ISO 17025:2017 Accreditation

ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation is a more thorough process than ISO 9001:2015 registration. This is because ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation is recognition of a laboratory’s competence to produce  technically valid results, while ISO 9001:2015 registration of a laboratory is limited to QMS conformance.

ISO/IEC 17025:2017 QMS and technical requirements serve as criteria for on-site assessments similar to ISO 9001:2015 audits. These assessments are performed by a third-party accreditation body, which is primarily interested in the laboratory’s ability to perform specific tests or calibrations.

Accreditation can be valuable tool, demonstrating that a laboratory operates an efficient QMS and is competent to perform calibration or testing, leading to improved credibility, fewer customer complaints and a strong competitive edge.

An ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation is valid for two years, with a surveillance assessment conducted after one year. When a laboratory is part of a larger facility, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation can occur at the same time as ISO 9001:2015 or IATF 16949 registration if the auditor is working for both an accreditation body and a registrar. In these circumstances, the laboratory must have an independent QMS from the rest of the facility.