What is an accredited certification?

This article provides a practical explanation of what an accredited certification is and whether companies actually need one. You will learn the difference between free (non-accredited) and accredited certification. The article also covers the legal framework to help you make an informed and economically sound decision for your company.

Background: Many managing directors and managers, especially in small companies, sooner or later face the question: Is a “standard” ISO certification sufficient – or must it be accredited? Procurement managers in large companies must also answer the question: Do we accept a non-accredited certification or do we insist on an accredited certification? After all, accreditation leads to greater effort and higher costs on both sides.

This article provides answers to the most important questions:

  • What is the difference between a non-accredited and an accredited certification?
  • Do I need an accredited certification for a tender?

In our free e-book The easy path to certification you can learn more. A practical guide for companies that want to achieve certification quickly, easily, and effectively.

Is an accredited ISO certification mandatory?

No. An accredited certification is not mandatory. There is no ISO requirement that mandates accreditation. Even in procurement law – for example, in Section 49 of the German Procurement Regulation (VgV) – it is stipulated that contracting authorities must also accept other evidence if a company cannot provide a specific certificate for justifiable reasons, provided that such evidence demonstrates equivalent quality assurance or a comparable management system.

The assumption that an ISO certification must be accredited is one of the most common misconceptions in the market. In fact, ISO itself does not specify whether a certification body must be accredited. ISO defines requirements for management systems (e.g., ISO 9001, ISO 14001, or ISO 27001), but not how the certification should be organized. An accredited certification is an option – but not a fundamental requirement.

Statement Assessment Explanation
Non-accredited = worthless ❌ False With demonstrated competence of the certification body, the certification is equally meaningful in terms of content.
Non-accredited = not recognized ⚠️ Partially In certain industries or with specific clients, accreditation is required; however, equivalent evidence is often accepted.
Non-accredited = no competence ❌ False The professional competence of auditors and certification bodies can be demonstrated independently of accreditation.
Accredited is expensive ✅ Correct Accreditations incur high administrative costs, which are typically passed on to customers.

What does an accredited certification signify?

In the certification of management systems, accreditation is merely an additional quality signal: A national accreditation body (in Germany, for example, the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS)) confirms that a certification body operates according to specific rules. However, such a quality signal can also be provided in other ways.

What is the difference between an accredited and a non-accredited certification?

In terms of content, there is no difference, as both certifications assess the same ISO standards. The difference lies in the effort: Accredited certifications are significantly more bureaucratic, time-intensive, and cost-intensive, as certification bodies must meet additional formal requirements from accreditation bodies.

The central point is often overlooked: The requirements of the ISO standards remain identical – regardless of whether a certification is accredited or not. The difference does not arise in the management system itself, but in the way the certification body operates and which additional requirements it must fulfill. Accreditation bodies audit and monitor certifiers according to strict formal criteria. This leads to more documentation obligations, longer processes, and higher costs – without changing the actual content of the ISO standard.

Non-accredited certification

  • Fast
    The certification can typically be completed within a few days to weeks.
  • Less bureaucracy
    Only the requirements of the ISO standard are assessed, without additional formal requirements.
  • Cost-efficient
    Costs remain manageable, as no additional accreditation requirements need to be met.
  • Remote certification
    Audits can be conducted entirely online, without on-site appointments.
  • High practical relevance
    The focus is on value-adding implementation within the company rather than formal documentation.

Accredited Certification

  • Slow
    The certification often takes several months, as additional review and coordination processes are required.
  • High bureaucracy
    In addition to ISO requirements, extensive requirements from accreditation bodies must be met.
  • Expensive
    Costs are significantly higher, as additional audits, documentation, and formal requirements are involved.
  • On-site auditing
    The certification is often associated with physical on-site audits, which create additional effort.
  • Less practical
    The focus is more on formality and less on concrete benefits in day-to-day business operations.

As a manager – especially in a small company – you should carefully consider whether the additional effort and higher costs of an accredited certification are actually justified by a corresponding added value. Furthermore, in practice, there is usually room for negotiation with both public clients and corporations: Non-accredited certifications are very often accepted, especially when they are transparently documented by a detailed certification report – which can save you several thousand euros in costs and several months of work.

What is the legal situation?

There are numerous decisions confirming that accreditation is not a mandatory prerequisite for the legal validity of an ISO certification.

For example, the Higher Regional Court of Cologne (judgment of September 30, 2015 – 26 U 9/15) clarifies that both forms of certification have the same legal validity: “The legal validity of a certificate does not – so far – depend on whether the certification was carried out by a body with or without accreditation.”

The following overview shows other key decisions that confirm and specify this legal position:

Decision Key statement
Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf, December 4, 2012 (I-23 U 181/11) Accreditation is not a mandatory prerequisite for a valid ISO certification; valid certificates can also be issued without accreditation.
Higher Regional Court of Cologne, September 30, 2015 (26 U 9/15) There is no legal obligation for accreditation; the validity of a certificate does not depend on accreditation, which is merely a quality feature.
Federal Procurement Chamber, May 28, 2020 (VK 2-29/20) ISO certificates are company-specific and cannot be transferred to other companies; a third-party certificate is not valid evidence.
Federal Procurement Chamber, July 19, 2019 (1 VK 39/19) Public contracting authorities may require an ISO/IEC 27001 certification if this is objectively justified; however, equivalent evidence must generally be permitted.

This reveals a clear line of case law: Accreditation is not a mandatory characteristic for the validity or “authenticity” of an ISO certificate. Rather, case law clearly shows that accreditation is primarily a voluntary quality assurance mechanism – not a legal prerequisite for a valid certification.

Do you need an accredited ISO certification for a tender?

Only to a very limited extent. In public procurement law, certificates are frequently referenced. This is regulated by Section 49 of the German Procurement Regulation (VgV). At the same time, the legislator makes it clear that companies must not be disadvantaged if they cannot provide a specific certificate. What matters is proof of substantive equivalence. Public contracting authorities must accept alternative evidence if it demonstrates that a company meets comparable standards.

Many tenders include the phrase “or a comparable management system“. This phrase typically means that a non-accredited certificate is also recognized. Practical tip: Contact the tendering authority and ask in which cases a non-accredited certification is also accepted. Use the following template, for example:

Subject: Inquiry regarding equivalent evidence in your tender

Dear Sir or Madam,
as [Company Name], we are planning to participate in your tender [Title/Reference of the tender].

We are currently implementing a certification according to [ISO standard, e.g., ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 / ISO 27001] and expect to complete it by [enter date before the tender deadline].

In this context, we would like to inquire which equivalent evidence you accept in accordance with Section 49 of the Procurement Regulation (VgV), which requires that alternative evidence must also be considered, instead of an accredited certification.

For example, evidence could consist of a free certification by a reputable organization with proven references, whose equivalence is demonstrated through certification guidelines, auditor competence evidence, and a standard-compliant certification report.

We would be grateful if you could briefly inform us which evidence is recognized as equivalent in your specific procurement procedure.

Thank you in advance for your response.

Sincerely,[Name] [Position] [Company]

A single email can save a company several thousand euros and months of additional work.

What are the advantages of recognizing an independent (non-accredited) ISO certification for clients?

Recognizing a non-accredited certification can bring significant advantages for clients – particularly greater flexibility, a wider selection of suitable suppliers, and a stronger focus on practically relevant audit content while maintaining legal certainty.

For clients, whether private or public, recognizing alternative evidence opens up additional options. What matters is not formal accreditation, but whether a company demonstrably operates an effective management system. The following table shows key criteria to support your assessment:

  • More flexible and capable supply chain
    You gain access to smaller, faster, and more innovative companies that work pragmatically and can quickly adapt to new requirements – instead of limiting yourself to suppliers who often operate more slowly and less flexibly due to accreditation-related formalities.
  • Accelerated supplier qualification
    Independent certifications enable significantly faster audit and certification processes, allowing new suppliers to be qualified and deployed more quickly.

  • Certification audits with greater practical relevance
    Independent certifications focus more strongly on the processes and risks relevant to you – with significantly fewer formalities driven by accreditation requirements – so you receive a more realistic picture of the company’s actual performance.

  • Holistic assessment instead of pure standard deviations
    You receive a more complete and realistic picture of the company, as independent certification bodies not only document deviations from the standard but conduct certifications like a representative customer audit – focusing equally on strengths and weaknesses.

  • Accelerated achievement of legal certaintyIn regulated areas, clients can more quickly demonstrate that they meet legal requirements. Verification according to standards such as ISO 27001 – for example, in the context of NIS2 – is conducted specifically and without time delays due to additional formal requirements.

Can I use a non-accredited certification for marketing and advertising?

Yes. Regardless of whether a certification is accredited or not, it serves in both cases as evidence that a company has implemented a management system and systematically manages topics such as quality, environmental protection, or information security. For customers and stakeholders, what matters primarily is that comprehensible processes exist and the company operates in a structured manner – and a non-accredited certification demonstrates exactly that.

The choice of certification type is ultimately a classic cost-benefit analysis. The key question is: Does your company gain concrete added value if you invest significantly more time and money in an accredited certification? If there are no explicit requirements from customers, markets, or tenders, this additional effort is often unnecessary.