Fees and Timelines

Fee schedule and indicative timelines

IAC fees are structured to be transparent and predictable. All fees are based on scope complexity, number of locations, assessment duration, and program type. This page provides the current fee schedule effective February 2026.

Fee Schedule — Effective 2026-02-20

All amounts in USD. Fees are invoiced upon application acceptance and before on-site assessment scheduling.

Fee Component Testing Labs Calibration Labs Inspection Bodies
Application fee (non-refundable) $2,000 $2,000 $2,500
Document review $3,000 – $5,000 $3,000 – $5,000 $2,500 – $4,000
Initial assessment (on-site, per assessor-day) $1,800 $1,800 $1,600
Annual surveillance (per visit) $2,500 – $4,500 $2,500 – $4,500 $2,000 – $3,500
Reassessment (4-year cycle) $4,000 – $7,000 $4,000 – $7,000 $3,500 – $6,000
Scope extension $1,500 – $3,000 $1,500 – $3,000 $1,200 – $2,500
Annual listing fee $800 $800 $600

Ranges reflect variation in scope complexity, number of test methods or measurement parameters, and number of locations. Travel and accommodation costs are billed at actual cost.

Fee Drivers

Final fees are determined during the scope review phase and confirmed before assessment scheduling. The primary factors that influence fees are:

  • Number of locations — Each additional site requires assessor travel and on-site time.
  • Scope breadth — More test methods, measurement parameters, or inspection types increase assessment duration.
  • Specialist requirements — Certain technical disciplines may require specialist assessors with higher daily rates.
  • Standard complexity — Multi-standard scopes (e.g., 17025 + specific sector schemes) require additional review time.
  • Corrective action follow-up — Non-conformities requiring additional verification visits incur supplemental fees.

Payment Terms

  • Application fee: Due upon submission. Non-refundable.
  • Assessment fees: Invoiced 30 days before scheduled assessment date.
  • Annual fees: Invoiced on the anniversary of initial accreditation.
  • Payment methods: Wire transfer, ACH, or corporate check.
  • Late payment: Assessments may be postponed for unpaid invoices exceeding 60 days.

Indicative Timelines

Timelines are measured from the date of a complete application submission. Incomplete applications pause the timeline until all required documents are received.

Week 1–2: Application receipt, completeness review, and fee confirmation.
Week 3–6: Document review and assessment team assignment.
Week 7–12: On-site assessment (scheduled based on availability).
Week 12–16: Assessment report finalization and corrective action review.
Week 16–20: Accreditation committee decision and Directory publication.

Surveillance Cycle

The accreditation cycle is 4 years:

  • Year 1: Initial assessment and accreditation grant.
  • Year 2: First surveillance visit.
  • Year 3: Second surveillance visit.
  • Year 4: Full reassessment for renewal.

Surveillance visits are typically 1–2 days. Reassessment is comparable to the initial assessment in scope and duration.