Multiple MS Standards on a single certification document
Certification Document
8.2.2 The certification document(s) shall identify the following: …………….
e) the management system standard and/or other normative document, including indication of issue status (e.g. revision date or number) used for audit of the certified client;
f) the scope of certification with respect to the type of activities, products and services as applicable at each site without being misleading or ambiguous;
………………
h) any other information required by the standard and/or other normative document used for certification;
Questions:
Is it acceptable for a CAB to issue a single Certification Document that includes more than one Management System Standard if the scopes are the same?
Is it acceptable for a CAB to issue a single Certification Document that includes more than one Management System Standard if the scopes are different?
March 2020
Yes, it is acceptable to have one certificate including several management systems and different sites if cannot be misunderstood.
If scopes and certification cycles are different then separate certification documents are preferable.
Even if, the clause 8.2.2e) of ISO/EC 17021-1 standard refers to a single management system standard (singular used instead of plural), under same scope, it could be acceptable, provided that the certificate can be clear in indicating certification cycles for the MS’s.
Under different scopes, this would conflict with 8.2.2.f “without being misleading or ambiguous”
8.2.2 The certification document(s) shall identify the following:
e) the management system standard and/or other normative document, including indication of issue status (e.g. revision date or number) used for audit of the certified client;
Note: For clearance applications, the CAB should have a process in place on how to deal with this issue and by this being able to demonstrate compliance with ISO/IEC 17021-1.