Here’s something I’ve noticed after years of guiding certification bodies through accreditation: many professionals mix up ISO/IEC 17024 and ISO/IEC 17021-1. Both deal with certification, yes—but they’re designed for entirely different scopes.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your organization needs to comply with ISO/IEC 17024 or ISO/IEC 17021-1, you’re not alone. This confusion often leads to wasted time, mismatched procedures, and failed accreditation attempts.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly:
Which standard applies to your organization.
How each one defines competence, impartiality, and process control.
What mistakes to avoid when setting up your system.
At QSE Academy, we’ve helped hundreds of organizations navigate both frameworks successfully—so you’re getting insights from real accreditation projects, not theory.
Understanding the Scope – ISO/IEC 17024 vs ISO/IEC 17021-1 Explained
ISO/IEC 17024 focuses on certification of persons—it ensures that individuals are competent to perform specific jobs. Think of it as validating personal competence.
ISO/IEC 17021-1, on the other hand, governs certification bodies that audit and certify management systems (like ISO 9001 or ISO 14001). It ensures consistency, impartiality, and quality in organizational audits.
Example: If you’re certifying quality managers, ISO/IEC 17024 applies. If you’re certifying companies’ quality management systems, ISO/IEC 17021-1 applies.
Pro Tip: Start by defining what you certify—people or systems. That simple question determines your standard.
Common Mistake: Using ISO 17021-1 procedures for a personnel certification body. The structures and competence requirements differ entirely.
Structural Differences Between ISO/IEC 17024 and ISO/IEC 17021-1
These two standards may share terminology, but their internal architecture is distinct.
ISO/IEC 17024 emphasizes:
Certification-scheme committees.
Examiner impartiality.
Defined criteria for awarding and maintaining certification.
ISO/IEC 17021-1 focuses on:
Organizational structure and impartiality committees.
Competence management for audit teams.
Decision-making and conflict-of-interest controls.
Example: A body under ISO 17021-1 manages auditors and certification decisions for companies. Under ISO 17024, it manages examiners and candidate assessments.
Pro Tip: When mapping your processes, compare both standards clause-by-clause. It helps identify overlapping requirements (like impartiality) and unique clauses (like exam validation in ISO 17024).
Both standards demand competence—but the way they measure it differs completely.
Under ISO/IEC 17024, you must:
Define what competence means for each role.
Develop exams or practical assessments to prove it.
Keep records of assessor qualifications.
Under ISO/IEC 17021-1, competence is about:
Auditor qualification and training.
Performance monitoring and continual evaluation.
Managing audit teams for consistent outcomes.
Example: In a 17024 system, you test an individual’s skills. In a 17021-1 system, you evaluate how well auditors apply audit principles during a system assessment.
Pro Tip: Use a competence matrix that lists skills, qualifications, and evidence. It’s one of the first documents accreditation assessors look for.
Common Mistake: Relying on job titles alone (“Lead Auditor,” “Assessor”) without documented competence criteria.
Certification Process and Decision-Making
The certification workflow is another key difference.
ISO/IEC 17024 process includes:
Application and eligibility review.
Examination or assessment.
Decision on certification.
Ongoing surveillance and recertification.
ISO/IEC 17021-1 process includes:
Audit planning and team assignment.
Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits.
Certification decision.
Surveillance and recertification audits.
Example: An ISO 17021-1 certification decision is based on audit evidence. An ISO 17024 decision is based on examination results.
Pro Tip: Keep decision-makers independent from evaluators. This is where most accreditation bodies issue non-conformities—impartiality gets blurred.
Common Mistake: Letting assessors also make certification decisions. Separate these roles clearly.
Documentation and Record-Keeping Requirements
Strong documentation is non-negotiable in both standards—but what you document depends on what you certify.
ISO/IEC 17024 requires records such as:
Candidate applications and exam results.
Examiner training and competence evidence.
Confidentiality and appeals documentation.
ISO/IEC 17021-1 requires:
Audit plans, reports, and corrective-action tracking.
Auditor competence records.
Certification-decision evidence and communication logs.
Example: ISO 17024 bodies manage secure candidate data. ISO 17021-1 bodies manage extensive client and audit records.
Pro Tip: Design your document-control system around process stages: application → evaluation → decision → surveillance. It keeps files organized during accreditation audits.
Common Mistake: Using a single procedure for both personnel and management-system certification. Tailor them—they’re not interchangeable.
Integration and Dual Accreditation – When Both Standards Apply
Some organizations, like training-and-certification bodies, operate under both standards.
Example: A certification body accredited to ISO 17021-1 for management-system certification may also offer personnel certification under ISO 17024 (e.g., ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification).
Here’s what works best:
Build a common management system covering shared requirements (impartiality, competence, confidentiality).
Maintain distinct certification procedures for people vs. organizations.
Pro Tip: Start with ISO/IEC 17021-1 as your foundation—it’s broader and integrates easily with 17024’s person-certification structure.
Common Pitfall: Trying to merge evaluation methods. Keep examination criteria (17024) separate from audit protocols (17021-1).
FAQs – Clarifying Common Questions
Q1: Can one organization be accredited to both ISO/IEC 17024 and ISO/IEC 17021-1? Yes. Many certification bodies hold dual accreditation—provided they meet each standard’s specific competence and impartiality requirements.
Q2: Which standard should we implement first? If your primary service is certifying management systems, start with ISO 17021-1. Once stable, extend to ISO 17024 for individual competence certification.
Q3: Are the accreditation bodies the same for both standards? Often yes. Most national accreditation bodies manage separate programs for each (for example, ISO 17021-1 for CBs and ISO 17024 for personnel certification).
Choosing the Right Path for Your Organization
ISO/IEC 17024 and ISO/IEC 17021-1 share a commitment to competence and impartiality—but they serve different audiences. One validates people, the other validates organizations.
Understanding the distinction helps you structure your system correctly, avoid accreditation setbacks, and align with the right global standard.
At QSE Academy, we’ve helped certification bodies and personnel-certification organizations develop compliant systems using our ISO 17024 and ISO 17021-1 Documentation Toolkits.
If you’re still unsure which standard fits your operations, schedule a short consultation with our team—we’ll map your exact path to accreditation clarity.
Melissa Lavaro is a seasoned ISO consultant and an enthusiastic advocate for quality management standards. With a rich experience in conducting audits and providing consultancy services, Melissa specializes in helping organizations implement and adapt to ISO standards. Her passion for quality management is evident in her hands-on approach and deep understanding of the regulatory frameworks. Melissa’s expertise and energetic commitment make her a sought-after consultant, dedicated to elevating organizational compliance and performance through practical, insightful guidance.
