We all know the importance of independent validation of the quality of your organization. It can help your business stay competitive and boost your reputation, amongst other things.

But what’s the difference between certification and accreditation, two words that are often used interchangeably? Let’s take a closer look.

Key distinctions between accreditation and certification

Let’s start with certification. 

Simply put, it’s the written confirmation by a third-party body that an organization’s products, processes or services conform to specified requirements, such as those set out in a standard. Certification is achieved through an audit process and confirmed in a written assurance.

Sounds fine, doesn’t it? However, this is where an understanding of accreditation comes in.

Accredited certification is a written assurance provided by a third party organization that, crucially, has been formally recognized by an accreditation body. 

So, to gain accredited certification, organizations must make sure the third-party certification body they are using has been accredited by the UK’s designated accreditation body, UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service).

In distinction to non-accredited certification, accredited certification indicates technical competence. Accreditation is specific to the activities covered under a particular standard, and the scope of activities covered by accreditation are listed on a schedule of accreditation.

The role of UKAS

UKAS is the UK’s national accreditation body. 

In addition to providing accreditation services, it also assesses whether certification bodies meet internationally recognized standards.

Certification bodies may be accredited by UKAS in order to demonstrate their own credentials. This means they must show they meet certain criteria of competence, impartiality and integrity. If a certification organization has been accredited by UKAS, then the organizations audited by the certification body hold ‘accredited certification.’

Chances are, if a regulator, client or prospective employer requests that you are certified, more often than not they’ll be referring to accredited certification.

Ensuring accreditation relates to specific activities

Although accreditation is a reassuring sign of an organization’s credentials in a given area, clients must be careful to check the schedule of accreditation to ensure that a particular activity is covered by the accreditation.

For example, a company that has BS EN ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories accreditation for testing and calibration laboratories may only hold accreditation in relation to a particular type of testing. The schedule will confirm the exact scope of the accreditation.

What are the benefits of accreditation and certification?

Accreditation and certification provide assurance that the requirements of a particular standard are being met. 

Just as standards help to improve efficiency by preventing parties to a contract from having to establish rules of good practice for each project, accreditation and certification enable government and regulatory bodies to avoid expensive and time-consuming checks and assessments.

Accreditation and certification provide reassurance that best practice in key areas such as safety, environmental protection and sustainability will be met without the need for additional monitoring and scrutiny. This controls risk, reduces cost, minimizes technical barriers to trade and helps to maintain quality.

Here it is important to highlight that the majority of standards are not externally verifiable. That is to say that they do not have an accompanying certification scheme. The benefits of adopting standards are realized through the implementation process, and the efficiencies you gain from following the good practice they outline.

Next steps to standard certification

The process of gaining accredited certification starts with following the requirements of the verifiable standard or framework you’re implementing.

Then you have to select a third-party accredited certification body. They will send an auditor to review your documentation and business processes. This will provide confirmation that you have the appropriate measures and practices in place and that your organization is indeed following them.

Satisfy that auditor and the award of a certificate for your organization will follow. This will be a clear illustration to your stakeholders and potential clients that you are following the best, widely recognized practices for your industry.

Discover BSI Membership

Become a BSI member and you’ll be joining 11,000+ organizations committed to making positive change through standards. You’ll get extra support in implementing standards via a team of research professionals and stay up to date with relevant changes to standards with a monthly spreadsheet. Your personalized Membership certificate and digital Membership badge will help your organization stand out from the competition too. And every member enjoys a 50% saving on British Standards and BSI Knowledge subscriptions, and up to 50% on other standards and subscriptions. Find out more about BSI Membership here.