In principle, the systems are the same, it’s who certificates you and how they do it that’s different.
ISO accreditation or ISO accredited certification is when a company has achieved an ISO and / or a BS standard by a certification body that is accredited by UKAS or equivalent. Every country has its own version of UKAS (i.e. for Ireland its INAB) and although they are not akin to government, they act as the governing body for certification companies.
ISO accredited certification is only available after the assessment from an accredited body and are unable to provide you with any help or support, they can only conduct the assessment and give you a pass or a fail.
ISO certification providers like ourselves however can fully support you with your implementation. The support we provide includes templates for documentation, guidance during visits and telephone support. We will also visit you twice a year; for a support visit to help with any issues you’re facing and at your annual re-certification audit.
For many customers, certification is more than adequate as it provides the structure needed to improve their business and is well recognised. Should you require ISO accredited certification (e.g. if a potential customer, trade association or regulatory body demands it), we can provide ISO Consultancy services to help you get your management system ready for assessment by an accredited body. This helps to increase your chance of passing the assessment first time!
You can read more in our article: ‘Certification vs Accredited Certifcation: So What’s the Difference Anyway?‘