Application

Apply for accreditation

Submit a complete application to receive a reference ID and begin the evaluation process. Applications are reviewed in the order received. Typical processing time from submission to accreditation decision is 12–20 weeks .

Download application package

Application process overview

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Step 1 — Pre-application

Review eligibility criteria, the application package, and gather required documentation. Contact IAC with any questions before submitting.

2

Step 2 — Submit application

Complete the online form below with organizational details, scope summary, and supporting documents. You will receive a reference ID by email within 2 business days.

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Step 3 — Completeness check

IAC reviews your application for completeness within 5 business days. Incomplete submissions are returned with specific correction requests.

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Step 4 — Document review

A technical assessor reviews your management system documentation against applicable standards. A report is issued within 3–4 weeks.

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Step 5 — Assessment & decision

On-site or witness assessment is scheduled, followed by corrective action review and independent accreditation decision by the Committee.

Pre-application checklist

Before submitting, confirm your organization meets all of the following prerequisites:

  • ✅ Legal entity (corporation, LLC, government agency, or equivalent)
  • ✅ Defined scope of conformity assessment activities
  • ✅ Documented management system aligned with the applicable standard (ISO/IEC 17025 or 17020)
  • ✅ Qualified technical personnel with documented competency records
  • ✅ Impartiality and conflict-of-interest controls in place
  • ✅ At least one complete internal audit cycle completed
  • ✅ At least one management review completed
  • ✅ Professional liability or indemnity insurance (inspection bodies)
  • ✅ Proficiency testing participation records (testing and calibration labs)

Required documents

Upload the following documents with your application. All files must be in PDF format (max 20 MB per file).

# Document Required for Notes
1 Quality / management manual All programs Include organizational chart and scope statement
2 Procedures index All programs List of all SOPs referenced in the manual
3 Personnel competency records All programs CVs, qualifications, authorization matrices
4 Impartiality declaration All programs Signed COI declarations from key personnel
5 Internal audit report All programs Most recent cycle with findings and actions
6 Management review minutes All programs Most recent review with decisions
7 Method validations Testing labs Validation or verification studies per method
8 Uncertainty budgets Calibration labs GUM-compliant evaluations per procedure
9 Traceability evidence Testing & calibration NMI certificates for reference standards
10 PT/ILC results Testing & calibration Last 2 cycles per sub-scope
11 Sample inspection reports Inspection bodies Completed reports from recent inspections
12 Insurance certificate Inspection bodies Professional liability coverage proof

Application form

Complete all required fields. You will receive a confirmation email with your application reference ID (e.g., IAC-APPLY-20260220-XXXX) within 2 business days.

You may upload up to 10 files. Additional documents can be submitted after receiving your reference ID.

What happens after you submit

Timeline Activity Your action
Day 1–2 Reference ID issued by email Confirm receipt and save your reference ID
Week 1 Completeness check by IAC staff Respond to any correction requests within 10 days
Week 2–5 Document review by technical assessor Provide additional information if requested
Week 6–8 Assessment scheduling and logistics Confirm dates and prepare staff availability
Week 8–12 On-site / witness assessment Facilitate assessor access to facilities, records, and personnel
Week 12–14 Corrective action period (if applicable) Submit evidence of corrective actions
Week 14–20 Accreditation Committee decision Await formal decision notification

Common questions

What documents do I need?

At minimum, you need your quality/management manual, procedures index, personnel competency records, impartiality declarations, internal audit report, and management review minutes. Additional documents may be required depending on your program type. See the required documents table above for the complete list.

How long does the process take?

The typical timeline from application submission to accreditation decision is 12–20 weeks. This depends on scope complexity, document completeness, scheduling availability, and the time needed for corrective actions if non-conformities are identified.

Can I apply for multiple scopes?

Yes. An organization that operates both a testing laboratory and a calibration laboratory, for example, can apply for accreditation under both programs. The assessments may be combined where practical, and separate scope certificates will be issued for each program.

Have more questions? Visit our FAQ page or contact us.