Institutional mission and model
The International Accreditation Center (IAC) is an independent accreditation body that provides formal recognition of conformity assessment bodies — testing laboratories, calibration laboratories, and inspection bodies — operating within defined scopes of accreditation.
Mission
To provide credible, competent, and impartial accreditation services for conformity assessment bodies, ensuring that their results are reliable, their processes are sound, and their competence is independently verified.
IAC operates under the requirements of ISO/IEC 17011:2017 — the international standard for accreditation bodies. Our processes are designed to ensure that accredited bodies demonstrate ongoing competence, consistent performance, and impartiality.
Core Principles
- Independence — Governance and decisions free from commercial or political influence.
- Impartiality — Structural separation of evaluation and decision functions.
- Competence — Qualified assessors with demonstrated technical expertise.
- Transparency — Public Directory as the single source of truth.
- Consistency — Harmonized assessment criteria across all programs.
History & Foundation
IAC was established in 2024 as an independent accreditation body to address the growing need for competent, transparent, and accessible accreditation services in the Americas. Founded by a consortium of conformity assessment professionals, metrologists, and quality infrastructure specialists, IAC was designed from the ground up with modern governance principles.
Unlike legacy accreditation bodies, IAC was built digital-first — with a public directory, online application system, and transparent governance framework available from day one. Our founding charter establishes structural independence between assessment and decision functions, ensuring impartiality is not just policy but institutional architecture.
Key Milestones
- 2024 Q2 — IAC incorporated as an independent entity in Washington, DC.
- 2024 Q4 — Governance framework and initial policies established.
- 2025 Q1 — Assessor qualification program launched.
- 2025 Q3 — First accreditation applications accepted.
- 2026 Q1 — Public Directory and digital platform go live.
Organizational Structure
IAC operates through three independent functions to ensure impartiality, competence, and accountability in all accreditation activities.
Governing Board
Provides strategic oversight, approves policies, and ensures the organization fulfills its mission. The Board includes representatives from industry, academia, regulatory bodies, and consumer organizations to ensure balanced stakeholder representation.
Accreditation Committee
Makes independent accreditation decisions based on assessment findings. Committee members are technically qualified individuals who have no involvement in the assessment activities they review, ensuring structural impartiality.
Impartiality Committee
Monitors threats to impartiality, reviews conflict of interest disclosures, and advises the Governing Board on policy effectiveness. Composed of external stakeholders with no operational role in IAC.
Operations Team
Manages day-to-day operations including application processing, assessment coordination, directory maintenance, and stakeholder communications. Led by the Executive Director.
Technical Assessor Pool
Qualified technical experts who conduct document reviews and on-site assessments. Assessors are selected based on relevant competence and are screened for conflicts of interest before each assignment.
Compliance Office
Ensures adherence to governance policies, manages the complaints and appeals process, and conducts internal audits of IAC's own management system.
Legal Entity & Contact
International Accreditation Center, Inc. is incorporated as a nonprofit organization in the District of Columbia, United States. IAC operates independently from any governmental, commercial, or regulatory body.
Registered Address:
1200 G Street NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20005
United States
General inquiries: info@accreditationcenter.org
Phone: +1 (202) 555-0147
Operating Standards
- ISO/IEC 17011:2017 — Requirements for accreditation bodies.
- ISO/IEC 17025:2017 — Requirements for testing and calibration laboratories.
- ISO/IEC 17020:2012 — Requirements for inspection bodies.
- IAF/ILAC A Series — Application documents for accreditation.