| 1 | Objective |
| 1.1 | The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to certifying bodies (hereinafter a CB) seeking accreditation by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (hereinafter ANAB) under ISO/IEC 17024 Conformity assessment -- General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons on the use of a certification scheme developed by an external scheme owner. |
| 2 | Definitions |
| 2.1 | Certification scheme: Competence (3.6) and other requirements related to specific occupational or skilled categories of persons |
| 2.2 | Common scheme: A certification scheme that may be used by multiple certifying bodies as the basis of a certification program |
| 2.3 | Scheme owner: Organization responsible for developing and maintaining a certification scheme (3.2) |
| NOTE The organization can be the certification body itself, a governmental authority, or other. |
| 3 | Scope of this Guidance Document |
| 3.1 | The scope of this guidance document relates to certification bodies seeking ANAB accreditation under ISO/IEC 17024 using an approved common scheme developed by an external scheme owner. |
| 4 | Question and Answers |
| a) | Can a common scheme be used for program accreditation under ISO/IEC 17024? |
| Yes. ISO/IEC 17024 does not require that a CB also be the scheme owner but the CB is responsible for ensuring that the scheme is compliant with the ISO/IEC 17024 standard. |
| b) | Is there a process by which the scheme owner of a common scheme can submit the scheme to ANAB for pre-approval? |
| Yes. Upon application by the scheme owner ANAB will assess a common scheme and determine if the scheme is in compliance with Clause 8 and sub-clause 9.6.3 and 9.6.5 of ISO/IEC 17024. |
| c) | Does use of a pre-approved common scheme mean that a CB's application will be approved? |
| No. Pre-approval of a common scheme is limited to the requirements of Clause 8 and Sub-clauses 9.6.3 and 9.6.5 of ISO/IEC 17024. The CB must meet all of the requirements of ISO/IEC 17024 to be accredited by ANAB under the standard. |
| d) | Can a CB make changes to an ANAB pre-approved common scheme? |
| Yes. However, for the common scheme to remain pre-approved it must be used ?as approved.? If a CB makes changes to the common scheme then it is considered a new scheme and the scheme will be subject to full ANAB review to ensure it meets the requirements of Clause 8 and Sub-clauses 9.3.5 and 9.3.8 of ISO/IEC 17024. A CB should discuss any change with the scheme owner to remain in compliance with the scheme owner's requirements/agreement/policy. |
| e) | What if the changes result in broader or more stringent requirements than under the common scheme? |
| Any change to a pre-approved common scheme regardless of whether such change results in broader or more stringent requirements than under the common scheme will result in a new scheme which will be assessed to ensure it meets the requirements of Clause 8 and Sub-clauses 9.6.3 and 9.6.5 of the standard. |
| f) | Is a CB using a pre-approved common scheme responsible to make sure that the scheme remains current? |
| Yes. Ultimate responsibility for compliance with all the requirements of ISO/IEC 17024 rests with the CB seeking accreditation of its programs. This responsibility includes ensuring that all schemes including common schemes meet the requirements of Clause 8 and Sub-clauses 9.6.3 and 9.6.5 of the standard. |
| g) | What if the common scheme owner fails to keep the pre-approved scheme current? |
| Ultimate responsibility for compliance with all the requirements of ISO/IEC 17024 rests with the CB seeking accreditation of its programs and to ensure that the scheme is current. |