Citation ISO Certification traces its heritage to QMS International, which was established in 1993. QMS International built a strong reputation for providing ISO consultancy and certification services before becoming part of the Citation group following its acquisition in 2015. The certification business now operates as Citation ISO Certification, continuing more than 30 years of experience supporting organisations with ISO management systems.
Citation ISO Certification is accredited to ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 by ASCB – Accreditation Service for Certifying Bodies.
ASCB was formed in 1995 to accredit a range of international non-governmental conformity assessment bodies providing certification of management systems, products and personnel, as well as testing and calibration services, in accordance with relevant ISO/IEC standards.
Citation ISO maintains accreditation to ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 by demonstrating through its accreditation assessments that its consultancy and certification activities are effectively separated, ensuring impartiality, particularly in relation to certification decisions.
Citation operates consultancy and certification through separate functions within the group. These arrangements are governed by documented management system policies and procedures designed to maintain impartiality and comply with ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015. They include controls over the allocation of consultancy and audit activities, independent certification decision-making, and restrictions on personnel undertaking certification activities for organisations to which they have previously provided consultancy services. The effectiveness of these arrangements is assessed through ASCB accreditation activities.
In the UK, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the UK's sole government-appointed National Accreditation Body and participates in international recognition arrangements. ASCB operates independently as a non-governmental accreditation body, using internationally recognised ISO standards as the basis for accreditation.
Both ASCB and UKAS operate to ISO/IEC 17011:2017, which is the internationally recognised standard for accrediting certification bodies. Additionally, both accredit certification bodies to ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015, ensuring that certification bodies are assessed against the same internationally recognised technical requirements.
There is generally no legal requirement to use the services of a UKAS-accredited certification body; organisations should select a certification and accreditation arrangement that meets their specific regulatory, commercial and business requirements. However, some customers, regulators, procurement frameworks or industry schemes may specify particular accreditation requirements, so organisations should always check these before selecting a certification provider.
Furthermore, ASCB accreditation does not alter the requirements of the ISO management system standards against which organisations are audited. However, acceptance of any certificate remains subject to the requirements of individual customers, regulators or procurement schemes.
Who validates ASCB?
ASCB operates as an independent accreditation body and accredits certification bodies by assessing their competence and impartiality against internationally recognised ISO standards.
As an independent accreditation body, ASCB operates under its own governance arrangements and publishes information about its accreditation processes and requirements. Unlike certification bodies, accreditation bodies are not themselves accredited in the same way that certification bodies are accredited. Organisations should satisfy themselves that the accreditation arrangements offered are appropriate for their own commercial, contractual and regulatory requirements.
Practical Implications for Citation ISO Users
ISO Standards Compliance
Certifications issued by Citation ISO are based on ISO standards, regardless of whether they are accredited by ASCB or UKAS. The underlying standards remain the same.
Application Processes
When completing applications for schemes like CHAS or Constructionline, users should select the response that accurately reflects the accreditation shown on their certificate. Where an application specifically asks whether a certificate is UKAS accredited, the correct response for a Citation ISO certificate is "No". Users should upload their Citation ISO certificate and provide supporting evidence from their management system where requested by the scheme or customer.
Guidance for Handling Accreditation-Related Queries
If you are asked about the accreditation status of your Citation ISO certificate, it is important to clarify that:
• The certificate is accredited by ASCB, an independent accreditation body.
• Certification is carried out against the requirements of the relevant ISO management system standard.
• ASCB and UKAS are separate accreditation bodies with different governance and international recognition arrangements.
• The requirements of the ISO standard remain the same regardless of the accreditation body.
• Supporting documentation from your management system can be used to demonstrate compliance during application processes where additional evidence is requested.