ISO certification validity duration

The validity of your ISO certification lasts for three years. However, if you are not able to maintain compliance during these three years, your ISO certification can get suspended. In this article, we will talk about the duration of your ISO certification, the certification process, how to maintain its validity and its various benefits.

If you don’t have enough time to read this article, just use our ISO consulting service to get complete information about your ISO certification status.

What is an ISO certificate?

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certificate is an emblem of authenticity, granted by a third-party certification body, to organisations that adhere to the recommendations of a chosen ISO standard. ISO standards are the amalgamation of industry-specific best practices that help organisations create flexible management systems to improve business efficiency and cost savings. Some of the popular standards against which you can acquire certification include:

• ISO 9001- A standard that provides requirements for an effective Quality Management System (QMS), that helps organisations improve the consistency of the products or services that they deliver, in addition to meeting customer expectations.
• ISO 14001- A standard that provides the requirements for an effective and efficient Environmental Management System (EMS), that helps organisations improve their energy consumption, resource management and environmental performance.
• ISO 45001- A standard that provides the recommendations for a sustainable Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) that helps organisations improve the safety of their workplaces, thereby leading to lesser workplace incidents, illnesses or fatalities.

If you are a business owner in Australia and want to get ISO certification, we will help you find out how to get ISO certification in Australia.

Benefits of ISO certification

As you may have guessed from reading about the different types of standards, the benefits of the certification depend upon the type of management system that you have implemented in your organisation. For example, if you implement a QMS based on ISO 9001, you will enjoy benefits such as improved efficiency, the better quality of your products and enhanced customer satisfaction. Similarly, if you implement an EMS in your organisation, you will enjoy benefits such as better environmental performance, better brand credibility and the loyalty of environmentally conscious consumers.

1. Having said that, there are certain general benefits of ISO certification that you will enjoy, irrespective of the standard that you choose to implement. These benefits include:
   Better brand recognition: As ISO is globally recognised, acquiring certification enhances your brand credibility. After your certification, your stakeholders will see you as a strong candidate in your industry.
2. Better revenue: As a direct consequence of streamlining your processes, you identify areas of cost saving. Moreover, acquiring ISO certification allows you to tender for both public and private sector contracts.
3. Access to international markets: After you acquire ISO certification, people understand that your operations have been standardised using internationally-accepted recommendations. Hence, you will be able to facilitate trade in newer markets.

ISO certification process

The ISO certification process is simple if you focus time on planning and documentation. Essentially, you begin by understanding the requirements of the standard that you are thinking of implementing in your organisation. Then, in order to achieve compliance, you conduct a gap analysis to identify the gaps that are between your current practice and the recommendations of the chosen standard, going on to document the process. If no non-conformances are found, you are ready for an external body certification audit.

For example, we have already fully explained how to get ISO 9001, which can help you understand the conditions for obtaining ISO certification.

ISO certification validity period

As mentioned above, your ISO certification remains valid for a period of three years. There are no exceptions to this rule, however, during the pandemic, certain organisations were granted a leeway of extension.

How to maintain the validity of your certificate

In order to maintain the validity of your certificate, your organisation needs to conduct periodic surveillance audits. A surveillance audit can be described as a regular assessment of your management system and its processes, where its functionality and compliance are measured. Simply put, a surveillance audit checks if you are still compliant with the recommendations of the standard by measuring if your processes are working how they have been described in the documentation.

Moreover, you need to maintain documentation as it serves as evidence of your compliance maintenance efforts. If you successfully clear your surveillance audits, you will be able to maintain the validity of your certificate. An unsuccessful performance can lead to the suspension of your certificate.

Role of an ISO consultant

As a business owner or a member of the management team, understanding and interpreting the ISO standard in your organisation can be a time consuming job. Bringing in an ISO consultant helps to save time, effort and resources. At the ISO Council, we offer customised services, so that your certification process becomes hassle-free, fast and enjoyable. The three pillars of our company are :

• A to Z Service: We do all the work, you don’t lift a finger
• Fast Results: Get certified in record speed
• Zero Risk: Full refund if we don’t deliver

Conclusion

An ISO certificate is a badge of honour that verifies the quality of your processes, products and services. Irrespective of the ISO standard that you implement in your organisation, you can reap benefits such as enhanced brand credibility, better business opportunities, higher revenues and enhanced customer satisfaction. To maintain the validity of your certification, you need to conduct regular surveillance audits and maintain documentation of your compliance efforts. An ISO consultant makes your certification process faster by utilising their experience to integrate the standard into your operations.