Accreditation costs

Certification body larger scope

Customer type: Certification body

Sector: Management systems certification

Scope: A certification body, looking to be accredited for provision of management system, product or persons certification services across a limited number of technical areas, operating from a head office and 2 additional offices based outside of the UK, such as:

  • ISO 9001 Quality Management System Certification for EA Codes 16, 17, 18, 19, 24 and 28
  • ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Certification for EA Codes 16, 17, 18, 19, 24 and 28

Application fee: £1,685

  • Pre-assessment (optional)
    • Office effort: £2,244 – 2.0 assessment days (includes review of quality manual and associated technical documents, preparation of reports and associated assessment paperwork)
    • Site effort: £2,244 – 2.0 assessment days (includes Lead Assessor and Technical Assessor on-site for one day each to discuss the application with the customer, review implementation of the requirements of the standard and identify any significant gaps in customer interpretation or implementation of the standard requirements)
    • Expenses: £480 (flat rate of £240 per assessor per site day)

    Total pre-assessment cost: £4,968

  • Initial assessment
    • Office effort: £2,805 – 2.5 assessment days (includes review of quality manual and associated technical documents, preparation of reports and associated assessment paperwork)
    • Site effort: £3,366 – 3.0 assessment days (includes Lead Assessor and Technical Assessor on-site for one and a half days each to conduct full assessment of all activities applied for)
    • Close-out effort: £561 – 0.5 assessment days (review of single submission of evidence to clear findings raised at the initial assessment)
    • Expenses: £720 (flat rate of £240 per assessor per site day)

    Witnessed assessments (6 witnessed assessments, including stage one and stage two, are required for initial assessment)

    • Office effort: £561 – 0.5 assessment days (includes review of the specifics of the inspection to take place, preparation of reports and associated assessment paperwork)
    • Site effort: £1,683 – 1.5 assessment day (includes Technical Assessor on-site for one day to conduct full witness of the live inspection activity related to the scope applied for)
    • Close-out effort: £280.50 – 0.25 assessment days (review of single submission of evidence to clear findings raised at the witnessed assessment)
    • Expenses: £360 (flat rate of £240 per assessor per site day)

    Overseas location assessments per site (all sites must be visited as part of the initial assessment)

    • Office effort: £1,122 – 1.0 assessment days (includes review of the specifics of the inspection to take place, preparation of reports and associated assessment paperwork)
    • Site effort: £2,244 – 2.0 assessment day (includes Technical Assessor on-site for one day to conduct full witness of the live inspection activity related to the scope applied for)
    • Close-out effort: £561 – 0.50 assessment days (review of single submission of evidence to clear findings raised at the witnessed assessment)
    • Billable travel: £4,488 – 4.0 assessment days (includes travel time to and from UK to overseas location for two assessors)
    • Expenses: £1,440 (flat rate of £240 per assessor per site and billable travel day) + flights at cost

    Total initial assessment cost: £34,614 (including 6 witnessed assessments and 1 overseas location assessment with one site)

    Following clearance of any non-conformities raised at the initial assessment, accreditation is granted for a period of 4 years in which there will be 3 surveillance assessments and 1 reassessment conducted roughly every 12 months, with the first assessment taking place 6 months after the date of granting accreditation.

  • Surveillance assessment (years 1-3)
    • Office effort: £2,140 – 2.0 assessment days (includes review of customer documentation relevant to the surveillance visit, preparation of reports and associated assessment paperwork)
    • Site effort: £3,210 – 3.0 assessment days (includes Lead Assessor and Technical Assessor on-site for one day each to conduct a sampling assessment of a selection of activities for which accreditation is held)
    • Close-out effort: £535 – 0.5 assessment days (review of single submission of evidence to clear findings raised at the surveillance assessment)
    • Expenses: £720 (flat rate of £240 per assessor per site day)

    Witnessed assessments (normally 3 witnessed assessments are required for surveillance assessment)

    • Office effort: £535 – 0.5 assessment days (includes review of the specifics of the inspection to take place, preparation of reports and associated assessment paperwork)
    • Site effort: £1,605 – 1.5 assessment days (includes Technical Assessor on site for one day to conduct full witness of the live inspection activity related to the scope applied for)
    • Close-out effort: £267.50 – 0.25 assessment days (review of single submission of evidence to clear findings raised at the witnessed assessment)
    • Expenses: £360 (flat rate of £240 per assessor per site day)

    Overseas location assessments per site (all sites must be visited as part of the surveillance assessment)

    • Office effort: £1,070 – 1.0 assessment days (includes review of the specifics of the inspection to take place, preparation of reports and associated assessment paperwork)
    • Site effort: £1,070 – 1.0 assessment days (includes Technical Assessor on-site for one day to conduct full witness of the live inspection activity related to the scope applied for)
    • Close-out effort: £267.50 – 0.25 assessment days (review of single submission of evidence to clear findings raised at the witnessed assessment)
    • Billable travel: £2,140 – 2.0 assessment days (includes travel time to and from UK to overseas location for two assessors)
    • Expenses: £720 (flat rate of £240 per assessor per site and billable travel day) + flights at cost

    Annual accreditation fee: £2,591 (includes contribution towards costs of managing misuse of accreditation, investigation of third party complaints, maintenance of UKAS competence with regard to certification sector schemes, and overseas location supplement of £884)

    Total cost per year: £23,608 (including 3 witnessed assessments and 1 overseas location assessment with one site)

  • Reassessment (year 4)
    • Office effort: £2,675 – 2.5 assessment days (includes review of customer documentation relevant to the surveillance visit, preparation of reports and associated assessment paperwork)
    • Site effort: £4,280 – 4.0 assessment days (includes Lead Assessor and Technical Assessor on-site for one day each to conduct a sampling assessment of a selection of activities for which accreditation is held)
    • Close-out effort: £535 – 0.5 assessment days (review of single submission of evidence to clear findings raised at the reassessment)
    • Expenses: £960 (flat rate of £240 per assessor per site day)

    Witnessed assessments (normally 3 witnessed assessments are required for reassessment)

    • Office effort: £535 – 0.5 assessment days (includes review of the specifics of the inspection to take place, preparation of reports and associated assessment paperwork)
    • Site effort: £1,605 – 1.5 assessment days (includes Technical Assessor on-site for one day to conduct full witness of the live inspection activity related to the scope applied for)
    • Close-out effort: £267.50 – 0.25 assessment days (review of single submission of evidence to clear findings raised at the witnessed assessment)
    • Expenses: £360 (flat rate of £240 per assessor per site day)

    Overseas location assessments per site (all sites must be visited as part of the reassessment)

    • Office effort: £1,070 – 1.0 assessment days (includes review of the specifics of the inspection to take place, preparation of reports and associated assessment paperwork)
    • Site effort: £1,070 – 1.0 assessment days (includes Technical Assessor on-site for one day to conduct full witness of the live inspection activity related to the scope applied for)
    • Close-out effort: £267.50 – 0.25 assessment days (review of single submission of evidence to clear findings raised at the witnessed assessment)
    • Billable travel: £2,140 – 2.0 assessment days (includes travel time to and from UK to overseas location for two assessors)
    • Expenses: £720 (flat rate of £240 per assessor per site and billable travel day) + flights at cost

    Annual accreditation fee: £2,591 (includes contribution towards costs of managing misuse of accreditation, investigation of third party complaints, maintenance of UKAS competence with regard to certification sector schemes, and overseas location supplement of £884)

    Total cost per year: £25,453 (including 3 witnessed assessments and 1 overseas location assessment with one site)

  • Case study assumptions
    • Costs are based on the 2024-25 price list and are exclusive of VAT. UKAS reviews pricing on an annual basis and the day rate may increase for subsequent years.
    • Billable travel time will vary depending on the overseas location.
    • A normal level of compliance is observed at the organisation, where additional issues are identified, extra assessment or additional close out effort may be required.
    • The organisation are in a location which UKAS can travel to and no IAF MLA signatory Accreditation Body is present.
    • The organisation is not conducting any niche technical activities which UKAS may need to employ external expertise at a rate higher than £600/day.
    • All costings provided are estimates and should be used for guidance purposes only. UKAS provides a bespoke quote for each customer based upon their specific application and circumstances. Actual quotes may be higher or lower than those provided above.
    • UKAS has to observe the entire evaluation conducted by the certification body, therefore the length of the witnessed assessment will be determined by the length of the certification body’s evaluation at its client’s site. The numbers quoted represent an average length for a witnessed assessment.