ISO Registration Process

Finding an ISO Registrar

You’ll need to begin searching for an ISO registrar during the 2 to 3 months your company is still building its quality system. You can search the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) to select the registrar right for you.
Registrars must meet the requirements of the ISO Accreditation Bodies. These requirements include things such as independence; Registrars cannot consult for instance. This system ensures uniformity in the registration process.

Accreditation Bodies maintain directories of the Registrar organizations that they accredit. These directories are available on their websites. You can normally find these websites by doing a search on the Accreditation Body’s name or initials.
A directory of registrars in the U.S. can also be found at the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board website which offers access to a searchable database of accredited registrars in the United States.
In Canada, contact the Standards Council of Canada for a list of registrars. All other countries should consult the accreditation authority or member body for their country. Consult the ISO website for a complete list of ISO Member bodies.

Selecting an ISO Registrar

Select a registrar that has experience within the scope category of your specific industry, which you can also find on the ANAB site. Keep in mind accreditation, scheduling issues, fees and comfort level when selecting the registrar right for you.
Registrar qualifications are a key consideration. As you research Registrars you will notice that some appear to be very limited in scope just based on their names. Registrars must be accredited in a particular industrial sector in order for them to be able to certify a company in that sector. Some Registrars are accredited in several if not all sectors; others specialize in certain sectors. The best approach to evaluating a Registrar’s qualifications for your industrial sector is to contact the Registrar.

Creating an ISO Application

A company and a registrar will agree on the application contract. This is an important step of the ISO Registration Process because it defines the rights and obligations of both parties, and includes liability issues, confidentiality and access rights.

Conducting a Quality Document Review

The registrar will require a copy of your quality manual and procedures to verify that all the requirements of the standard are addressed. The ISO Registration Process is not a quick process, be sure to allow 2-4 weeks in advance for the registrar to fully review all of the necessary documents.