ISO/IEC 17065
Product, Process & Service Certification Bodies Accreditation
Demonstrate the competence, impartiality, and consistent operation of your certification body through accreditation against ISO/IEC 17065. AAA accreditation provides independent recognition that your organization operates credible certification schemes and makes reliable certification decisions.
- 59+Countries Served
- 287Assessors
- 3 YearsValidity
- GlobalRecognition
Who Should Apply?
Is ISO/IEC 17065 Accreditation Right for Your Certification Body?
ISO/IEC 17065 is the internationally recognized standard for organizations that certify products, processes, and services.
Accreditation demonstrates that a certification body has the competent personnel, impartiality controls, evaluation processes, certification procedures, and management systems necessary to make consistent and reliable certification decisions.
Suitable for certification bodies offering
Electrical & Electronic Product Certification
Construction Product Certification
Food & Agricultural Product Certification
Industrial Product Certification
Process Certification
Service Certification
Other Scheme-Based Certification Activities
Benefits
Why ISO/IEC 17065 Accreditation Matters
01
Demonstrate Certification Competence
Provide independent evidence that your certification body has competent personnel, robust evaluation processes, effective scheme controls, and reliable certification decision-making.
02
Strengthen Confidence in Certified Products & Services
Increase confidence among customers, regulators, manufacturers, retailers, and other stakeholders that certified products, processes, or services meet defined requirements.
03
Protect Impartiality & Credibility
Demonstrate that commercial, financial, ownership, or operational relationships are effectively managed so certification decisions remain impartial.
04
Support Market Access & Regulatory Acceptance
Strengthen the credibility of certification results and support access to regulated markets, procurement systems, supply chains, and international customers.
Assessment Areas
Key Areas Assessed During Accreditation
AAA evaluates the governance, competence, impartiality, evaluation, and decision-making controls needed to provide credible product, process, and service certification.
01
Structure & Governance
Legal identity, organizational structure, responsibilities, authority, governance arrangements, and management controls.
02
Impartiality & Conflict-of-Interest Management
Control of ownership relationships, consultancy, commercial pressures, and other risks to impartiality.
03
Personnel Competence
Qualifications, technical knowledge, experience, authorization, and ongoing competence of certification personnel.
04
Certification Scheme Management
Scheme requirements, certification criteria, evaluation methods, surveillance requirements, and scheme controls.
05
Application & Evaluation
Application review, evaluation planning, testing, inspection, auditing, technical review, and conformity-assessment activities.
06
Review & Certification Decision
Independent review and decisions to grant, maintain, extend, reduce, suspend, withdraw, or renew certification.
07
Surveillance & Continued Certification
Ongoing surveillance, continued conformity, certification marks, and follow-up activities.
08
Complaints, Appeals & Certification Records
Complaints, appeals, certification records, public information, confidentiality, corrective actions, and improvement.
How It Works
Accreditation Process & Application
Accreditation Process
- Step 1
Submit Your Application
Define the certification schemes, products, processes, services, and technical sectors for which accreditation is requested.
- Step 2
Document Review
AAA reviews management-system documentation, scheme requirements, evaluation procedures, personnel competence, impartiality arrangements, and the proposed scope.
- Step 3
Accreditation Assessment
Qualified assessors evaluate the certification body against ISO/IEC 17065 requirements and the requested accreditation scope.
- Step 4
Corrective Actions
Where findings are identified, the certification body submits corrective actions together with supporting evidence for review.
- Step 5
Independent Accreditation Decision
Assessment findings and supporting evidence are independently reviewed before an accreditation decision is made.
- Step 6
Accreditation Granted
Successful certification bodies receive an accreditation certificate and approved scope, valid for three years.
Accreditation Value
What Accreditation Can Strengthen
01
Stronger Certification Credibility
Accreditation reinforces confidence in product, process, and service certification decisions.
02
Greater Market Acceptance
Independent accreditation supports confidence among manufacturers, regulators, procurement authorities, and customers.
03
More Consistent Certification Processes
The accreditation process strengthens evaluation, review, surveillance, and certification controls.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation.
What is ISO/IEC 17065?
ISO/IEC 17065 specifies requirements for bodies certifying products, processes, and services.
What can be certified?
Certification may cover products, processes, and services where defined certification requirements and conformity-assessment methods are established.
Can a newly established certification body apply?
Yes. A newly established certification body may apply once it has implemented its management system and can demonstrate suitable schemes, competent personnel, impartiality controls, evaluation processes, and operational capability.
What is included in the accreditation scope?
The scope identifies the products, processes, services, certification schemes, or technical sectors for which the certification body has demonstrated competence.
Does accreditation always require product testing?
Not always. Evaluation methods depend on the certification scheme and may include testing, inspection, auditing, factory evaluation, technical assessment, document review, or a combination.
Can several certification schemes be included?
Yes. Multiple schemes or product categories may be included, provided the certification body demonstrates competence and compliance for each requested area.
How long is accreditation valid?
AAA accreditation is valid for three years, subject to continued compliance with accreditation requirements and completion of applicable surveillance or reassessment activities.
How do I begin?
Complete the accreditation application form or contact the AAA team to discuss your certification schemes, technical sectors, and proposed accreditation scope.
Take the Next Step
Ready to Apply for ISO/IEC 17065 Accreditation?
Take the next step toward independent recognition of your certification body’s competence, impartiality, and reliable operation. Our team is ready to guide you through the accreditation process and help define the appropriate scope for your product, process, or service certification activities.