Accreditation
Institute for Credentialing Excellence

Application Process

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Review Standard

Conduct Internal Audit

  • The Organization, or Personnel Certification body (PCB) should conduct and internal audit based on ISO/IEC 17024 Standards prior to or at the same time as preparing the application. Access the Internal Audit Guidance Document.

Complete Online Application

  • If an NCCA application is already available in the online system (i.e. it was submitted for accreditation or reaccreditation since 2013), you can start an application for accreditation to ISO/IEC 17024. 
    • Please note: When starting your ISO/IEC 17024 application, you must enter exactly the same name and designation as was entered for your NCCA accreditation application. This will allow the information from the NCCA application to be copied over to the ISO/IEC 17024 application where the requirements overlap. You may refer back to your NCCA applications through the "Applications" tab in the online portal or contact I.C.E. staff for assistance. 
    • If you do not have an accredited NCCA application, you must complete that process before applying for ISO/IEC 17024 through our dual accreditation program. 
  • Use the guidance and suggested documentation to assist you as you provide narrative responses and evidence to demonstrate compliance to each clause of the Standard.
  • Submit your application and application fee once your application is thoroughly documented and complete.

I.C.E. and IAS Desk Review

  • A team of expert assessors from I.C.E. and IAS will conduct the desk review.
  • Applicants will have the opportunity to respond to desk review inquiries. Upon submitting a satisfactory response, the onsite audit will be scheduled.

Onsite Audit

  • IAS will contact the PCB to schedule an onsite two-day audit. The audit team will consist of one IAS and one I.C.E. assessor, when possible. Names of assessors will be shared with the PCB so that any concerns or potential conflicts of interest may be addressed.
  • Findings will be submitted in a report with comments, concerns, and/or corrective actions. This report will also reside in the online system for future reference.

Response to Concerns and Corrective Actions

  • The program will submit responses to IAS, along with timeline for implementation. 
     
  • Once once the responses to all concerns and CARs are satisfactory, the conferral of accreditation will happen through IAS.

Accreditation

  • IAS will issue a certificate with both IAS and I.C.E. logos and the program will be added to their accredited program directory. 
  • IAS will schedule the one year surveillance and handle dues invoices. The one year surveillance will be performed as a remote-surveillance assessment rather than an onsite visit. This will require PCB completion of a simple questionnaire/checklist and submission of several reference documents.
  • The remote surveillance is completed one year after accreditation is granted, and an onsite reassessment is completed every two years after the initial assessment.
Year 1 Initial assessment, conducted jointly by IAS and I.C.E.
Year 2

Virtual/Remote Surveillance, conducted by IAS. This only occurs the year following initial accreditation.

Note: an onsite surveillance may be conducted based on factors including severity of CARs, complaints received, etc.)

Year 3 Onsite reassessment, conducted jointly by IAS and I.C.E.
Year 4 No assessment
Year 5 Onsite reassessment, considered renewal of accreditation which will continue to occur at the end of every two-year term commencing from the date of initial accreditation. This is conducted jointly by IAS and I.C.E.