ISO/IEC 17021-1 Certification Body System
ISO/IEC 17021-1 Certification Body System
A certification body is only as credible as the system standing behind the certificates it signs.
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Read the guide: ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015: what certification bodies must meet, audit time and accreditation
By document type
| Category | Files |
|---|---|
| Manuals | 21 |
| Policies | 4 |
| Procedures & SOPs | 10 |
| Plans & Programmes | 1 |
| Forms & Records | 46 |
| Checklists & Audit Tools | 24 |
| Registers, Logs & Matrices | 5 |
| Job Descriptions & Organisation | 3 |
| Training & Awareness | 5 |
| Guides & Work Instructions | 5 |
Key documents
| Reference | Document | Format |
|---|---|---|
| QM 01 | Management System Manual | Word |
| QP 09 | Audit — Planning, Timing, Conducting and Reporting | Word |
| QP 10 | Certificate Issue, Suspension and Withdrawal | Word |
| QP 08 | Marketing, Contract and Contract Review | Word |
| Stage 2 & Surveillance Audit Report | Word | |
| Register of Approved, Suspended & Withdrawn Firms | Word |
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Overview
ISO/IEC 17021-1 sets out the requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems, and it applies to the certification body itself rather than to the organisations it certifies. It governs the full process: application and contract review, the two-stage initial audit, the certification decision, surveillance, recertification and client management. This set carries that into scheme rules written separately for ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 22000, ISO 50001, ISO 22301, ISO 13485, ISO/IEC 42001 and ISO 37301, each with its own certification audit checklist and certificate template.
Impartiality carries the most weight. Threats from ownership, conflicts of interest, relationships and consultancy must be identified, analysed and managed, which is why the impartiality committee and the certification committee are constituted here in writing, alongside the chart that fixes legal responsibility. Competence runs through auditor qualification criteria, induction and continuing professional development, and control of subcontracted auditors, while audit effort is defended by documented man-day estimation. Confidentiality, complaints and appeals, control of documented information and management review complete what an accreditation body operating under ISO/IEC 17011, typically an International Accreditation Forum member, comes to assess.
What this system covers
- Impartiality governance — threat analysis, the impartiality and certification committees, and separation of audit from decision
- The two-stage audit — Stage 1 readiness review, Stage 2 on-site audit, reporting and report review
- Certificate lifecycle — issue, suspension, withdrawal and the register of approved, suspended and withdrawn firms
- Scheme management across ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 22000 and ISO 13485
- Auditor competence — qualification, induction, professional development and audit team evaluation
- Audit time and resourcing — man-day estimation, planning and control of subcontracted auditors
- Contract review, complaints and appeals, and rules for use of certification marks
Who it's for
Written for certification bodies preparing for a first accreditation assessment against ISO/IEC 17021-1, and for accredited bodies extending scope into schemes they have not run before, where the assessor wants scheme rules, competence criteria and impartiality analysis on paper first. You end with scheme documentation, a committee structure, competence records and a decision trail that are written down and consistent, rather than held in the heads of two or three experienced people.
Everything you get
Every toolkit gives you a full set of working documents for your standard, ready to edit and use.
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If a document is wrong, missing or not as described, tell us within 14 days. We fix it or refund you.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I receive?
A downloadable ZIP containing the full set of ready-to-use documents for this toolkit — manuals, procedures, forms, records, checklists, guidance and training material, all in editable Word and Excel format. The exact document count is shown at the top of this page.
Are the documents really editable?
Yes. Every file is native Microsoft Word or Excel — no locked PDFs. Add your logo, change wording, and tailor the content to your organisation. The toolkit is yours to keep and reuse.
Does this certify my organisation?
No. These are documentation toolkits aligned to the relevant standard to help you prepare. Certification itself is issued by an accredited certification body after their audit. Our toolkits give you a strong, audit-ready starting point.
How is it delivered?
Instantly and digitally. There's no physical shipment — you download the files right after payment and receive a backup link by email.
Do I get updates?
Yes, for 12 months. Fixes and revisions to this toolkit are free for 12 months from your order. Email us with your order number to get them.
What is your refund policy?
If a document is wrong, missing or not as described, tell us within 14 days of your order. We fix it or refund you. If you have not downloaded yet, we can cancel the order and refund you in full. We don't refund a change of mind after download. See the Refund policy.
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