and operating authority

Quality Accreditation Commission (QAC) provides accreditation services for conformity assessment bodies against applicable international standards. The scope of each service, the responsibilities of the parties, and the basis for assessment should be defined clearly before an engagement begins.

Legal registration, government recognition, and authority to operate in a particular jurisdiction must be supported by QAC's own documentation. Ask QAC for the documentation relevant to your proposed engagement.

Accreditation services and scope

Management system certification bodies — Assessment against ISO/IEC 17021-1 and applicable scheme requirements.
Testing and calibration laboratories — Evaluation of technical competence under ISO/IEC 17025.
Inspection bodies — Assessment of competence, consistency, and independence under ISO/IEC 17020.
Personnel certification bodies — Evaluation of certification schemes and processes under ISO/IEC 17024.
Product certification bodies — Assessment of product, process, and service certification under ISO/IEC 17065.
Professional development and training — Separate learning activities that do not guarantee accreditation or influence accreditation decisions.

Guidance on cross-Frontier Accreditation Policy

Accreditation activities involving organizations or locations outside North America require clear coordination, technically competent assessment, and attention to local legal and operational conditions. Consistent assessment criteria should apply regardless of where the conformity assessment body operates.

Principal responsibilities

Check service availability, local legal requirements, and any restrictions before planning an overseas assessment.
Specify all requested activities and locations so that assessment coverage matches the proposed scope.
Select assessors with appropriate technical competence, language skills, and knowledge of the local operating context.
Use consistent assessment procedures and relevant international requirements across locations.
Assist with technical understanding and professional development without compromising impartiality.
Verify acceptance requirements in the destination market. Accreditation does not automatically guarantee regulatory or international acceptance.

Guidance on iAF/ILAC MLA/MRA Arrangement Obligations

Multilateral and mutual recognition arrangements support confidence in accredited conformity assessment through peer evaluation and agreed obligations. Participation, signatory status, and the activities covered by an arrangement are specific to the accreditation body and program. They must be verified rather than inferred.

The following areas explain the responsibilities associated with participation where formally applicable. They do not assert that QAC is an IAF, ILAC, or APAC member or arrangement signatory.

Understanding recognition

Check current participation and the precise program scope covered by any recognition arrangement.
Participate in meetings, technical committees, and ballots where required by the applicable arrangement.
Make qualified peer evaluators available when confirmed participation obligations require them.
Explain the scope and limitations of recognition accurately to customers and stakeholders.
Assess acceptance of partner-accredited certificates and reports against the applicable arrangement and regulatory requirements.
Apply combined MLA/MRA marks only with verified authorization and in accordance with the governing agreement.
Assist with consistent interpretation and harmonization of accreditation requirements without making unsupported recognition claims.

Guidance on accreditation Agreement Requirements

The accreditation agreement establishes the responsibilities of QAC and the conformity assessment body (CAB). Applicants and accredited organizations should understand the agreement's conditions and maintain the cooperation, information, and evidence needed to demonstrate continuing conformity.

Principal responsibilities

Maintain conformity with applicable accreditation standards, program requirements, and agreed conditions.
Supply complete and accurate information and support assessment and verification activities.
Plan appropriate access to premises, personnel, records, and witnessed client activities, subject to confidentiality safeguards.
Restrict accreditation claims to the approved scope and apply QAC symbol usage requirements.
Inform QAC promptly of material changes to ownership, management, competence, locations, resources, or scope.
Cooperate with relevant complaint investigations and maintain corrective-action evidence.
Fulfil the financial and other contractual commitments set out in the issued agreement.

Terms and Conditions

Guidance on assessment and Witnessing Requirements

Assessment evaluates whether a conformity assessment body can perform the activities in its requested scope competently and consistently. Document review, evaluation of personnel and facilities, and observation of actual conformity assessment work provide complementary evidence.

Witnessing allows assessors to observe the CAB delivering relevant services. The activities selected, access arrangements, and timing should be confirmed as part of the assessment plan. QAC's accreditation cycle is 4 years with annual surveillance and reassessment to support continued accreditation.

Principal responsibilities

Assess the management system and operational controls across the requested activities and locations.
Examine personnel qualifications, practical competence, authorization, and ongoing development.
Review the suitability and consistent application of conformity assessment methods.
Check that records and results support valid, traceable, and objective conclusions.
Plan witnessing when required by the applicable assessment plan, including suitable client access agreements.
Allow observation of real audits, inspections, examinations, evaluations, or laboratory work relevant to the scope.
Resolve findings through documented correction, root-cause analysis, corrective action, and effectiveness verification.

Routes to assessment

Management Systems Program Testing and Calibration Labs Inspection Bodies Personnel Certification Program Product Certification Program

General accreditation process

Policy on accreditation symbol use

Accreditation symbols indicate a specific accreditation status; they are not a general endorsement of an organization or its products. QAC's usage rules protect the integrity of that communication and help customers distinguish accredited services from other activities.

Principal responsibilities

Apply symbols only in connection with approved activities, premises, and accreditation scope.
Specify the activity covered by each accreditation claim.
Avoid misleading statements, unauthorized claims, or any implication that QAC approves products, processes, or individuals.
Identify accredited and non-accredited activities separately in certificates, reports, websites, and promotional material.
Discontinue affected symbol use and accreditation claims upon suspension, withdrawal, or scope reduction.
Rectify misuse promptly and follow the applicable agreement and procedure for any further action.
Maintain artwork accurate and proportionate, following the published Usage Rules for Accreditation Symbols.

Usage Rules for Accreditation Symbols

Clarifying policies and current requirements

Ask QAC for current policies, program requirements and agreement conditions. Read the relevant standard alongside the detailed assessment procedures, impartiality controls, review arrangements and technical guidance.

Contact QAC

Understanding the framework

This overview explains the framework but does not supersede the issued accreditation agreement or formal requirements. Request documentary confirmation from QAC of legal authority, applicable recognition arrangements and any permission to use international marks.

Complaints and Appeals