Cost & Timeframe for Accreditation

How much will accreditation cost?

The cost of accreditation depends on:

The size of the body seeking accreditation
The complexity of the organisation, which affects assessment durations
The number of sites from which services are offered
The number of schemes and standards applied for
The technical scope — the number of technical sectors
The number of countries in which the body operates

These factors determine the number and type of assessments during the initial assessment and ongoing surveillance. Once accredited, annual fees and certificate fees apply, as published in the IACAB accreditation manual. IACAB normally provides an estimate before the process begins.

Fees structure

The fee structure is based on the following criteria:

Application fee

The initial amount paid in advance by the applicant to start the accreditation programme.

Programme fee

The fee for the accreditation programme itself. It excludes assessment, travel, accommodation and translation costs.

Assessment fee

Covers the involvement of assessors, technical experts and other required resources.

Certificate fee

Charged per certificate issued by the accredited body.

How long will it take?

The time needed depends mainly on how well prepared the applicant is. The most common causes of delay are:

Poor quality documentation

A document review takes place before the on-site assessment. Weak documentation can lead to several nonconformities that must be addressed before the application can progress.

Structural requirements not implemented

The accreditation criteria require particular structures, such as mechanisms to safeguard impartiality. These are often misunderstood or poorly implemented.

Procedures not followed in practice

At the initial assessment, practice sometimes does not match documented procedures, raising nonconformities that must be closed before accreditation.

If everything is in good order, IACAB can usually schedule the first visit within three months of receiving the application, with the complete process taking six to eight months from application to accreditation.