ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is given to organizations that undergo comprehensive annual audits carried out by a third party accreditation body. In order to be considered for ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, the organization is required to have a documented quality management system (QMS) in place, which details the organization’s goals, policies, processes, information documentation, and resource management necessary to maintain and continually improve operations. Prior to applying for accreditation, the organization must also participate in and provide an official report of an applicable proficiency test or inter-laboratory comparison to assess organization, performance, and evaluation of tests or measurements in accordance with predetermined conditions.
To learn more about ISO standards and the accreditation process, visit www.iso.org.