ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory accreditation, explained
ISO/IEC 17025 sets out general requirements for the competence, impartiality and consistent operation of testing and calibration laboratories. Laboratories do not get certified to it. They are assessed and accredited by an accreditation body, which looks at technical competence for specific tests or calibrations. This page explains the pathway, how it differs from ISO 9001 certification, and what to ask.
Updated 5 November 2026
Info. Showing a standard does not mean a partner holds scope for it. How matching works.
Who it may be relevant for
- Testing laboratories in construction materials, food, water, environment or industrial sectors
- Calibration laboratories serving manufacturers and service organizations
- In-house laboratories whose results customers or regulators rely on
- Organizations that buy test or calibration results and want to understand accreditation
What it covers
- Impartiality and confidentiality of laboratory activities
- Competence of personnel, suitable facilities, equipment and environmental conditions
- Metrological traceability and measurement uncertainty where relevant
- Selection and validation of methods, sampling, handling of items and technical records
- Ensuring the validity of results, reporting, complaints, and a management system
What it can help with
- Independent assessment of technical competence for defined tests or calibrations
- Results that customers and regulators can place more confidence in, within the accredited scope
- A structured approach to uncertainty, traceability and method validation
- Clear scope definitions so users know what the laboratory is accredited for
What the pathway means
Laboratories are assessed and accredited by an accreditation body against ISO/IEC 17025. The word certified does not apply here: say laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025. The accreditation body reviews the management system and also assesses technical competence, often on site, including witnessing tests and reviewing proficiency testing results. Accreditation is granted for a defined scope of tests or calibrations. This differs from ISO 9001 certification, which is awarded by a certification body for a management system and says nothing on the technical validity of individual results. MIYAAR CONNECT does not accredit, audit or certify.
The typical process
Steps and timing vary by body and scope. This is the usual shape, not a promise.
- You and us
Your inquiry
You ask about the pathway and share the basics.
- Accreditation body
Application
The laboratory applies for a defined scope of tests or calibrations.
- Accreditation body
Document review
The body reviews the management system and technical records.
- Accreditation body
On-site assessment
Assessors evaluate technical competence and how work is carried out.
- This part is theirs
Accreditation decision
Made by the accreditation body, never by MIYAAR CONNECT.
- Accreditation body
Ongoing surveillance
Periodic assessment and reassessment to keep accreditation current.
Where it is typically used
- A materials testing lab seeking accreditation for specific concrete and aggregate tests
- A calibration lab showing traceability for dimensional or electrical measurements
- An in-house food or environmental lab supporting customer and regulator requirements
What affects cost
- Number of employees
- Number of sites
- Complexity of what you do and its risks
- The number and variety of tests or calibrations in the requested scope
- Technical complexity, equipment and the need for specialist assessors
- Participation in proficiency testing or comparison programmes
- Number of sites and the fees of the accreditation body, which are its own and not set by us
What affects timing
- Time to validate methods, establish uncertainty and build traceability for each test
- Collecting enough records to show the system works, including internal audits and proficiency results
- Availability of assessors with the right technical skills
- Time to close findings from the assessment before accreditation is granted
What to have ready
- A list of the tests or calibrations you would like accredited, with methods used
- A description of equipment, premises and staff competence at a general level
- Whether you currently take part in proficiency testing or inter-laboratory comparison
- The customers, regulators or tenders that expect accreditation
- Which accreditation body could assess your scope in your country or region
Accreditation and recognition
Accreditation is specific to the scope listed in the accreditation schedule, so a lab accredited for one test is not accredited for others. To check, ask for the accreditation certificate and schedule, then confirm both with the accreditation body that issued them. Accreditation bodies that are signatories to the arrangement now run by Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI), which took over the work of ILAC and the IAF on 1 January 2026, recognise each other's accreditations. Regulators and buyers still decide what they accept, so check with them.
Common questions
Is it correct to say 'ISO 17025 certified lab'?
How is it different from ISO 9001 certification?
Does a lab's accreditation cover every test it offers?
Can MIYAAR CONNECT help with this?
Related standards
Relevant industries
Useful reading
Sources
- ISO: ISO/IEC 17025:2017 testing and calibration laboratories (checked 5 November 2026)
- APAC: Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated replaces IAF and ILAC (checked 5 November 2026)
Have a question about ISO/IEC 17025?
Laboratories are accredited by an accreditation body, not certified. Tell us what you are trying to do and we will point you in the right direction.