Credibility and Trust
ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation enhances the credibility and trustworthiness of inspection bodies. It demonstrates that these bodies operate with technical competence, impartiality, and adherence to international standards.
ISCB accreditation services
Inspection Bodies
ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation enhances the credibility and trustworthiness of inspection bodies, ensuring compliance and quality across industries.
Accreditation standardISO/IEC 17020
Competence. Impartiality. Consistency.
About this accreditation
ISO/IEC 17020 is a standard that sets the criteria for the competence of bodies performing inspection activities. Inspection bodies play a crucial role in verifying compliance, ensuring the safety of products, and maintaining quality standards across various industries. Accreditation according to ISO/IEC 17020 establishes a framework to assess the competence and reliability of these inspection bodies.
Is this programme suitable?
Applies to organisations seeking accreditation for defined inspection activities covering products, installations, plants, processes, services or work procedures.
- Define each requested field and range of inspection, inspection stage, requirements used, methods, locations and any regulated context.
- Determine and document the applicable independence model under the 2026 edition and control conflicts arising from design, manufacture, supply, installation, use, maintenance or consultancy relationships.
- Establish competence criteria, supervised qualification, authorization and monitoring for inspectors and technical decision-makers.
Why accreditation matters
Benefits for your organisation
Global Acceptance
Accreditation provides inspection bodies with international recognition, facilitating acceptance of inspection reports and certificates across borders. This global acceptance is vital for industries involved in international trade.
Consistency and Reliability
ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation ensures that inspection processes are consistent and reliable. Standardized inspection practices contribute to more accurate and dependable results, instilling confidence in the assessments conducted by accredited bodies.
Legal Compliance
Accreditation helps inspection bodies align with legal and regulatory requirements. Compliance with ISO/IEC 17020 positions these bodies to meet industry-specific regulations, reducing the risk of legal challenges.
Market Competitiveness
Accredited inspection bodies gain a competitive edge in the market. Many clients and industries prefer or require inspections from accredited bodies, recognizing the high standards and competence associated with accreditation.
Improved Quality and Performance
The accreditation process encourages continuous improvement in inspection processes. This commitment to ongoing enhancement contributes to improved quality and performance, ensuring that inspection bodies stay current with industry advancements.
Impartiality and Objectivity
ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation emphasizes the importance of impartiality in inspection activities. Accredited bodies are required to operate without conflicts of interest, promoting objectivity in their assessments.
Risk Mitigation
Accredited inspection bodies follow a systematic approach to identify and mitigate risks associated with inspection activities. This contributes to the overall reliability and accuracy of inspection outcomes.
How accreditation works
1Enquiry
2Application
3Scope review
4Document review
5Assessment
6Corrective action
7Decision
8Surveillance
Documents to prepare
Legal identity, liability arrangements and independence analysis
Provide current, approved evidence relevant to the activities and locations in your proposed scope. ISCB may request additional records after scope review.
Proposed inspection scope and applicable regulatory or scheme documents
Provide current, approved evidence relevant to the activities and locations in your proposed scope. ISCB may request additional records after scope review.
Inspector competence criteria, witnessed evaluations and authorizations
Provide current, approved evidence relevant to the activities and locations in your proposed scope. ISCB may request additional records after scope review.
Inspection methods, checklists and decision criteria
Provide current, approved evidence relevant to the activities and locations in your proposed scope. ISCB may request additional records after scope review.
Equipment and measurement-control records
Provide current, approved evidence relevant to the activities and locations in your proposed scope. ISCB may request additional records after scope review.
Subcontractor evaluation and control records
Provide current, approved evidence relevant to the activities and locations in your proposed scope. ISCB may request additional records after scope review.
Representative inspection files and reports
Provide current, approved evidence relevant to the activities and locations in your proposed scope. ISCB may request additional records after scope review.
Internal audit, management review, complaints, appeals and corrective actions
Provide current, approved evidence relevant to the activities and locations in your proposed scope. ISCB may request additional records after scope review.
What shapes the quotation
Technical breadth
Activities, schemes, methods and technical sectors included.
Sites and people
Locations, personnel, operating complexity and sampling needs.
Review and witnessing
Document review, assessment days, witnessing and specialist expertise.
ISO/IEC 17020 applicant requirements
Read the ISCB requirements online or download the controlled PDF guide covering eligibility, impartiality, competence, operating evidence, assessment and continued accreditation.
Find, price and apply
Use guided tools to confirm the likely route, request a scope-based quotation and apply when prepared.