How Many Types of ISO Certification Are There?
ISO certification applies to 4 categories of conformity assessment objects management systems, products, services, and persons across more than 80 management system standards published by ISO. The phrase “types of ISO certification” carries 3 distinct meanings depending on the user’s intent: the object being certified (system, product, or person), the specific ISO standard family (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, etc.), or the total number of certifiable ISO standards in the ISO catalogue. This article addresses all 3 interpretations.
A critical clarification before proceeding: ISO develops and publishes international standards but does not perform certification or issue certificates. Certification is performed by independent certification bodies (also called registrars) that audit organizations against ISO standard requirements and make certification decisions based on objective evidence. Accreditation bodies such as IAS, EGAC, and EIAC evaluate and recognize the competence of certification bodies.
Two Fundamental Ways to Classify ISO Certification Types
ISO certification types can be classified using 2 frameworks: by the object of conformity assessment (what gets certified) and by the ISO standard family (which standard the certification is issued against). Understanding both classification methods prevents the common error of mixing certifiable management system standards with non-certifiable reference standards.
Classification 1: By Object of Conformity Assessment
ISO’s conformity assessment framework defines 4 categories of objects that can be certified. Each category has its own governing standard for the certification body performing the assessment:
Certification Object: Management system
- What Gets Certified: Organization’s processes, policies, and controls against an ISO management system standard
- Governing Standard for CBs: ISO/IEC 17021-1 (management system certification bodies)
- Who Needs It: Any organization seeking ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, 27001 certification
Certification Object: Product / process / service
- What Gets Certified: A specific product, process, or service against defined requirements
- Governing Standard for CBs: ISO/IEC 17065 (product certification bodies)
- Who Needs It: Manufacturers, exporters, service providers requiring product-level assurance
Certification Object: Person
- What Gets Certified: Individual competence in a specific discipline
- Governing Standard for CBs: ISO/IEC 17024 (personnel certification bodies)
- Who Needs It: Professionals seeking credentials (auditors, welding inspectors, IT security specialists)
Certification Object: Inspection results
- What Gets Certified: Results of inspection activities against specified requirements
- Governing Standard for CBs: ISO/IEC 17020 (inspection bodies)
- Who Needs It: Organizations requiring independent inspection of products, installations, or processes
When business owners ask “how many types of ISO certification are there,” they most commonly mean management system certification the category governed by ISO/IEC 17021-1, where a certification body audits an organization’s management system against a specific ISO standard (such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001) and issues a scope-bound certificate.
Classification 2: By ISO Standard Family
The second classification method groups ISO certification types by the standard family the organization certifies against. ISO organizes related standards into numbered families the ISO 9000 family for quality management, the ISO 14000 family for environmental management, the ISO/IEC 27000 family for information security, and the ISO 45000 family for occupational health and safety. Each family contains a certifiable requirements standard (the one organizations certify against) alongside supporting guidance, vocabulary, and implementation standards that are not certifiable.
The Major Certifiable ISO Management System Standards
The 3 most widely adopted management system certification standards worldwide often called the “Big Three” account for the majority of ISO certificates in circulation globally according to the ISO Survey:
The Big Three: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001
Standard: ISO 9001:2015
- Management System: Quality Management System (QMS)
- Focus: Customer satisfaction, consistent product/service quality, process improvement
- Global Certificates: Over 800,000
- Key Industries: Manufacturing, services, construction, healthcare, aerospace, defense
Standard: ISO 14001:2015
- Management System: Environmental Management System (EMS)
- Focus: Environmental impact reduction, compliance with environmental obligations, pollution prevention
- Global Certificates: Over 300,000
- Key Industries: Manufacturing, energy, construction, logistics, waste management
Standard: ISO 45001:2018
- Management System: Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OH&S)
- Focus: Worker safety, hazard identification, occupational risk reduction
- Global Certificates: Over 185,000
- Key Industries: Construction, oil and gas, mining, manufacturing, logistics
Beyond the Big Three, organizations pursue certification to standards covering information security, food safety, energy management, anti-bribery, and sector-specific quality disciplines.
The Complete Picture: Certifiable ISO Standards by Category
Information Security and Technology
Standard: ISO/IEC 27001:2022
- Full Name: Information Security Management System (ISMS)
- Primary Focus: Confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information assets; risk-based security controls
- Typical Users: IT companies, financial institutions, healthcare organizations, government contractors, SaaS providers
Standard: ISO/IEC 27701:2019
- Full Name: Privacy Information Management System (PIMS)
- Primary Focus: Privacy governance for personally identifiable information (PII); extends ISO/IEC 27001
- Typical Users: Data processors, cloud providers, organizations subject to GDPR or privacy regulations
Standard: ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018
- Full Name: IT Service Management System
- Primary Focus: IT service delivery quality, service level management, capacity planning
- Typical Users: Managed service providers, IT departments, data center operators
Standard: ISO/IEC 42001:2023
- Full Name: Artificial Intelligence Management System
- Primary Focus: AI governance, responsible AI development and deployment
- Typical Users: Technology companies developing or deploying AI systems
Industry-Specific Quality Standards
Standard: ISO/IEC 27001:2022
- Full Name: Information Security Management System (ISMS)
- Primary Focus: Confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information assets; risk-based security controls
- Typical Users: IT companies, financial institutions, healthcare organizations, government contractors, SaaS providers
Standard: ISO/IEC 27701:2019
- Full Name: Privacy Information Management System (PIMS)
- Primary Focus: Privacy governance for personally identifiable information (PII); extends ISO/IEC 27001
- Typical Users: Data processors, cloud providers, organizations subject to GDPR or privacy regulations
Standard: ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018
- Full Name: IT Service Management System
- Primary Focus: IT service delivery quality, service level management, capacity planning
- Typical Users: Managed service providers, IT departments, data center operators
Standard: ISO/IEC 42001:2023
- Full Name: Artificial Intelligence Management System
- Primary Focus: AI governance, responsible AI development and deployment
- Typical Users: Technology companies developing or deploying AI systems
Industry-Specific Quality Standards
Standard: ISO 13485:2016
- Full Name: Medical Devices Quality Management System
- Industry Sector: Healthcare, medical device manufacturing
- Relevance: FDA alignment, CE marking, regulatory submissions for medical devices
Standard: ISO 22000:2018
- Full Name: Food Safety Management System
- Industry Sector: Food production, catering, hospitality, agriculture
- Relevance: HACCP integration, GFSI benchmarking, food supply chain assurance
Standard: IATF 16949:2016
- Full Name: Automotive Quality Management System
- Industry Sector: Automotive supply chain
- Relevance: Based on ISO 9001 with automotive-specific requirements; mandatory for automotive OEM suppliers
Standard: ISO 29001:2020
- Full Name: Petroleum, Petrochemical, and Natural Gas
- Industry Sector: Oil and gas sector
- Relevance: Sector-specific QMS requirements; high relevance for Iraq and Middle East operations
Standard: ISO 15378:2017
- Full Name: Primary Packaging Materials for Medicinal Products
- Industry Sector: Pharmaceutical packaging
- Relevance: GMP-aligned quality management for pharmaceutical primary packaging
Social Responsibility, Anti-Bribery, and Compliance
Surveillance audits are mandatory and occur at least annually during the 3-year certification cycle. Surveillance audits verify ongoing conformity with the applicable standard, confirm that nonconformities from previous audit cycles have been addressed through corrective action, and assess whether the management system continues to achieve its intended outcomes. Failure to complete surveillance audits within the required timeframe results in suspension of certification.
Step 5: Recertification Audit (Every 3 Years)
The recertification audit evaluates the entire management system before the 3‑year certificate expires. A recertification audit covers the full certification scope and, upon a positive certification decision, initiates a new 3‑year certification cycle. Organizations that fail to complete recertification before certificate expiry face withdrawal of certification.
| Phase | Timing | What Happens | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 audit | Before Stage 2 (initial) | Documentation review, readiness assessment, scope verification | Readiness confirmation or gap identification |
| Stage 2 audit | After Stage 1 (initial) | On‑site implementation assessment through interviews, observation, and evidence sampling | Audit findings leading to certification decision |
| Certification decision | After Stage 2 | Independent review of audit results by a separate function within the CB | Certificate granted, withheld, or conditional |
| Surveillance audit | Annually (years 1 and 2) | Ongoing conformity verification and corrective action follow‑up | Continued certification or suspension |
| Recertification audit | Every 3 years (before expiry) | Full‑scope re‑evaluation of management system effectiveness | New 3‑year cycle or withdrawal of certification |
How to Verify an ISO Certificate Is Valid?
Verifying the validity of an ISO certificate confirms that the certification is genuine, the certificate is current (not expired, suspended, or withdrawn), and the certification body that issued it is accredited by a recognized accreditation body. The primary verification tool is the IAF CertSearch global database the official platform maintained by the International Accreditation Forum for confirming accredited management system certifications.
Step-by-Step Verification Using IAF CertSearch
- Step 1: Go to iafcertsearch.org.
- Step 2: Search by organization name, certificate number, or certification body.
- Step 3: Confirm the certification status is “Active” or “Valid” (not suspended, withdrawn, or expired).
- Step 4: Verify the certification scope matches the products, services, or processes relevant to your evaluation.
- Step 5: Check that the certification body is accredited and that the accreditation body is an IAF MLA signatory.
- Step 6: Confirm the certified locations match the sites relevant to your procurement or compliance requirement.
What If a Certificate Is Not in IAF CertSearch?
Not all legitimate certificates appear in IAF CertSearch. The database covers certificates issued under accreditation by IAF MLA signatory accreditation bodies. Certificates issued under non-MLA accreditation or by non-accredited certification bodies may not appear. In these cases, contact the certification body directly, request a copy of the certificate, and verify the CB’s accreditation status with the relevant accreditation body. ISO also recommends contacting the relevant accreditation body or the certification body directly to confirm certificate status.
ISO Certification vs ISO Compliance: Not the Same Thing
ISO certification and ISO compliance are related but distinct concepts. Certification is an independent third-party audit and certification decision resulting in a scope-bound certificate issued by an accredited certification body. Compliance is the organization’s internal adherence to the requirements of an ISO standard which may exist without any external audit or certificate.
An organization can be compliant with ISO 9001 without holding an ISO 9001 certificate. Compliance means the organization follows the standard’s requirements in practice. Certification means an independent third party has audited the management system and issued a formal certificate confirming conformity. The difference matters because customers, regulators, and procurement processes that require ISO certification specifically require the third-party certificate not a self-declaration of compliance.
Can You Use the ISO Logo? (And How to Spot False Certification Claims)
The ISO logo is a registered trademark. ISO does not permit the use of the ISO logo in connection with certification claims. Organizations that hold ISO management system certification use the certification mark of their certification body and, where applicable, the accreditation mark of the relevant accreditation body not the ISO logo. Any organization displaying the ISO logo as evidence of certification is misusing the trademark.
Red Flags for False Certification Claims
False certification claims undermine the integrity of the conformity assessment ecosystem. The following indicators suggest a certification claim may be fraudulent or misleading:
| Red Flag | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| “Certified by ISO” | ISO does not certify organizations. Certification is performed by external certification bodies. |
| ISO logo displayed as certification proof | The ISO logo is a trademark and is not authorized for use as a certification mark. |
| No certificate number provided | Every legitimate certificate has a unique number issued by the certification body. |
| No scope of certification stated | Certification is scope‑bound. Claims without scope are unverifiable. |
| Certification body not verifiable through accreditation records | Accredited CBs appear in accreditation body databases and IAF CertSearch. |
| No surveillance or recertification history | Active certifications require annual surveillance audits; absence suggests the certificate is lapsed or fabricated. |
How to Choose a Certification Body?
Selecting a certification body is a procurement decision that affects the credibility, international recognition, and long-term value of the certification. The following criteria help organizations evaluate certification body options:
- Accreditation status: Confirm the CB is accredited by a recognized accreditation body that is an IAF MLA signatory. Accreditation confirms that the CB operates with competence, impartiality, and consistency under ISO/IEC 17021-1.
- Scope alignment: Verify the CB’s accreditation covers the specific ISO standard and industry sector (IAF code) relevant to your organization. A CB accredited for ISO 9001 in manufacturing is not necessarily accredited for ISO 27001 in technology.
- Verification capability: Certificates issued by accredited CBs under IAF MLA signatory accreditation appear in the IAF CertSearch global database. This provides independent verification for customers, regulators, and supply-chain partners.
- Geographic coverage: For organizations with multiple sites, confirm the CB has auditor coverage across all relevant locations. For US organizations, confirm nationwide auditor availability. For international operations, confirm the CB’s ability to deliver audits across the relevant countries.
- Independence and impartiality: The certification body that audits and certifies an organization cannot also consult on that organization’s management system. This separation is required by ISO/IEC 17021-1 to protect the impartiality of the certification process. For details on third-party ISO certification audits, see the ISO Auditing Services page.
Common ISO Standards That Organizations Certify Against
ISO certification applies to management system standards that define requirements an organization can be audited against. The following standards represent the most commonly certified management systems worldwide:
| Standard | Management System | What It Governs | Certification Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | Quality Management System (QMS) | Consistent product/service quality and customer satisfaction | Process effectiveness, customer requirements, continual improvement |
| ISO 14001 | Environmental Management System (EMS) | Environmental responsibilities and impact reduction | Environmental aspects, compliance obligations, pollution prevention |
| ISO 45001 | Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) | Worker safety and occupational risk prevention | Hazard identification, risk assessment, incident prevention |
| ISO/IEC 27001 | Information Security Management System (ISMS) | Protection of information confidentiality, integrity, and availability | Risk treatment, security controls (Annex A), Statement of Applicability |
| ISO 22000 | Food Safety Management System | Food safety hazard control across the supply chain | HACCP principles, prerequisite programs, food safety hazards |
| ISO 50001 | Energy Management System | Energy performance improvement and consumption reduction | Energy planning, baselines, performance indicators |
| ISO 13485 | Medical Device QMS | Quality management for medical device design and manufacture | Regulatory compliance, design controls, risk management |
Why Work with AGS Iraq for ISO Certification?
AGS Iraq supports Globle companies through:
- Local regulatory understanding
- Tender-focused ISO consulting
- Documentation aligned with government expectations
- Auditing, training, and certification coordination
- Support during evaluations and site audits
Our local presence ensures practical compliance, not just certification.
Contact AGS Iraq for ISO consultation:
We’ll review your current situation and give you a clear, practical roadmap.
- Phone: +964 7721202253
- Email: info@agsiraq.com
- Office: American Global Standards. Al Jazair Street, Basrah- Iraq
