ISO certification process

From your first enquiry to the certificate and the yearly surveillance audits that keep it valid: 8 steps.

Step 1: Enquiry

Tell us your company, industry, the standard you need, your number of employees and sites. We reply with the next steps and a quotation.
Step 2: Gap analysis

An initial assessment compares how you work today with the requirements of the standard and lists what is missing.
Step 3: Documentation

Policies, procedures, records and the scope of the management system are prepared or updated to close the gaps.
Step 4: Internal audit

The system runs for a period, then an internal audit and a management review check that it works as documented.
Step 5: Stage 1 audit

The certification auditor reviews your documentation and readiness, and confirms the plan for the main audit.
Step 6: Stage 2 audit

The auditor checks on site that the system is implemented and effective. Any non-conformities are raised for correction.
Step 7: Certificate

Once non-conformities are closed, the certificate is issued, normally valid for three years.
Step 8: Surveillance audits

Yearly surveillance audits keep the certificate valid, followed by a recertification audit before it expires.

How long each step takes depends on the standard, your company size and how ready you are. Each standard’s page shows a typical timeline.

Standards we certify

Talk to our team about ISO certification.