Governance

Accreditation Policies

ACBNA's policy framework supports impartial decisions, competent assessment, transparent responsibilities, and accurate accreditation claims, guided by ISO/IEC 17011.

Policy framework

Clear principles. Defined responsibilities.

From impartiality to the use of accreditation symbols, these policies explain the expectations that support trustworthy assessment and continued accreditation.

Impartiality Policy

Impartiality is fundamental to credible accreditation. ACBNA places independent judgment, fairness, and objective evidence at the centre of assessment and decision-making, protecting these activities from commercial, financial, personal, and other undue influences.

Key responsibilities

Maintain management commitment to impartiality and communicate the principles governing accreditation activities.
Identify, evaluate, manage, and monitor actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest.
Require confidentiality, impartiality, and conflict-of-interest agreements from personnel involved in accreditation.
Apply consistent, non-discriminatory criteria to applicants and accredited conformity assessment bodies.
Safeguard balanced input and independent judgment in technical review and accreditation decisions.
Keep assessment and decision-making separate from consultancy or other activities that could compromise objectivity.

Full Impartiality Policy

Legal Entity and Authority

Accreditation Body of North America (ACBNA) provides accreditation services for conformity assessment bodies against applicable international standards. The scope of each service, the responsibilities of the parties, and the basis for assessment should be clearly defined before an engagement begins.

Legal registration, government recognition, and authority to operate in a particular jurisdiction must be supported by ACBNA's own documentation. Contact ACBNA for the documentation relevant to your proposed engagement.

Services and scope

Management system certification bodies — assessment against ISO/IEC 17021-1 and applicable scheme requirements.
Testing and calibration laboratories — evaluation of technical competence under ISO/IEC 17025.
Inspection bodies — assessment of competence, consistency, and independence under ISO/IEC 17020.
Personnel certification bodies — evaluation of certification schemes and processes under ISO/IEC 17024.
Product certification bodies — assessment of product, process, and service certification under ISO/IEC 17065.
Professional development and training — separate learning activities that do not guarantee accreditation or influence accreditation decisions.

Cross-Frontier Accreditation Policy

Accreditation activities involving organizations or locations outside North America require clear coordination, technically competent assessment, and attention to local legal and operational conditions. Consistent assessment criteria should apply regardless of where the conformity assessment body operates.

Key responsibilities

Confirm service availability, local legal requirements, and any restrictions before planning an overseas assessment.
Define all requested activities and locations so that assessment coverage matches the proposed scope.
Consider assessors' technical competence, language capability, and understanding of the local operating context.
Apply consistent assessment procedures and relevant international requirements across locations.
Support technical understanding and professional development without compromising impartiality.
Verify acceptance requirements in the destination market; accreditation does not automatically guarantee regulatory or international acceptance.

IAF/ILAC MLA/MRA Arrangement Obligations

Multilateral and mutual recognition arrangements support confidence in accredited conformity assessment through peer evaluation and agreed obligations. Participation, signatory status, and the activities covered by an arrangement are specific to the accreditation body and program; they must be verified rather than inferred.

The following areas explain the responsibilities associated with participation where formally applicable. They do not assert that ACBNA is an IAF, ILAC, or APAC member or arrangement signatory.

Recognition considerations

Verify current participation and the precise program scope covered by any recognition arrangement.
Where applicable, contribute to meetings, technical committees, and ballots under the arrangement's rules.
Provide suitably qualified peer evaluators when required by confirmed participation obligations.
Communicate the meaning and limitations of recognition to customers and stakeholders accurately.
Evaluate acceptance of partner-accredited certificates and reports against the applicable arrangement and regulatory requirements.
Use combined MLA/MRA marks only with verified authorization and in accordance with the governing agreement.
Support consistent interpretation and harmonization of accreditation requirements without making unsupported recognition claims.

Accreditation Agreement Requirements

The accreditation agreement establishes the responsibilities of ACBNA and the conformity assessment body (CAB). Applicants and accredited organizations should understand the agreement's conditions and maintain the cooperation, information, and evidence needed to demonstrate continuing conformity.

Key responsibilities

Continue to fulfil applicable accreditation standards, program requirements, and agreed conditions.
Provide complete, accurate information and cooperate with assessment and verification activities.
Arrange appropriate access to premises, personnel, records, and witnessed client activities, subject to confidentiality safeguards.
Make accreditation claims only for the approved scope and use symbols in accordance with ACBNA's usage rules.
Notify ACBNA promptly of significant changes affecting ownership, management, competence, locations, resources, or scope.
Assist with relevant complaint investigations and retain evidence of corrective action.
Meet the financial and other contractual obligations specified in the issued agreement.

Terms and Conditions

Assessment and Witnessing Requirements

Assessment evaluates whether a conformity assessment body can perform the activities in its requested scope competently and consistently. Document review, evaluation of personnel and facilities, and observation of actual conformity assessment work provide complementary evidence.

Witnessing allows assessors to observe the CAB delivering relevant services. The activities selected, access arrangements, and timing should be confirmed as part of the assessment plan. ACBNA's accreditation cycle is 4 years with annual surveillance and reassessment to support continued accreditation.

Key responsibilities

Evaluate the management system and operational controls across the requested activities and locations.
Review personnel qualifications, practical competence, authorization, and ongoing development.
Examine the suitability and consistent application of conformity assessment methods.
Verify that records and results support valid, traceable, and objective conclusions.
Arrange witnessing when required by the applicable assessment plan, including suitable client access agreements.
Enable observation of real audits, inspections, examinations, evaluations, or laboratory work relevant to the scope.
Address findings through documented correction, root-cause analysis, corrective action, and effectiveness verification.

Assessment pathways

Management Systems Testing & Calibration Labs Inspection Bodies Personnel Certification Product Certification

General accreditation process

Accreditation Symbol Usage Policy

Accreditation symbols communicate a specific accreditation status; they are not a general endorsement of an organization or its products. ACBNA's usage rules protect the integrity of that communication and help customers distinguish accredited services from other activities.

Key responsibilities

Use symbols only in connection with approved activities, premises, and accreditation scope.
Clearly identify the activity to which the accreditation claim relates.
Avoid misleading statements, unauthorized claims, or any implication that ACBNA approves products, processes, or individuals.
Distinguish accredited and non-accredited work in certificates, reports, websites, and promotional material.
Stop affected symbol use and accreditation claims upon suspension, withdrawal, or scope reduction.
Correct misuse promptly and follow the applicable agreement and procedure for any further action.
Keep artwork accurate and proportionate, following the published Usage Rules for Accreditation Symbols.

Usage Rules for Accreditation Symbols

Policy clarification and current requirements

Contact ACBNA for the current policies, applicable program requirements, and agreement conditions. Detailed assessment procedures, impartiality risk controls, review arrangements, and technical guidance should be considered alongside the relevant standard.

Contact ACBNA

Applying this policy framework

These explanations support understanding and do not replace the issued accreditation agreement or formal requirements. Contact ACBNA for documentary confirmation of legal authority, applicable recognition arrangements, and any authorization to use international marks.

Complaints and Appeals