How to Prepare for ANAB ISO/IEC 17021-1 Management Systems Accreditation


If your organization is interested in ANAB Accreditation, specifically to offer accredited certifications for management system (MS) standards, then we offer some steps in the process of preparing to apply for ANAB accreditation.

The first step in becoming an ANAB-accredited MS certification body is to understand and become familiar with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17021-1, other requirement documents for specific programs (e.g., ISO/IEC 17021-2, ISO/IEC 27006-1, IAF MD1), ANAB requirement documents (e.g., Accreditation Rules), and other ANAB documents.

  • Purchase ISO/IEC 17021-1 Conformity Assessment – Requirements For Bodies Providing Audit And Certification Of Management Systems – Part 1: Requirements
  • Visit MS Programs to understand additional requirement documents, by program
  • Access ANAB’s Requirements and Other Documents, as applicable
  • Access IAF Mandatory Documents, as applicable
  • Review the MS Applications available for informational purposes. These documents will guide you to conformity information specific for the program or scheme under ISO/IEC 17021-1 accreditation. The conformity information (program or scheme application) is required once the web-based ANAB application is successfully completed.
  • Review your current management system certification program including your internal management system and perform a gap analysis to identify conformance to ISO/IEC 17021-1, any applicable program requirements (e.g., ISO/IEC 17021-2, ISO/IEC 27006-1, ISO 22003), and ANAB requirements.

We understand reviewing all the MS requirement documents can be overwhelming. ANAB offers optional services for a certification body to gain additional knowledge of the accreditation requirements and ANAB’s accreditation process.

  • Participation in ANAB training is an optional method to familiarize yourself with the accreditation requirements. Many organizations new to accreditation have found ANAB training an efficient and valuable way to gain more knowledge of the requirements.
  • Scheduling a preliminary visit with ANAB is another optional method to better understand the accreditation requirements. During this visit, an ANAB accreditation assessor will walk through the accreditation requirements and highlight key requirements and the importance of them. Your organization is able to ask questions about the specific programs you may be applying for. For example, if your certification body is interested in applying to be accredited to offer certifications to ISO/IEC 27001, your questions may be specific to ISO/IEC 27006.

Note: ANAB will not provide consulting services during our optional services nor during the application and accreditation processes.

Once your organization understands the management system accreditation requirements and has developed your system, you may apply at your own convenience – first the web-based application for accreditation* and then, once that is complete and ANAB staff contacts you, the conformity information required for the MS program or scheme applying for.

*If your CAB is already accredited by ANAB (e.g., ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation) please contact ANAB, below, for further guidance in applying.

An internal audit and management review will need to be completed at the appropriate point during the initial accreditation process.

ANAB Initial Accreditation Process Flow Overview

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If your organization has any questions and would like to visit with ANAB staff, please feel free to complete the fields below and ANAB staff will contact you without delay.

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