ISO/IEC 17024 Personnel Certification Framework
Understand the requirements for organizations that operate certification schemes for people.
Standard reference
ISO/IEC 17024:2026
A management decision—not only a certificate.
ISO/IEC 17024 applies to bodies that certify persons. It addresses impartiality, competence, examination, certification decisions and scheme governance; it is not a normal company management-system certificate.
What a well-used system can improve
Clear scheme governance
Consistent competence assessment
Stronger impartiality controls
Defensible examination processes
Transparent certification decisions
Internationally aligned personnel certification
Designed around operating context, not company size.
- Professional certification bodies
- Trade and skills certification schemes
- Sector competence programmes
- Examination providers developing certification
- Industry associations
- Organizations certifying individual practitioners
What the system needs to control.
- 01Impartiality
- 02Certification scheme governance
- 03Competence requirements
- 04Examination development
- 05Certification decisions
- 06Surveillance and recertification
- 07Complaints and appeals
Before requesting assessment
This is a practical starting list, not a substitute for the applicable standard or scheme rules.
From defined scope to maintained certificate
- Step 01
Application and scope
Confirm the organization, sites, activities and standard to be assessed.
- Step 02
Readiness and assessment
Review documented arrangements and evidence that the system operates in practice.
- Step 03
Decision and issue
Close applicable findings before an independent certification decision and issue.
- Step 04
Surveillance and renewal
Maintain the system, complete surveillance activities and renew within the certification cycle.
Standards often work together.
Quality management
Build consistent processes, stronger customer confidence and a practical system for continual improvement.
Tell us what your organization does and what the certificate should cover.
A clear scope helps align the standard, assessment and final certificate record from the beginning.