ISO Certificate
The ISO certification market is expected to reach $66.25 billion by 2034. It indicates a strong annual growth rate of 15.2%.
As you already know, ISO certifications show that a company is serious about quality and safety. It says that the certified company is doing things in the right way.
Unfortunately, there are many fake certificates on the rise! Hence, one must check if an ISO certificate is real and valid. We will guide you through the process step by step in this blog so you can confidently verify an ISO certificate.
Why Verifying an ISO Certificate Matters?
One must ensure to have a valid ISO certificate as it helps in many ways.
- Clients and partners rely on valid certifications.
- Fake or expired certificates can lead to fines and reputational damage.
- Valid certificates confirm that the company follows international standards.
ISO Accreditation vs. ISO Certification
If your organization wants to prove it follows ISO standards, then you need ISO certification. This gives you a certificate to show your customers and stakeholders. However, accreditation is for organizations that want to become qualified to certify others. It confirms they can issue ISO certifications.
Steps to Check if an ISO Certificate is Valid
1. Check the Certification Body
You should first identify the organization that issued the certificate. Note that legitimate ISO certifications are issued by accredited certification bodies. Here is how to verify:
- Look up the official site of the certification body and check if they offer a certificate validation tool.
- You should look for recognized authorities for accreditation like UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service).
2. Examine the Certificate
Now you can look closely at the certificate and try to figure out the following details.
- Certificate Number: A unique identifier.
- Company Name: The official name of the certified organization.
- Scope of Certification: Details of the processes or operations covered.
- Standard: The specific ISO standard (e.g., ISO 9001 for quality management).
- Validity Period: Issue and expiry dates.
- Certifying Body’s Logo: The official logo and seal.
After checking these details, you can compare them with the information available on the certification body’s website.
3. Use Online Verification Tools
You should know that many certification bodies provide online tools to verify certificates. Here is how you can take advantage of it:
- Visit the Verification Page
- Enter the Certificate Details
- Finally, you can check the Results. The system will confirm if the certificate is valid, expired, or fake.
4. Contact the Certification Body
If online verification isn’t available, you can contact the certification body directly:
- Reach out via email or phone using the contact details on their website.
- Provide the certificate number and company details.
- Request confirmation of the certificate’s authenticity.
5. Verify with the Certified Company
Contact the company claiming to have the certification and ask for:
- The name of the certification body.
- A copy of the certificate.
- Details about the scope of their certification.
Cross-check this information with the certifying body.
6. Check Accreditation Listings
Accreditation bodies maintain lists of recognized certification bodies. You can follow these steps to confirm.
- Visit the IAF or the accreditation body’s website.
- Look for the certification body in their directory.
- Verify that the certification standard matches the accreditation scope.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Here are some signs that an ISO certificate might be fake:
- Unrecognized Certification Body: If the certifying body isn’t listed with a legitimate accreditation authority.
- Missing Information: Key details like the certificate number or validity dates are absent.
- No Online Verification: Lack of a tool to verify the certificate.
- Cheap Offers: Extremely low-cost certifications are often fake.
- Errors on the Certificate: Spelling or grammatical mistakes indicate poor authenticity.
Conclusion
You should verify the ISO certificate because only valid ones work well. We have mentioned some amazing tips above in the blog so that you can check the validity of an ISO certificate. If you are looking for a shortcut then you can visit the IAF or contact us. Note that the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) has offered an online platform where you can verify any certificate from around the world. Just visit the IAF website and type the business name in the search bar. If the business is certified, it will appear in the results.