The Certification Process
A transparent, well-defined pathway from first contact to certificate issuance — and through the full three-year cycle. Designed for rigour, efficiency, and clarity at every stage.
Four stages to your certificate.
Our process conforms to ISO/IEC 17021-1 — the international standard governing certification body requirements. Rigour and consistency guaranteed at every stage.
Timelines vary by organisation size and management system maturity. A detailed timeline is provided in your quotation.
Begin Your Application-
Stage 01
Application & Scoping
The process begins with your enquiry. We conduct a scoping discussion to understand your organisation, the management system in place, the applicable ISO standard, and the certification scope boundaries. A formal certification agreement and detailed, transparent quotation is then issued.
- Submit your certification enquiry by telephone, email, or contact form
- Preliminary scoping discussion — understanding your organisation and management system
- Scope defined and agreed, covering activities, sites, and processes
- Formal certification agreement and detailed audit quotation issued
- You review, accept, and return the signed agreement
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Stage 02
Stage 1 Audit — Documentation Review
The Stage 1 audit is a structured readiness assessment reviewing your management system documentation and evaluating whether your organisation understands and is prepared to demonstrate conformance with the applicable standard's requirements.
- Review of management system documentation — policies, procedures, objectives, records
- Assessment of organisational understanding of standard requirements
- Identification of areas requiring attention before Stage 2
- Stage 1 audit report issued with clear, specific, actionable observations
- Stage 2 date and detailed audit plan confirmed
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Stage 03
Stage 2 Audit — Implementation Audit
The main certification audit conducted on-site. The lead auditor assesses the full implementation and practical effectiveness of your management system through interviews, direct observation of activities and processes, and review of records and objective evidence.
- On-site assessment of full management system implementation
- Interviews with personnel across all relevant functions and levels
- Observation of activities, processes, and workplace conditions
- Review of records, monitoring data, internal audit results, corrective actions
- Closing meeting — all findings presented and discussed openly
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Stage 04
Certification Decision & Certificate Issuance
Following successful Stage 2 completion and resolution of any nonconformities, a certification decision is made by a qualified decision-maker independent from the audit team. A positive outcome results in your ISO certificate, valid for three years.
- Independent certification decision by decision-maker separate from audit team
- Positive outcome results in ISO certificate issuance with formally defined scope
- Certificate valid for three years from certification decision date
- You may reference certification status and display your certificate
- Annual surveillance schedule confirmed for years two and three
The three-year certification cycle.
ISO certification is not a one-time achievement. Annual surveillance audits and a full recertification audit ensure your certificate continues to reflect the current state of your management system throughout its validity period.
Surveillance audits provide structured, independent verification that your management system remains implemented and effective.
- Y1Year 1 — Initial Certification
Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits completed. Certificate issued upon positive certification decision. Three-year validity period begins.
- Y2Year 2 — First Surveillance Audit
Annual surveillance audit confirming continued conformance. Certificate validity maintained upon satisfactory outcome.
- Y3Year 3 — Second Surveillance Audit
Second annual surveillance. Recertification audit planned for end of the three-year cycle before certificate expiry.
- RRecertification — New 3-Year Cycle
Full recertification audit renews the certificate for a further three years, beginning a new surveillance cycle.