Certification can be a useful tool to add credibility, by demonstrating that your product or service meets the expectations of your customers. For some industries, certification is a legal or contractual requirement.
ISO does not perform certification
The certification exam tests your knowledge of project management fundamentals and the five main stages of a project's life cycle. To qualify for the exam, you need to hold at least a four-year. Another word for certification. Find more ways to say certification, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus.
At ISO, we develop International Standards, such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, but we are not involved in their certification, and do not issue certificates. This is performed by external certification bodies, thus a company or organization cannot be certified by ISO.
However ISO's Committee on Conformity Assessment (CASCO) has produced a number of standards related to the certification process, which are used by certification bodies. Read more about CASCO Standards.
Certification – the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system in question meets specific requirements.
Accreditation – the formal recognition by an independent body, generally known as an accreditation body, that a certification body operates according to international standards.
Choosing a certification body
When choosing a certification body, you should:
- Evaluate several certification bodies.
- Check if the certification body uses the relevant CASCO standard
- Check if it is accredited. Accreditation is not compulsory, and non-accreditation does not necessarily mean it is not reputable, but it does provide independent confirmation of competence. To find an accredited certification body, contact the national accreditation body in your country or visit the International Accreditation Forum.
Displaying your certificate
Remember, when labelling a product or system as certified to an ISO standard:
- Don't say: 'ISO certified' or 'ISO certification'
- DO say: 'ISO 9001:2015 certified' or 'ISO 9001:2015 certification' (for example).
Complaints about certification
ISO is interested to hear from you if you feel that any ISO standard, including ISO 9001 or ISO 14001, is being misused. Read more about making a complaint to ISO.
ISO survey
Find out how many valid certificates there are in each country for the main ISO management system standards.
International organizations in cooperation with ISO for accreditation
The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) is the world association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Bodies and other bodies interested in conformity assessment in the fields of management systems, products, services, personnel and other similar programmes of conformity assessment.
ILAC is the international organisation for accreditation bodies operating in accordance with ISO/IEC 17011 and involved in the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies including calibration laboratories (using ISO/IEC 17025), testing laboratories (using ISO/IEC 17025), medical testing laboratories (using ISO 15189), inspection bodies (using ISO/IEC 17020) and proficiency testing providers (using ISO/IEC 17043).
Can I use the ISO logo?
The ISO logo is a registered trademark and cannot be used by anyone outside of ISO, unless authorized.
If you wish to use a logo to demonstrate certification, contact the certification body that issued the certificate.
See full details about use of the ISO logo.
Getting Certified
Resources
ASQ Certifications are recognized as a mark of quality excellence in many industries. They are designed to help you advance your career, improve your organization, and prepare you to be a more accomplished and effective quality-focused professional. Advantages of obtaining an ASQ Certification include increased income potential, a competitive advantage, and global recognition.
Explore your pathway to Certification by selecting your field of interest below!
MARK OF EXCELLENCE FOR 50 YEARS
In today's competitive market, it's often difficult to differentiate yourself from others in your industry. So why not stand out from the crowd? Get an ASQ certification! With an ASQ certification next to your name, you demonstrate your pursuit of excellence in quality. Acquire the knowledge to position yourself and your organization ahead of the competition and get certified by ASQ today!
- GRACE TRUSHINSKI
- KIRSTEN RYDER
- RICH ALBERT
OUR EXAM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Every five to seven years, ASQ Certification works with subject-matter experts (SMEs) in the field of quality to develop and maintain its certification programs. The exam development cycle comprises of six workshops that are held at ASQ Headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Over this 12 to 18-month cycle, up to 76 volunteers take part in workshop activities to ensure the validity of ASQ exams.
Your Certification Journey
Choose
Use our new Certification Pathway Tool or review our Certification Catalog to determine which of our 18 certifications are right for you.
With certifications ranging from foundational quality to experienced quality management, we have a certification for all levels of experience.
Certification can be a useful tool to add credibility, by demonstrating that your product or service meets the expectations of your customers. For some industries, certification is a legal or contractual requirement.
ISO does not perform certification
The certification exam tests your knowledge of project management fundamentals and the five main stages of a project's life cycle. To qualify for the exam, you need to hold at least a four-year. Another word for certification. Find more ways to say certification, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus.
At ISO, we develop International Standards, such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, but we are not involved in their certification, and do not issue certificates. This is performed by external certification bodies, thus a company or organization cannot be certified by ISO.
However ISO's Committee on Conformity Assessment (CASCO) has produced a number of standards related to the certification process, which are used by certification bodies. Read more about CASCO Standards.
Certification – the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system in question meets specific requirements.
Accreditation – the formal recognition by an independent body, generally known as an accreditation body, that a certification body operates according to international standards.
Choosing a certification body
When choosing a certification body, you should:
- Evaluate several certification bodies.
- Check if the certification body uses the relevant CASCO standard
- Check if it is accredited. Accreditation is not compulsory, and non-accreditation does not necessarily mean it is not reputable, but it does provide independent confirmation of competence. To find an accredited certification body, contact the national accreditation body in your country or visit the International Accreditation Forum.
Displaying your certificate
Remember, when labelling a product or system as certified to an ISO standard:
- Don't say: 'ISO certified' or 'ISO certification'
- DO say: 'ISO 9001:2015 certified' or 'ISO 9001:2015 certification' (for example).
Complaints about certification
ISO is interested to hear from you if you feel that any ISO standard, including ISO 9001 or ISO 14001, is being misused. Read more about making a complaint to ISO.
ISO survey
Find out how many valid certificates there are in each country for the main ISO management system standards.
International organizations in cooperation with ISO for accreditation
The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) is the world association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Bodies and other bodies interested in conformity assessment in the fields of management systems, products, services, personnel and other similar programmes of conformity assessment.
ILAC is the international organisation for accreditation bodies operating in accordance with ISO/IEC 17011 and involved in the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies including calibration laboratories (using ISO/IEC 17025), testing laboratories (using ISO/IEC 17025), medical testing laboratories (using ISO 15189), inspection bodies (using ISO/IEC 17020) and proficiency testing providers (using ISO/IEC 17043).
Can I use the ISO logo?
The ISO logo is a registered trademark and cannot be used by anyone outside of ISO, unless authorized.
If you wish to use a logo to demonstrate certification, contact the certification body that issued the certificate.
See full details about use of the ISO logo.
Getting Certified
Resources
ASQ Certifications are recognized as a mark of quality excellence in many industries. They are designed to help you advance your career, improve your organization, and prepare you to be a more accomplished and effective quality-focused professional. Advantages of obtaining an ASQ Certification include increased income potential, a competitive advantage, and global recognition.
Explore your pathway to Certification by selecting your field of interest below!
MARK OF EXCELLENCE FOR 50 YEARS
In today's competitive market, it's often difficult to differentiate yourself from others in your industry. So why not stand out from the crowd? Get an ASQ certification! With an ASQ certification next to your name, you demonstrate your pursuit of excellence in quality. Acquire the knowledge to position yourself and your organization ahead of the competition and get certified by ASQ today!
- GRACE TRUSHINSKI
- KIRSTEN RYDER
- RICH ALBERT
OUR EXAM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Every five to seven years, ASQ Certification works with subject-matter experts (SMEs) in the field of quality to develop and maintain its certification programs. The exam development cycle comprises of six workshops that are held at ASQ Headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Over this 12 to 18-month cycle, up to 76 volunteers take part in workshop activities to ensure the validity of ASQ exams.
Your Certification Journey
Choose
Use our new Certification Pathway Tool or review our Certification Catalog to determine which of our 18 certifications are right for you.
With certifications ranging from foundational quality to experienced quality management, we have a certification for all levels of experience.
Apply
Apply Online or download an application.
After your application is received, in 3-5 business days you will receive an approval notification via email or a request for additional information.
Certification & Trainingswsmac Student Group Counseling
Prepare
Certification & Trainingswsmac Student Group Evaluation
Now that you have been approved to sit for your exam it's time to study!
Review your exam's Body of Knowledge (BoK), reference list, and available training courses and materials here. Mac mojave.
NCCA ACCREDITATION
In 2019, ASQ's Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) certification program achieved accreditation through the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Subsequently in 2020, ASQ's Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), and Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) certification programs also achieved accreditation through NCCA. NCCA was established in 1977, by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE), and provides impartial, third-party validation that a certification program has met recognized national and international credentialing industry standards for a program's development, implementation, and maintenance.
By earning accreditation ASQ demonstrates to the Quality profession it represents and the general public it serves, that its credentialing programs have been reviewed by a panel of impartial experts who have determined that our CQA, CSSBB & CQE programs have met the stringent standards set by the credentialing community.
