Key Concepts: Types of Conformity Assessment

Certification

Third party attestation related to products, processes, systems, or persons.

Certification may be provided for a management system (also known as registration) and is applicable to all objects of the CA except for conformity assessment bodies themselves, to which accreditation is applicable.

Certification is conducted by: Product certification bodies; system certification bodies; Personnel certification body.

ISO/IEC 17021 provides guidance for requirements for bodies providing certification and auditing of management systems.