Accreditation Consultancy for Testing, Inspection and Personnel Certification Bodies

Accreditation consultancy supports organisations that are seeking accreditation as conformity assessment bodies, and itmad provides it for laboratories, inspection bodies and personnel certification bodies against ISO/IEC 17025, 17020, 17024, ISO 15189, ISO/IEC 17043 and ISO 17034. It is a distinct service from certification. itmad operates across the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Last reviewed: October 2026.

A separate service from certification

itmad provides consultancy to organisations that want to be accredited as conformity assessment bodies. This is not certification, and the two are kept apart.

Why a certification body can offer it

Under ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065, a certification body is prohibited from providing consultancy on the standards that it certifies against. itmad keeps to that prohibition strictly and gives no advice to any organisation on building an ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 or similar management system. The standards below are accreditation standards. Organisations are accredited to them by an accreditation body and are not certified by itmad, so no conflict of interest arises.

Standards itmad consults on

ISO/IEC 17025 for testing and calibration laboratories; ISO/IEC 17020 for bodies performing inspection; ISO/IEC 17024 for bodies certifying persons; ISO 15189 for medical and clinical laboratories; ISO/IEC 17043 for proficiency testing providers; and ISO 17034 for reference material producers.

What an engagement covers

An engagement begins with a gap analysis against the standard and against the rules of the chosen accreditation body. It then builds the quality manual, procedures and records framework around how the organisation already works, and covers method validation and verification, the estimation of measurement uncertainty, and equipment control, traceability and intermediate checks. Proficiency testing and interlaboratory comparisons are planned, and personnel competence, authorisation and training records are put in order.

Internal audit and management review are run with the organisation's own team, so that the team can repeat the process. itmad then prepares and submits the accreditation application, carries out a pre-assessment readiness review before the accreditation body attends, and supports the organisation in responding to any findings raised at assessment.

Supporting software

When a paper-based system will not scale, the itmad software team can supply and implement laboratory information management and document and record control systems, or custom applications built to the standard's requirements. itmad configures and deploys the system, and the technical content of the management system remains authored and owned by the organisation's own personnel.

Who itmad works with

Testing and calibration laboratories seeking a first accreditation or an extension of scope; inspection bodies in oil and gas, construction, lifting and marine; medical laboratories working toward ISO 15189; training providers establishing personnel certification schemes; and accredited bodies preparing for surveillance or reassessment.

How itmad works

Technical experts with hands-on experience of the discipline lead each engagement, instead of generalist auditors working through a checklist. itmad stays involved from the first visit until the accreditation decision is made. The accreditation body decides on the evidence that the organisation presents, so no consultant can promise the result. What itmad can do is make sure that nothing avoidable stands in the way.

Frequently asked questions

What is accreditation consultancy?

It supports organisations seeking accreditation as conformity assessment bodies, such as testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies and personnel certification bodies. It is a distinct service from certification.

Why can a certification body offer accreditation consultancy?

ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 prohibit a certification body from consulting on the standards that it certifies against. The standards covered here are accreditation standards, and organisations are accredited to them by an accreditation body and not certified by itmad, so no conflict of interest arises.

Which standards does itmad consult on?

ISO/IEC 17025 for testing and calibration laboratories, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection bodies and ISO/IEC 17024 for bodies certifying persons. Also ISO 15189 for medical laboratories, ISO/IEC 17043 for proficiency testing providers and ISO 17034 for reference material producers.

What does an engagement cover?

A gap analysis, the quality manual and procedures framework, method validation and measurement uncertainty, and equipment control and traceability. It also covers personnel competence records, internal audit and management review, the accreditation application, a readiness review and support in responding to assessment findings.

Can itmad guarantee accreditation?

No. The accreditation body grants accreditation on the evidence that the organisation presents, so no consultant can guarantee the outcome. itmad makes sure that nothing avoidable stands in the way.

Does itmad advise on building an ISO 9001 or ISO 14001 system?

No. itmad observes the prohibition on consultancy for the standards that it certifies against, and does not advise any organisation on building an ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 or similar management system.