What is Accreditation?

The recognition is provided by an Accreditation Body that is often formally  recognised at a national, regional or international level. If the conformity assessment body is accredited it is recognised for its competence including knowledge, skills and ability to provide the service. The recognition is usually guided by minimum requirements outlined by relevant as well as  accreditation requirements.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACCREDITATION VS CERTIFICATION?

• Accreditation and Certification are regularly wrongfully used interchangeably. However, in the conformity assessment industry both terms have very specific meanings. In layman’s terms accreditation gives recognition of a conformity assessment body’s competence to perform specific services. Whereas certification gives recognition to a companies compliance with requirements such as ISO9000 or ISO14000
• Certification Bodies, are accredited after they successfully undergo a process of assessment by an Accreditation body like SANAS, MAURITAS or SADCAS to ensure they meet international standards that among other things assess the bodies impartiality and competence.
• Certification is undertaken by Certification Bodies and is a process by which an independent third party certifies that a product, system or person, conforms to specific requirements.

WHAT IS ACCREDITATION NOT?

With the now common and broad use of the term ‘accreditation’ and some long standing misconceptions of what accreditation involves, it is important that there is clarity about what accreditation is not.

• It is not merely a means of registering or listing of personnel or products and processes.
• It is not a management system assessment/audit dressed up with some scientific/technical elements.
• It is not the recognition of reputation/affiliation -these things change over time.
• It is not the recognition of future capabilities.
• It is not the recognition of an individual’s qualifications.
• It is not broad approval of every activity that a CAB might do.