Certification process
How to apply
Applying is deliberately simple, because the information we need at this stage is only what is required to scope the audit accurately and calculate audit days to accreditation rules. We do not ask for your management system documentation until Stage 1.
What we need from you
Five things, and nothing you have to build first
We do not ask for your management system documentation at application stage. Everything below exists so the audit is scoped correctly and the quotation is a number you can rely on.
- 01
Tell us your scope
The activities, products or services you want covered, the sites involved, and the standard or standards you are seeking. If you are not certain of the right scope, say so — getting it wrong is the most common cause of a certificate that does not satisfy the customer who asked for it.
- 02
Give us your headcount
Total employees including contractors, part-time and shift workers, per site. Audit duration is calculated from effective headcount under IAF MD 5, so this figure directly determines your cost and we need it to be accurate rather than flattering.
- 03
Describe your processes
A brief outline of what happens at each site, whether any processes are outsourced, and whether design and development is within scope. Outsourced and design activities change the audit-day calculation.
- 04
Confirm your readiness
Whether your management system is implemented and operating, whether you have completed a full internal audit cycle and a management review, and roughly how long it has been running. A system with no internal audit history cannot pass Stage 2.
- 05
Receive your quotation
Within two to three working days we issue a fixed quotation showing the audit-day calculation, the three-year cycle cost, and what is and is not included. No surprises at surveillance.
Eligibility — what must be true before we can audit
These are not our preferences. They are the conditions under which a Stage 2 audit can produce a valid result, and an accredited certification body cannot waive them. If you do not meet them yet, tell us anyway — we would rather help you plan a realistic date than quote against one that cannot happen.
- Your management system must be documented, implemented and operating — not merely written.
- At least one full cycle of internal audits covering the entire scope must be complete.
- At least one management review must have been conducted with the required inputs and outputs.
- Applicable statutory licences and regulatory approvals for the scope must be valid.
- For IATF 16949, you must have an automotive customer supplying eligible parts.
- For ISO 27701, you must hold or be concurrently certifying ISO 27001.
What happens after you apply
We review your application for scope and complexity, calculate audit days against IAF MD 5, and issue a fixed quotation within two to three working days showing the calculation, the three-year cycle cost and what is included. If anything in your application suggests the scope is wrong or the readiness is overstated, we raise it then — not after you have paid.
Prefer the form?
The certification application form covers every standard and captures the same information the enquiry form below collects.
Apply now
Start your application
Complete this and we will come back with a scoped, fixed quotation — including the audit-day calculation — within two to three working days.
Not ready to apply?
Talk it through first
If you are unsure about scope, which standard applies, or whether your system is ready, ask us before you apply. We answer technical questions without requiring an enquiry.