Decision guide
Check the certificate—and what it covers.
The organisation, scope, standard and accredited certification body all matter.
Separate the roles
A consultant helps with implementation. An internal auditor evaluates the system. A certification body decides whether to award organisational certification. Accreditation evaluates the certification body’s competence for its accredited activities.
Verify the details
Check the legal entity, standard and edition, certified scope, certificate status and certification body. For claims of UKAS-accredited certification, UKAS CertCheck provides a public verification route.
Match it to the purchase
The scope should cover the service or product the customer actually buys. Ask about the boundary and relevant exclusions; the presence of a logo alone is not a substitute for verification.
Primary reference: UKAS CertCheck