Obtain the relevant standard
UK organisations can purchase national and international standards used for the purpose of accreditation from the BSI website.
See how to select the standard for your application – a short module designed to support prospective applicants in establishing which standard applies to their activities, including guidance on what to include in the scope of application for each standard.
Familiarise yourself with the clauses and conduct a gap analysis
There are a range of self-assessment tools available to support you in establishing the gaps and your organisation’s readiness to apply for accreditation – click here.
Consider training courses with UKAS’s Academy
Training is not a mandatory requirement for gaining accreditation but can be useful in demystifying some of the more complex areas of the standards, or providing the tools and techniques to fill in the remaining gaps and ensure your systems and processes are developed in-line with the requirements for accreditation.
Access online application support resources and videos
A series of webinars, videos and supporting tools has been developed to help demystify some of the more complex topics surrounding preparation for application to accreditation.
Webinars – register to attend the upcoming ‘Demystifying Accreditation’ series of webinars, or view previous recordings.
The application journey – a short eLearning module designed to take prospective applicants step by step through the journey of applying for accreditation.
Management system documentation – a short module explaining the components of management system documentation and key considerations in the documentation required for application
Option A or Option B – a short video explaining what it means to select Option A or Option B for management system conformity in international conformity assessment standards
Impartiality and confidentiality – a short video explaining the requirements of impartiality and confidentiality, how these link to the international standard requirements, and what organisations need to consider when applying for accreditation.
Methods and procedures – a short video explaining the difference between the use of the terms ‘method’ or ‘examination’, and ‘procedure’ or ‘procedures’.
Validation and verification – a short video explaining how validation and verification are different and why they matter when seeking accreditation.
Actions to address risks and opportunities – a short video explaining how organisations can identify and address the risks and opportunities that may affect their ability to deliver consistent and reliable services or products.
Supporting publications can be found on the UKAS website and preparation for accreditation courses and webinars are available from the UKAS Training Academy.
Gather the information required to apply for accreditation
To submit your initial application, you will need to ensure that:
- You have determined who will act as the key contact for your application within your organisation.
- The key contact is authorised, on behalf of the organisation, to submit an application for accreditation. For more information on who needs to sign your application and what this means for the signer, click here.
- You know which standard applies to your organisation’s conformity assessment activity and can detail your required scope of accreditation.
- You are aware of the UKAS Customer Agreement, publications, British and/or international standards relevant to your services.
- The organisation making this application is prepared to accept all contractual, legal, financial and other obligations that relate to the accredited activities.
- You can confirm the legal status of the organisation, alongside your company registration number and VAT number (if applicable).
