About IAS
The International Accreditation Service (IAS) provides objective evidence that an organization operates at the highest level of ethical, legal and technical standards. IAS is a nonprofit, public-benefit corporation that has been providing accreditation services since 1975. It is a subsidiary of the International Code Council (ICC), a professional membership association that develops the construction codes and standards used by most municipalities within the United States. IAS accredits a wide range of companies and organizations including governmental entities, commercial businesses, and professional associations. IAS accreditation programs are based on recognized national and international standards that ensure domestic and/or global acceptance of its accreditations.
IAS’ International Credentials
As one of the leading accreditation bodies in the United States, IAS is a signatory to the four primary international organizations that form a unified system for evaluating and recognizing competent accreditation bodies worldwide. These organizations are identified as “cooperations” because they have agreed to cooperate with one another by adhering to a common set of accreditation criteria and to undergo periodic onsite evaluation to determine ongoing compliance with ISO/IEC Standard 17011, General Requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies(CABs). Being a “signatory” means that an accreditation body has been evaluated onsite at its offices, a sampling of the assessments of its accredited entities have been witnessed by peer experts, and that it has been found to comply with international requirements.
These organizations agree to recognize the equivalence of accreditations granted by other signatory member accreditation bodies through a series of Mutual (or Multilateral) Recognition Arrangements (MRAs/MLAs). Once an accreditation body becomes a signatory it is obligated to recognize the certificates or reports issued by conformity assessment bodies accredited by all other signatories within a specified scope. The following organizations make up the unified system for recognition of competent accreditation bodies (ABs):
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Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) MRA –ABs involved in the accreditation of testing laboratories, calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, proficiency testing providers and reference material producers. IAS is a MRA signatory for testing laboratories, calibration laboratories and inspection bodies. | |
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International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) MRA – ABs involved in the accreditation of testing laboratories, calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, proficiency testing providers and reference material producers. IAS is a MRA signatory for testing laboratories, calibration laboratories and inspection bodies. |
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International Accreditation Forum (IAF)MLA – ABs involved in the accreditation of management systems, products, services or personnel. IAS is a MLA signatory for product certification and management systems. |
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Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC) MLA – ABs involved in the accreditation of management systems, greenhouse gas validation or verification bodies, product, service and personnel certification. IAS is a MLA signatory for product certification and management systems. | |
| ILAC and IAF are the apex (worldwide) organizations; APLAC is a region of ILAC and PAC is a region of IAF. Accreditation bodies are recognized depending on the geographic region in which they are located but their signatory status applies worldwide. | ||
The IAS Board
Click here for complete information about the IAS Board of Directors.
Who Does IAS Accredit?
A pioneer in the accreditation profession, IAS actively develops new accreditation programs for organizations seeking to demonstrate the highest level of competence and service in their respective industries.
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation is a formal, independent verification that a program or institution meets established quality standards and is competent to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks. Conformity assessment tasks may include, but are not limited to, testing, inspection, or certification.
Typically, governmental regulatory agencies such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) require accreditation to verify the technical competence of organizations like laboratories, inspection bodies, and certification agencies.
Organizations responsible for public safety and welfare such as building departments, hospitals, schools, and police and fire departments also seek accreditation to demonstrate their competence and reliability.
Accreditation has been used for over 50 years as the definitive means of evaluating organizations and is now utilized by all the world’s major economies and many developing economies.
Why Accreditation?
Worldwide demand for reliable, safe products and services makes accreditation a necessity. Accreditation from a globally respected agency like IAS means immediate acceptance and assures confidence in your service or product. The best way to demonstrate the highest level of service and good value is through accreditation. Choosing the right organization to evaluate and accredit your professional services has direct impact on your success.
Accreditation is essential if you are involved in any profession that has a direct impact on public safety and welfare. International Accreditation Service welcomes the opportunity to partner with you and help you achieve and maintain your accreditation.
The IAS Accreditation Mark
Where ever you see the IAS Accreditation Mark, it means that a company has been evaluated for its technical competence and quality of service and has proven that it meets recognized standards. The IAS Accreditation Mark is recognized and accepted around the world as a symbol for organizations that meet the standards that matter the most.
Advantages of IAS Accreditation
- Marketing Advantage: Because IAS accreditation is highly respected and recognized as a reliable indicator of technical competence, our accredited clientele use it to effectively market their services. IAS accreditation can be used by companies or organizations to improve the quality of their services or products thereby improving their public image and marketability. Most industries routinely specify that companies maintain accreditation by a nationally recognized accreditation body such as IAS.
- Prompt, Personal Service: Getting accredited is your goal – Having a positive experience while you are pursuing accreditation is a big plus. Exceptional service is what you receive when you pursue accreditation with IAS. We are sensitive to your needs and work hard to meet them.
- Time and Cost Saving: Organizations involved in conformity assessment can improve their processes using input gained from onsite assessment and by learning about best practices from experienced IAS assessors and peer evaluators. Ultimately, accreditation results in reduced cost, time savings and improvement of products and services.
- Competency: IAS accreditation provides evidence that companies render competent services in line with national and international standards.
- Confidence: IAS’s international recognition and reputation with industry provides complete confidence in the quality and competence of its services.
- International Recognition: Through a system of international arrangements with organizations including APLAC, ILAC, PAC, and IAF, the services of IAS-accredited companies are readily accepted in overseas markets. This recognition reduces costs for manufacturers, importers, and exporters that have their products tested, inspected, or certified by IAS-accredited entities eliminating the need for retesting, reinspection, or recertification in another country. The certificates of accreditation for all IAS-accredited entities are available for public viewing on the IAS web site.
- Outstanding Quality of Assessments: IAS places tremendous importance on the training of its assessors. This leads to high levels of assessor competency, technical expertise, and value-added assessments.
- Enhanced Knowledge Base: With its excellent knowledge base and teams of technical experts, IAS helps to improve the quality of work performed by its accredited companies.
The Accreditation Process
- IAS accredits organizations by verifying their technical competence and assessing their quality management systems based on recognized industry standards.
- The accreditation process begins with the customer’s submittal of an application, applicable fees, and documentation cited in the applicable IAS accreditation criteria. Details on costs, accreditation criteria, applications, and the accreditation process are available here.
- An IAS accreditation officer partners with each customer throughout the accreditation process, beginning with a review of the submitted data and the requested scope of accreditation.
- Once the data has been reviewed and determined to comply with the applicable criteria, IAS matches an assessment team, comprising quality system, technical, and subject matter experts, to the requested scope of accreditation. The team conducts an on-site assessment and develops an assessment report.
- After satisfying IAS accreditation requirements and demonstrating technical competence, the customer receives an accreditation certificate.
- All IAS accreditation certificates, which provide details on the accreditation status and scope of accreditation, are available to interested parties here.
IAS Vision, Mission and Quality Policy
Vision
To protect lives and property through accreditation of competent organizations providing services, products, and oversight worldwide.
Mission
To provide the highest quality accreditation services for all concerned with public safety and sustainability through the principle of “One Test, One Inspection, One Certification Worldwide.”
Quality Policy
International Accreditation Service (IAS) is committed to operating its accreditation programs and related services in compliance with ISO/IEC Standard 17011, national and international conformity assessment requirements and the needs and requirements of its customers. Through regular internal audits, management reviews, customer surveys and other relevant measures, IAS ensures that a consistent culture of quality, professionalism and competence is maintained.