SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012
01-september-2012
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SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2004
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Conformity assessment - General requirements for bodies operating certification of
persons (ISO/IEC 17024:2012)
Konformitätsbewertung - Allgemeine Anforderungen an Stellen, die Personen
zertifizieren (ISO/IEC 17024:2012)
Évaluation de la conformité - Exigences générales pour les organismes de certification
procédant à la certification de personnes (ISO/IEC 17024:2012)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012
ICS:
03.100.30 Vodenje ljudi Management of human
resources
03.120.20 Certificiranje proizvodov in Product and company
podjetij. Ugotavljanje certification. Conformity
skladnosti assessment
SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012 en
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012


EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN ISO/IEC 17024

NORME EUROPÉENNE

EUROPÄISCHE NORM
July 2012
ICS 03.120.20 Supersedes EN ISO/IEC 17024:2003
English version
Conformity assessment - General requirements for bodies
operating certification of persons (ISO/IEC 17024:2012)
Évaluation de la conformité - Exigences générales pour les Konformitätsbewertung - Allgemeine Anforderungen an
organismes de certification procédant à la certification de Stellen, die Personen zertifizieren (ISO/IEC 17024:2012)
personnes (ISO/IEC 17024:2012)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 2 June 2012.

CEN and CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving
this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning
such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN and CENELEC
member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN and CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre
has the same status as the official versions.

CEN and CENELEC members are the national standards bodies and national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.






CEN Management Centre: CENELEC Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2012 CEN/CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012 E
worldwide for CEN national Members and for CENELEC
Members.

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012
EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012 (E)
Contents Page
Foreword .3

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012
EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012 (E)
Foreword
This document (EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/CASCO
"Committee on conformity assessment" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/CLC/TC 1 “Criteria for
conformity assessment bodies” the secretariat of which is held by BSI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at the latest by January 2013, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at
the latest by January 2013.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO/IEC 17024:2003.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO/IEC 17024:2012 has been approved by CEN as a EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012 without any
modification.

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 17024
Second edition
2012-07-01

Conformity assessment — General
requirements for bodies operating
certification of persons
Évaluation de la conformité — Exigences générales pour les
organismes de certification procédant à la certification de personnes




Reference number
ISO/IEC 17024:2012(E)
©
ISO 2012

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012
ISO/IEC 17024:2012(E)

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT


©  ISO 2012
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the address below or
ISO's member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
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Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail copyright@iso.org
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland

ii © ISO 2012 — All rights reserved

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012
ISO/IEC 17024:2012(E)
Contents Page
Foreword . iv
Introduction . v
1  Scope . 1
2  Normative references . 1
3  Terms and definitions . 1
4  General requirements . 3
4.1  Legal matters . 3
4.2  Responsibility for decision on certification. 3
4.3  Management of impartiality . 4
4.4  Finance and liability . 4
5  Structural requirements . 4
5.1  Management and organization structure . 4
5.2  Structure of the certification body in relation to training . 5
6  Resource requirements . 5
6.1  General personnel requirements . 5
6.2  Personnel involved in the certification activities . 6
6.3  Outsourcing . 7
6.4  Other resources . 7
7  Records and information requirements . 7
7.1  Records of applicants, candidates and certified persons . 7
7.2  Public information . 8
7.3  Confidentiality . 8
7.4  Security . 8
8  Certification schemes . 9
9  Certification process requirements . 10
9.1  Application process . 10
9.2  Assessment process . 10
9.3  Examination process . 11
9.4  Decision on certification . 11
9.5  Suspending, withdrawing or reducing the scope of certification . 12
9.6  Recertification process . 12
9.7  Use of certificates, logos and marks . 13
9.8  Appeals against decisions on certification . 14
9.9  Complaints . 14
10  Management system requirements . 15
10.1  General . 15
10.2  General management system requirements . 15
Annex A (informative) Principles for certification bodies for persons and their certification
activities . 19
Bibliography . 21

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012
ISO/IEC 17024:2012(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of
ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical committees
established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity. ISO and IEC
technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental
and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work. In the field of conformity
assessment, the ISO Committee on conformity assessment (CASCO) is responsible for the development of
International Standards and Guides.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
Draft International Standards are circulated to the national bodies for voting. Publication as an International
Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/IEC 17024, was prepared by the ISO Committee on conformity assessment (CASCO).
It was circulated for voting to the national bodies of both ISO and IEC, and was approved by both
organizations.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO/IEC 17024:2003), which has been technically
revised.

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012
ISO/IEC 17024:2012(E)
Introduction
This International Standard has been developed with the objective of achieving and promoting a globally
accepted benchmark for organizations operating certification of persons. Certification for persons is one
means of providing assurance that the certified person meets the requirements of the certification scheme.
Confidence in the respective certification schemes for persons is achieved by means of a globally accepted
process of assessment and periodic re-assessments of the competence of certified persons.
However, it is necessary to distinguish between situations where certification schemes for persons are
justified and situations where other forms of qualification are more appropriate. The development of
certification schemes for persons, in response to the ever increasing velocity of technological innovation and
growing specialization of personnel, can compensate for variations in education and training and thus facilitate
the global job market. Alternatives to certification can still be necessary in positions where public services,
official or governmental operations are concerned.
In contrast to other types of conformity assessment bodies, such as management system certification bodies,
one of the characteristic functions of the certification body for persons is to conduct an examination, which
uses objective criteria to measure competence and scoring. While it is recognized that such an examination, if
well planned and structured by the certification body for persons, can substantially serve to ensure impartiality
of operations and reduce the risk of a conflict of interest, additional requirements have been included in this
International Standard.
In either case, this International Standard can serve as the basis for the recognition of the certification bodies
for persons and the certification schemes under which persons are certified, in order to facilitate their
acceptance at the national and international levels. Only the harmonization of the system for developing and
maintaining certification schemes for persons can establish the environment for mutual recognition and the
global exchange of personnel.
This International Standard specifies requirements which ensure that certification bodies for persons operating
certification schemes for persons operate in a consistent, comparable and reliable manner. The requirements
in this International Standard are considered to be general requirements for bodies providing certification of
persons. Certification of persons can only occur when there is a certification scheme. The certification scheme
is designed to supplement the requirements included in this International Standard and include those
requirements that the market needs or desires, or that are required by governments.
This International Standard can be used as a criteria document for accreditation or peer evaluation or
designation by governmental authorities, scheme owners and others.
In this International Standard, the following verbal forms are used:
 “shall” indicates a requirement;
 “should” indicates a recommendation;
 “may” indicates a permission;
 “can” indicates a possibility or a capability.
Further details can be found in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012

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SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 17024:2012(E)

Conformity assessment — General requirements for bodies
operating certification of persons
1 Scope
This International Standard contains principles and requirements for a body certifying persons against specific
requirements, and includes the development and maintenance of a certification scheme for persons.
NOTE For the purposes of this International Standard, the term "certification body" is used in place of the full term
"certification body for persons", and the term "certification scheme" is used in place of the full term “certification scheme for
persons”.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC 17000, Conformity assessment — Vocabulary and general principles
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC 17000 and the following apply.
3.1
certification process
activities by which a certification body determines that a person fulfils certification requirements (3.3),
including application, assessment, decision on certification, recertification and use of certificates (3.5) and
logos/marks
3.2
certification scheme
competence (3.6) and other requirements related to specific occupational or skilled categories of persons
NOTE For other requirements, see 8.3 and 8.4.
3.3
certification requirements
set of specified requirements, including requirements of the scheme to be fulfilled in order to establish or
maintain certification
3.4
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.
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SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012
ISO/IEC 17024:2012(E)
3.5
certificate
document issued by a certification body under the provisions of this International Standard, indicating that the
named person has fulfilled the certification requirements (3.3)
NOTE See 9.4.7.
3.6
competence
ability to apply knowledge and skills to achieve intended results
3.7
qualification
demonstrated education, training and work experience, where applicable
3.8
assessment
process that evaluates a person's fulfilment of the requirements of the certification scheme (3.2)
3.9
examination
mechanism that is part of the assessment (3.8) which measures a candidate's (3.14) competence (3.6) by
one or more means, such as written, oral, practical and observational, as defined in the certification scheme
(3.2)
3.10
examiner
person competent to conduct and score an examination (3.9), where the examination requires professional
judgement
3.11
invigilator
person authorized by the certification body who administers or supervises an examination (3.9), but does not
evaluate the competence (3.6) of the candidate (3.14)
NOTE Other terms for invigilator are proctor, test administrator, supervisor.
3.12
personnel
individuals, internal or external, of the certification body carrying out activities for the certification body
NOTE These include committee members and volunteers.
3.13
applicant
person who has submitted an application to be admitted into the certification process (3.1)
3.14
candidate
applicant (3.13) who has fulfilled specified prerequisites and has been admitted to the certification process
(3.1)
3.15
impartiality
presence of objectivity
NOTE 1 Objectivity means that conflicts of interest do not exist, or are resolved, so as not to adversely influence
subsequent activities of the certification body.
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SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012
ISO/IEC 17024:2012(E)
NOTE 2 Other terms that are useful in conveying the element of impartiality are: independence, freedom from conflict
of interests, freedom from bias, lack of prejudice, neutrality, fairness, open-mindedness, even-handedness, detachment,
balance.
3.16
fairness
equal opportunity for success provided to each candidate (3.14) in the certification process (3.1)
3.17
validity
evidence that the assessment (3.8) measures what it is intended to measure, as defined by the certification
scheme (3.2)
NOTE In this international Standard, validity is also used in its adjective form "valid".
3.18
reliability
indicator of the extent to which examination (3.9) scores are consistent across different examination times
and locations, different examination forms and different examiners (3.10)
3.19
appeal
request by applicant (3.13), candidate (3.14) or certified person for reconsideration of any decision made by
the certification body related to her/his desired certification status
3.20
complaint
expression of dissatisfaction, other than appeal (3.19), by any individual or organization to a certification body,
relating to the activities of that body or a certified person, where a response is expected
NOTE Adapted from ISO/IEC 17000:2004, definition 6.5.
3.21
interested party
individual, group or organization affected by the performance of a certified person or the certification body
EXAMPLES Certified person; user of the services of the certified person; employer of the certified person; consumer;
governmental authority.
3.22
surveillance
periodic monitoring, during the periods of certification, of a certified person's performance to ensure continued
compliance with the certification scheme
4 General requirements
4.1 Legal matters
The certification body shall be a legal entity, or a defined part of a legal entity, such that it can be held legally
responsible for its certification activities. A governmental certification body is deemed to be a legal entity on
the basis of its governmental status.
4.2 Responsibility for decision on certification
The certification body shall be responsible for, shall retain authority for, and shall not delegate, its decisions
relating to certification, including the granting, maintaining, recertifying, expanding and reducing the scope of
the certification, and suspending or withdrawing the certification.
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SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012
ISO/IEC 17024:2012(E)
4.3 Management of impartiality
4.3.1 The certification body shall document its structure, policies and procedures to manage impartiality and
to ensure that the certification activities are undertaken impartially. The certification body shall have top
management commitment to impartiality in certification activities. The certification body shall have a statement
publicly accessible without request that it understands the importance of impartiality in carrying out its
certification activities, manages conflict of interest and ensures the objectivity of its certification activities.
4.3.2 The certification body shall act impartially in relation to its applicants, candidates and certified persons.
4.3.3 Policies and procedures for certification of persons shall be fair among all applicants, candidates and
certified persons.
4.3.4 Certification shall not be restricted on the grounds of undue financial or other limiting conditions, such
as membership of an association or group. The certification body shall not use procedures to unfairly impede
or inhibit access by applicants and candidates.
4.3.5 The certification body shall be responsible for the impartiality of its certification activities and shall not
allow commercial, financial or other pressures to compromise impartiality.
4.3.6 The certification body shall identify threats to its impartiality on an ongoing basis. This shall include
those threats that arise from its activities, from its related bodies, from its relationships, or from the
relationships of its personnel. However, such relationships do not necessarily present a body with a threat to
impartiality.
NOTE 1 A relationship that threatens the impartiality of the body can be based on ownership, governance,
management, personnel, shared resources, finances, contracts, marketing (including branding) and payment of a sales
commission or other inducement for the referral of new applicants, etc.
NOTE 2 Threats to impartiality can be either actual or perceived.
NOTE 3 A related body is one which is linked to the certification body by common ownership, in whole or part, and has
common members of the board of directors, contractual arrangements, common names, common staff, informal
understanding or other means, such that the related body has a vested interest in any certification decision or has a
potential ability to influence the process.
4.3.7 The certification body shall analyse, document and eliminate or minimize the potential conflict of
interests arising from its certification activities. The certification body shall document and be able to
demonstrate how it eliminates, minimizes or manages such threats. All potential sources of conflict of interest
that are identified, whether they arise from within the certification body, such as assigning responsibilities to
personnel, or from the activities of other persons, bodies or organizations, shall be covered.
4.3.8 Certification activities shall be structured and managed so as to safeguard impartiality. This shall
include balanced involvement of interested parties (see definition 3.21).
4.4 Finance and liability
The certification body shall have the financial resources necessary for the operation of a certification process
and have adequate arrangements (e.g. insurance or reserves) to cover associated liabilities.
5 Structural requirements
5.1 Management and organization structure
5.1.1 The certification body activities shall be structured and managed so as to safeguard impartiality.
5.1.2 The certification body shall document its organizational structure, describing the duties,
responsibilities and authorities of management, certification personnel and any committee. When the
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SIST EN ISO/IEC 17024:2012
ISO/IEC 17024:2012(E)
certification body is a defined part of a legal entity, documentation of the organizational structure shall include
the line of authority and the relationship to other parts within the same legal entity.
The party/parties or individuals responsible for the following shall be identified:
a) policies and procedures relating to the operation of the certification body;
b) implementation of the policies and procedures;
c) finances of the certification body;
d) resources for certification activities;
e) development and maintenance of the certification schemes;
f) assessment activities;
g) decisions on certification, including the granting, maintaining, recertifying, expanding, reducing,
suspending or withdrawing of the certification;
h) contractual arrangements.
5.2 Structure of the certification body in relation to training
5.2.1 Completion of training may be a specified requirement of a certification scheme (see 8.3). The
recognition/approval of training by the certification body shall not compromise impartiality or reduce the
assessment and certification requirements.
5.2.2 The certification body shall provide information regarding education and training if they are used as
pre-requisites for being eligible for certification. However, the certification body shall not state or imply that
certification would be simpler, easier or less expensive if any specified education/training services are used.
5.2.3 Offering training and certification for persons within the same legal entity constitutes a threat to
impartiality. A certification body that is part of a legal entity offering training shall:
a) identify and document the associated threats to its impartiality on an ongoing basis: the body shall have
...