ISO/IEC 17024 and his Impact

The ISO/IEC 17024 standard was developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which represents members from 162 countries. During recent years, the standard has fundamentally altered the delivery of certifications. It has also created a strong drive to globalize personnel certification. ISO developed the standard based on the need for public protection by establishing that individuals have the required competency to perform their jobs.
Several government agencies worldwide have recognized the standard as a critical requirement for personnel certification bodies offering certification in areas related to public health, the environment, and national security. More than 40 agencies worldwide accredit personnel certification bodies based on ISO/IEC 17024. Most of them are government or government-approved.
Use of a common international standard recognized by government agencies, trade associations, industry partners, and professional associations provides a unique opportunity to globalize the certification of persons. The manufacturing and technology innovations in the 1950s were based on the quality movement. The globalization of persons in the 21st Century has to be similarly grounded in a quality certification standard.

ISO/IEC 17024: Conformity assessment - General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons is an ISO/IEC standard which specifies criteria for the operation of a personnel certification body (also known as a 'certification body for persons'). The standard includes requirements for the development and maintenance of the certification scheme for persons upon which the certification is based.

Validated Competencies

Competencies are the foundational building blocks in creating a certification program. They need to be developed in a systematic manner using an empirically derived process such as job/practice analysis. The process should involve the key stakeholders and subject matter experts. Competencies denote the knowledge, skills, and abilities that an individual needs to perform the tasks.

Stakeholder Involvement

To be market relevant, the certification should be developed with the involvement of all key stakeholder groups. High-quality certification requires inputs from business, industry, employers, educators, students, regulators, and consumers

Evaluation System

Evaluation is the process of measuring and documenting an individual’s competence to perform required job functions. The certification examination must be fair, valid, and reliable. A valid test correctly measures whether an individual has the necessary competencies for the job. Validity is an indicator to establish that the process measures what it is intended to measure. Reliability shows that the test consistently measures a person’s abilities. The standard requires assessment for not only initial certification but also an assessment of continued competence through a recertification process.

Continuous Improvement

The required competencies and skill standards need systematic review to ensure they remain updated and relevant to the needs of the changing market. The standard requires certification bodies to have an ongoing systematic process to ensure that the certification is updated and remains market relevant as skill sets change. Quality improvement processes should be embedded throughout the certification program
Despite the increased number of certifications available in the marketplace, the certification world is largely opaque. This leaves users unsure of the quality and reliability of organizations offering certifications, as well as of the competencies (if any) being communicated through their credentials. Many certifications are self-declared and do not provide the skills and competencies needed by employers. A recent U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau study found that consumers find it almost impossible to distinguish designations concerning quality or legitimacy. The report recommended using quality standards and strengthening “accountability mechanisms” to foster trust and confidence in certification.
In an interconnected world, personnel certification is quickly becoming the new currency for acceptance of qualified persons. Just as the adoption of a single currency offers several advantages over each country having its currency, so too certifications based on international standards help to foster closer economic cooperation and provide more opportunities for businesses to hire competent persons.

ISO/IEC 17024:2012

ISO/IEC 17024:2012 was released in July 2012[1] and was last reviewed and confirmed in 2018.[2]
This version contains requirements for certification bodies for persons in the following areas:

• Structural: -This section describes the structural requirements for certification bodies. Structural requirements contain criteria for the organizational structure of the Certification Body for Persons including how it is managed. Specific requirements relating to the structure of the certification body in relation to training is included in this section. Specifically, if the certification body also offers training it must demonstrate how the impartiality of the certification is not compromised by the training.
• Resource: -This section describes the resource requirements for certification bodies. Resource requirements include criteria for the personnel and staff of the certification body. Specific requirements for persons (both internal to the organization and external to the organization such as consultants and volunteers) involved in certification activities are included as are criteria associated with outsourcing to other bodies. This section also includes requirements for other resources such as examination equipment required to operate the certification activities.
• Records and Information: -This section describes the records and information requirements for certification bodies. The requirements include criteria relating to the records of applicants, candidates and certified persons. Requirements regarding information that must be made public as well as information that must be kept confidential are included in this section and criteria for the information security (exam papers, etc.) are described.
• Certification Scheme: -This section includes requirements for the development and maintenance of the certification scheme. The certification scheme is the competence and other requirements for awarding the certification to a person and includes a scope of certification, job and task description, required competence, abilities (when applicable), prerequisites (when applicable), and a code of conduct (when applicable). Criteria for the initial certification and recertification must be part of the scheme and includes description of the assessment methods, and the criteria for suspending and withdrawing the certification.
• Certification Process: -This section includes requirements for the certification process including criteria for the certification application process, assessment process, examination process, and the decision on certification. Criteria for suspending, withdrawing or reducing the scope of certification and recertification requirements are included in this section. This section also includes requirements for the use of certificates, logos and marks, and requirements associated with appeals and complaints.
• Management System: -This section requires the certification body to establish, document, implement and maintain a management system capable of supporting the requirements of the standard. A body that has established and maintains a management system in accordance with ISO 9001 and that is capable of supporting the management system requirements of ISO/IEC 17024.



For more information, kindly visit the dedicated Web page on ISO management system standards (www.iso.org/management-systemstandards) or contact our national ISO member from NAORAS Organization