Last Updated on December 23, 2025 by Melissa Lazaro

What Surveillance Assessments Mean for ISO/IEC 17043 Accreditation

Here’s what I often hear after a PT provider gets accredited.
“We passed. So we’re done for a few years… right?”

Not quite.

ISO/IEC 17043 accreditation doesn’t end with the initial assessment. Surveillance assessments are how accreditation bodies confirm that your PT schemes continue to work as intended.

I’ve supported providers who sailed through surveillance with minimal disruption. I’ve also seen others struggle—not because they changed anything major, but because they treated accreditation as a one-time project.

This article explains what ISO/IEC 17043 surveillance assessments really involve, how often they happen, what assessors focus on, and how to stay ready without living in audit mode.

What ISO/IEC 17043 Surveillance Assessments Are (and Are Not)

Let’s clear up a common misunderstanding first.

A surveillance assessment is not a full re-assessment, but it’s also not a casual check-in.

What surveillance assessments actually do

They focus on:

• Whether your management system is still effective
• Whether PT schemes are being run consistently
• Whether corrective actions from past audits worked

They’re more targeted than the initial assessment, but assessors still expect evidence—not promises.

Here’s a useful way to think about it.
Initial accreditation checks whether your system can work. Surveillance checks whether it does work, over time.

ISO/IEC 17043 Surveillance Assessment Frequency and Cycle

Surveillance assessments follow a defined cycle, but details vary by accreditation body.

What the cycle usually looks like

Most accreditation bodies:

• Conduct surveillance annually or at defined intervals
• Perform a full reassessment every accreditation cycle

Surveillance may be adjusted if:

• Your scope changes
• Major nonconformities were raised previously
• Complaints or risks are identified

A simple Pro Tip.
If surveillance isn’t in your annual plan and budget, it will feel disruptive. If it is, it becomes routine.

Scope and Focus of ISO/IEC 17043 Surveillance Assessments

Surveillance assessments don’t cover everything equally.

Areas assessors commonly focus on

From experience, assessors usually look closely at:

• PT scheme performance and consistency
• Statistical evaluation and result interpretation
• Handling of deviations and corrective actions
• Internal audits and management reviews

They also check whether changes since the last assessment were controlled properly.

This is important because assessors expect maturity over time. Repeating the same issues year after year raises questions.

Preparing for an ISO/IEC 17043 Surveillance Assessment

The easiest surveillance audits I’ve seen had one thing in common.
They weren’t prepared for the audit. They were prepared as a habit.

What ongoing readiness looks like

Good preparation includes:

• Running PT schemes as documented
• Keeping records complete and traceable
• Closing corrective actions properly
• Performing internal audits and management reviews on schedule

A practical Pro Tip.
Treat surveillance as a system health check, not a performance exam. That mindset changes how teams prepare—and how audits feel.

A common mistake is polishing documents right before surveillance while daily practices drift. Assessors notice that quickly.

Common Findings During ISO/IEC 17043 Surveillance Assessments

Surveillance findings are often smaller, but they matter.

Typical issues I see raised

Common findings include:

• Inconsistent application of statistical methods
• Weak follow-up on previous corrective actions
• Incomplete records for PT scheme execution
• Internal audits that exist on paper only

Here’s the risk.
Minor issues that repeat across surveillance visits stop being “minor.” Assessors look for trends, not isolated mistakes.

Addressing small gaps early prevents bigger problems later.

How Surveillance Assessments Affect ISO/IEC 17043 Accreditation Status

Surveillance outcomes aren’t just administrative.

Possible outcomes after surveillance

Depending on results, outcomes may include:

• Continued accreditation with no conditions
• Required corrective actions
• Increased surveillance or follow-up
• In serious cases, risk of suspension

Here’s an important reassurance.
One finding does not mean loss of accreditation. What matters is how quickly and effectively you respond.

Early communication with the accreditation body often prevents escalation.

Cost and Audit Duration for ISO/IEC 17043 Surveillance Assessments

Surveillance assessments are usually shorter and cheaper than initial accreditation—but they’re not free.

What affects surveillance cost and duration

Costs depend on:

• Number of PT schemes
• Changes since the last assessment
• Complexity of statistical methods

Stable systems usually mean:

• Fewer assessor days
• Fewer technical expert hours

A Pro Tip from experience.
When your system runs consistently, surveillance audits become predictable. When it doesn’t, costs rise quietly over time.

FAQs – ISO/IEC 17043 Surveillance Assessments

How often are ISO/IEC 17043 surveillance assessments conducted?
Typically annually or as defined by the accreditation body’s cycle.

Can scope be changed during surveillance?
Minor changes may be reviewed, but major scope extensions usually require additional assessment activities.

What happens if issues are found during surveillance?
You’ll be asked to implement corrective actions. Accreditation is maintained as long as issues are addressed effectively.

Conclusion – Maintaining ISO/IEC 17043 Accreditation Without Stress

Surveillance assessments don’t need to be stressful.

From what I’ve seen, the PT providers who manage them best don’t scramble before audits. They build consistency into everyday work.

When your system is alive—not just documented—surveillance becomes confirmation, not confrontation.

If you want to maintain ISO/IEC 17043 accreditation smoothly, the best approach is simple:
run your system the same way every day that you’d want to show it to an assessor.

That consistency makes surveillance assessments feel routine—and keeps your accreditation secure long term.