Achieving ISO 17024 accreditation is a major milestone for any personnel certification body. One of the most important steps in this process is developing and maintaining the required ISO 17024 documents. These documents demonstrate your organization’s competence, impartiality, and compliance with international accreditation standards. Below, we highlight the 10 mandatory ISO 17024 documents that every certification body must prepare and maintain.
1. ISO 17024 Quality Manual
The ISO 17024 quality manual is the backbone of your management system. It defines the organization’s structure, policies, scope of certification, and objectives. This manual provides a clear understanding of how the certification body operates and ensures that all personnel follow consistent and compliant processes.
2. Procedures for Certification Activities
A well-documented procedure for certification activities outlines how certification is granted, maintained, suspended, or withdrawn. It should describe each stage—application, evaluation, examination, decision, and surveillance. This document ensures transparency and consistency across all certification processes.
3. Impartiality and Confidentiality Policy
Impartiality is a key principle of ISO 17024. The impartiality and confidentiality policy must clearly define how the certification body manages potential conflicts of interest and protects candidate information. Accreditation bodies closely review this document to ensure fairness and ethical conduct.
4. Personnel Competence and Evaluation Records
The competence and evaluation records document how the certification body evaluates and maintains the competence of its personnel, including examiners, assessors, and decision-makers. Records should include qualifications, training, experience, and performance reviews to prove that staff are competent to perform certification functions.
5. Complaints and Appeals Procedure
Certification bodies must have a documented procedure for complaints and appeals. This ensures that any concerns or disputes from applicants, candidates, or certified individuals are handled fairly, promptly, and impartially. The procedure should detail the steps for receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints.
6. Internal Audit Procedure and Reports
An internal audit procedure ensures that all processes conform to ISO 17024 requirements. Internal audit reports help identify nonconformities, areas for improvement, and evidence of compliance. Maintaining audit checklists, findings, and corrective action records is vital for accreditation audits.
7. Management Review Procedure and Records
Management reviews evaluate the overall effectiveness of the certification system. The management review procedure and its related records should cover review inputs (like audit results, complaints, and performance data) and outputs (like improvement actions and resource needs). This ensures continual improvement in the system.
8. Corrective and Preventive Action Procedure
Every certification body must have a procedure for corrective and preventive actions. This document outlines how nonconformities are identified, analysed, and resolved. It ensures that the root causes are addressed, and similar issues are prevented in the future, strengthening compliance and quality performance.
9. Document and Record Control Procedure
Proper control of all ISO 17024 documents and records is essential. This procedure describes how documents are approved, distributed, updated, and archived. It prevents the use of outdated documents and maintains the integrity of certification data. Version control and accessibility are key elements of this requirement.
10. Certification Scheme Documentation
The certification scheme is the foundation of the ISO 17024 system. It defines the scope of certification, eligibility requirements, competence criteria, examination methods, and recertification conditions. Accreditation bodies evaluate the certification scheme to ensure it aligns with ISO 17024 requirements and industry best practices.
Maintaining and Updating ISO 17024 Documents
Creating documents is just the beginning—maintaining them is equally critical. Regular reviews, updates, and version tracking help ensure ongoing compliance. Using document management systems can make the process easier and more reliable.
Common Nonconformities Found in ISO 17024 Documents
During accreditation assessments, common issues include missing procedures, outdated versions, or lack of evidence for personnel competence and impartiality. Addressing these proactively helps avoid delays in accreditation approval.
Conclusion
The journey toward ISO 17024 accreditation starts with the right documentation. These 10 mandatory ISO 17024 documents form the foundation of a credible and compliant personnel certification system. Well-prepared documentation not only meets accreditation body requirements but also enhances operational efficiency, transparency, and trust in your certification process.