Is your ISO Certification up for renewal?

Maintaining your ISO certification is essential to staying competitive in your industry. It ensures you’re on equal footing with your competitors and positions your business as a trusted, reliable partner.

Letting your certification lapse could lead to missed opportunities, impact your reputation, and limit your ability to bid on projects that require ISO certification.
Renewing your certification is a straightforward process. Below, you’ll find all the information you need to ensure a smooth renewal process.

How do you know if your ISO certification is up for renewal?

Your ISO certification is valid for up to three years from your certification date. You can find out when you’re due for a re-certification by checking the expiry date on your certificate. If you can’t track down your certificate, then contact the certifier who issued your certificate.

A re-certification audit is intended to make sure your business complies with the regulations and standards required for the ISO Certification.

Your business should be constantly trying to improve standard operating procedures (SOP’s) and management systems. Your recertification is simply a way to make sure you’re always improving.

What happens if you don’t renew your ISO certification?

The biggest consequence of not renewing your ISO certification is clear.

• You will no longer be ISO certified.
• There are several benefits to being an ISO certified business, and you certainly don’t want to risk losing customers who need your business to be ISO certified.
• You will need to recall all your ISO certified products.
• ISO logos will have to be removed from your website, products and advertisements, and failure to do so could lead to court action.
• You risk losing your business’s credibility by losing ISO certification.

How does an ISO re-certification work?

Just like your ISO certification, at recertification, the auditor will assess your organisation and your Management Systems and processes, and make any relevant findings on your ongoing compliance with the requirements of the standard.

The recertification process typically includes:

• Reviewing your previous certification cycle to confirm ongoing compliance with the ISO standard.
• Auditing your management system to make sure documented procedures are being followed and remain effective.
• Checking that any issues raised in previous audits have been corrected and improvements put in place.
• Assessing any changes to your organisation, processes or scope since the last certification.
• Speaking with key staff and reviewing records to confirm your systems are working as intended.
• Holding a closing meeting with your auditor to discuss findings and any recommended improvements.
• Issuing a new certificate once compliance is confirmed, starting a new three-year certification cycle.

How can you make your ISO Certification recertification easier?

The easiest way to streamline your recertification process is simply by planning ahead.

You can review your previous audit reports and conduct an internal review of your systems well ahead of your recertification date.

If any improvements can be flagged prior to the audit – you should implement a fix as soon as possible. Conducting annual reviews will also make the overall process easier for your business. The more regularly you review your systems – the fewer changes you’ll need to make come recertification time.