Inside the Accreditation Oversight Behind ISO Certification Bodies
When clients ask, “How do I know my ISO certificate is legitimate?” or “Who checks the people checking us?” – it’s a fair and important question.
At Sancert, we aren’t just ISO auditors, we’re also regularly audited ourselves by national and international authorities like SANAS (South African National Accreditation System) and UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service). These bodies ensure we meet the highest standards of impartiality, competence and operational integrity.
So, who audits the auditors?
Accreditation Bodies: The Independent Watchdogs
Just like your organisation may undergo ISO 9001:2015 or ISO/IEC 27001:2022 audits, we are audited by SANAS and UKAS against a different, equally important international standard:
ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems
This standard governs everything from auditor competence and independence, to how we issue certificates, handle appeals, and manage conflicts of interest. It is the backbone of global trust in ISO certification.
What ISO/IEC 17021 Requires from Us
To remain accredited, we must consistently demonstrate that:
✅ Our auditors are qualified and competent in every standard they audit (e.g. ISO 9001:2015, ISO 45001:2015, ISO/IEC 27001:2022)
✅ We apply audits consistently, impartially, and without bias
✅ We have robust internal processes for managing risk, conflicts of interest, complaints, and appeals
✅ We issue certificates only when compliance has been thoroughly verified
✅ Our decision-makers are independent from the audit team to ensure impartiality
Our systems, records and reports can be reviewed by SANAS or UKAS at any time to verify we are doing things by the book.
Guided by IAF and Global Best Practices
We also align with guidelines issued by the IAF (International Accreditation Forum), the global body responsible for ensuring that certification and accreditation systems around the world are harmonised and mutually recognised.
This includes:
- Following IAF MD series documents (e.g. for auditor competence, remote audits, multi-site certifications)
- Participating in peer evaluations and global benchmarking
- Ensuring mutual recognition of certificates across countries and industries
What This Means for Our Clients
When you work with an accredited certification body like Sancert, you benefit from a system built on credibility, consistency, and global recognition:
- You can trust that your certificate is recognised internationally. Proof of this being that all our certificates are uploaded onto the IAF CertSearch.
- You’re working with a team that is held to account by authorities more stringent than the average audit.
- Your certification is based on repeatable, unbiased, and auditable processes.
- You’re protected from “tick-box” certification services.
In Summary
We are proud to say: Yes, the auditors are audited. And we welcome it, because credibility is earned, not claimed. Our SANAS and UKAS accreditations are more than logos on a certificate; they are proof that we are trusted, recognised, and operating at the highest level of professional integrity.
If you ever want to see the accreditation rules we follow, or understand more about how our processes are governed, we’re always happy to share. Because transparency is part of what makes accredited certification so valuable.