Can you transfer ISO certification?

If you’re currently ISO certified, you may wonder whether you can transfer it to another certification body. Since you are not tied to a contract, you can transfer your certification to another body whenever you want.

Why organisations transfer their ISO certification

Typically, organisations transfer their certification to get better services and establish a closer working relationship. The best part is that some ISO certification bodies allow you to make the transfer for free.

How to transfer your ISO certification

The ISO certification transfer process is straightforward, and you don’t have to worry about losing time in your certification. This means that your certificate will be protected throughout the process.

Step 1: Schedule a consultation with your new certification body

The first step is to schedule a consultation with an expert at the new certification body. The expert will acquire the information they need to begin the transfer process. Ensure you inform the expert that you are transferring from another certification body since this can significantly affect the evaluation costs.

Step 2: Accept the quotation and initiate the transfer

Once you accept the new certification body’s quotation, the new certification body will inform your current body about your intention to transfer. Your current ISO certification body must maintain the certificate and provide your new certification body with documents such as previous audit reports.

Step 3: Share documentation and audit reports

Once the new certification body receives the documents, it will review them to ensure the transfer is valid. This shouldn’t be a concern unless there are some outstanding non-conformances. Your new ISO certification body will close your non-conformances before completing the transfer.

Step 4: Review and close any non-conformances

If there are any open non-conformances from your previous audits, your new certification body will help you address and close them before completing the transfer. This ensures your certification remains valid and compliant with ISO standards.

Step 5: Confirm completion of the transfer

The final stage entails sending an email to your previous certification body informing them about the completion of the transfer process. Your new certification body will also send you a copy of that email to prove that the transfer process is complete.

What happens after the transfer

The next time you interact with your ISO certification body will probably be during your next assessment. Most certification bodies arrange for the evaluation at the same time you had scheduled with your previous certification body. This ensures your certification cycle continues without interruption.

Which ISO standards can you transfer?

Typically, you can transfer any ISO standard certified by an accredited ISO certification body. Working with a globally recognised or accredited certification body is always essential. Most certification bodies don’t accept a transfer from non-accredited certification bodies. This helps ensure that your certification body has undergone thorough assessments to meet ISO standards. Some of the standards you can transfer include:

• ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems
• ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems
• ISO 45001 Health and Safety Management Systems
• ISO 27001 Information Security Management Systems

Can you transfer an expired ISO certificate?

You can’t transfer an expired certificate, but your certification body can help you reapply and regain accreditation.

Contact Citation Certification today

Want to transfer your ISO certification but don’t know where to start? The professionals at Citation Certification can offer the assistance you need to get started. Contact us today to learn more and begin your ISO transfer process.