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AXIOS
Certification

Certification rules

The rules that govern how AXIOS grants, maintains and manages management-system certification — designed to protect impartiality, transparency and the integrity of every certificate.

Reference: AXIOS Certification Procedure ACA-P-07 · aligned to ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015.
1

Basis of certification

  • Certification is performed in accordance with ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 and is granted only where sufficient objective evidence demonstrates conformity with the applicable management system standard.
  • AXIOS retains full authority and responsibility for all certification decisions and does not allow commercial or other pressures to compromise impartiality.
  • Certification decisions are made by competent personnel independent of those who performed the audit.
2

Validity & the certification cycle

  • Each certification runs on a three-year cycle that begins with the certification decision.
  • The cycle includes a two-stage initial audit, a surveillance audit in years one and two, and a recertification audit in year three before the certificate expires.
  • The first surveillance audit takes place within twelve months of the certification decision.
3

Maintaining certification

  • Certification is maintained based on continued demonstration that the management system meets the requirements of the applicable standard.
  • Certified clients must use the certificate and certification mark only within the certified scope and in line with the mark-usage rules.
  • Nonconformities raised during any audit must be corrected and (for major nonconformities) verified within defined timeframes.
4

Suspension, withdrawal & scope reduction

  • Certification may be suspended where the management system seriously or persistently fails to meet requirements, where surveillance/recertification cannot be conducted at the required frequency, or at the client's request.
  • During suspension the certification is temporarily invalid and the client must stop promoting it; suspension should not normally exceed six months.
  • Failure to resolve the cause of suspension leads to withdrawal or scope reduction. Scope is reduced to exclude parts that persistently fail to meet requirements.
  • On suspension or withdrawal, all use of the certificate and mark must cease immediately and public status is updated accordingly.
5

Transparency & verification

  • AXIOS maintains accurate, current and non-misleading certification status information.
  • Anyone can confirm a certificate's authenticity and current status through the public verification portal.
  • Appeals and complaints are handled impartially and never result in discriminatory action against the appellant or complainant.

Related: Certification process · Use of the certification mark · Client obligations · Appeals & complaints

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