Why Updating Certification Schemes Is No Longer Optional
When ISO/IEC 17024:2012 replaced the 2003 version, it changed the entire conversation around how certification bodies prove competence and impartiality. The shift wasn’t about new forms—it was about how certification schemes are built, validated, and maintained.
I’ve seen many organizations underestimate this change. They assumed their existing scheme documents were “close enough.” But during accreditation audits, gaps showed up fast—especially around competence criteria, impartiality control, and assessment validation.
This guide walks you through exactly how to update your certification schemes for ISO/IEC 17024:2012 compliance. We’ll go clause by clause, translating the standard’s intent into practical steps. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap to strengthen your schemes and demonstrate full conformity.
Understanding What ISO/IEC 17024:2012 Requires in a Certification Scheme
A certification scheme is much more than an exam plan—it’s the entire framework that defines how competence is assessed, decisions are made, and certifications are maintained.
In 2003, many schemes were built loosely around job descriptions. Under the 2012 version, every part of the scheme—from job-task analysis to recertification—must be evidence-based and transparent.
The revision also added detailed expectations for impartiality, confidentiality, and management-system integration. This means certification bodies must now prove that every scheme is consistent, validated, and continually improved.
Pro Tip: Start with Annex A of ISO/IEC 17024:2012—it outlines what a compliant scheme must include. It’s the checklist every assessor uses, even if they don’t say it outright.
Common Pitfall: Treating your scheme as “just the exam.” The scheme must show competence criteria, governance, assessment methods, recertification, and appeals—all mapped to ISO 17024 clauses.
Step 1 – Review and Define the Scope of Each Certification Scheme
Before anything else, revisit your scheme’s scope. This defines exactly who or what the certification applies to—job roles, industries, or technical areas.
Your scope must align with market needs and regulatory relevance. If it’s too narrow, you’ll lose recognition; if it’s too broad, you risk nonconformities.
Pro Tip: Bring in industry representatives or subject-matter experts when refining your scope. Their input strengthens impartiality and gives your scheme credibility.
Example: A certification body for construction safety specialists expanded its scope to include environmental safety after consulting stakeholders. That small addition opened new markets and aligned better with national regulations.
Watch Out: Scope descriptions copied from marketing materials rarely satisfy auditors. Keep them technical, measurable, and directly tied to competence outcomes.
Step 2 – Redesign Competence Criteria Based on Job-Task Analysis
ISO/IEC 17024:2012 expects competence criteria to be measurable, justified, and directly linked to the tasks a certified person performs.
That’s where a Job-Task Analysis (JTA) comes in. It breaks the job into specific skills, knowledge areas, and performance indicators. Your entire certification scheme should be built around this analysis.
Pro Tip: Turn your JTA into a living document. Review it every few years—or sooner if industry practices change.
Example: A renewable-energy certification body revised its competence matrix after a JTA update and reduced candidate complaints about “irrelevant exam content” by half.
Common Pitfall: Reusing generic competence criteria across multiple schemes. Each certification area deserves its own validated framework.
Step 3 – Validate the Assessment Process and Methods
Assessments are only defensible if they’re validated. ISO/IEC 17024:2012 requires that every assessment method—whether written, oral, or practical—be proven reliable and fair.
How to validate:
Review exam blueprints to ensure coverage of all competence elements.
Document how passing scores were determined.
Conduct item analysis or psychometric review when applicable.
Pro Tip: Keep a validation record summarizing who reviewed each exam, what changes were made, and why. This becomes key audit evidence.
Example: One certification body introduced psychometric review sessions twice a year. They not only satisfied the standard but also improved exam fairness and reputation.
Pitfall: Leaving validation to subject-matter experts’ opinions without written justification. ISO 17024 demands documented evidence, not intuition.
Step 4 – Reassess Impartiality and Governance Structure
Impartiality is at the heart of ISO/IEC 17024:2012. Certification and training functions must be structurally and operationally independent.
Review your governance model—how decisions are made, who approves certifications, and how conflicts of interest are prevented.
Pro Tip: Maintain an Impartiality Risk Register for each scheme. Record every potential risk (for example, an assessor who also trains candidates) and the control you apply.
Example: A language-testing certification body created a cross-functional impartiality committee. It became their strongest defense during audit.
Common Pitfall: Letting the same person design, deliver, and approve exams. Auditors flag that immediately.
Step 5 – Update Scheme Documentation and Control Records
Once your scope, competence criteria, and assessments are solid, update every related document.
That includes:
Scheme manuals
Application forms
Assessment procedures
Re-certification criteria
Appeals and complaints procedures
All documents must reference ISO/IEC 17024:2012 clauses and version control.
Pro Tip: Move to an electronic document-control system if you haven’t already. It makes updates traceable and retrieval effortless during audits.
Example: A certification body implemented online document control and retrieved three years of records in seconds during its accreditation assessment—no findings reported.
Pitfall: Using old clause numbers or undated templates. Out-of-date references instantly erode auditor confidence.
Step 6 – Communicate Changes and Train Personnel
Even the best-updated scheme fails if your people aren’t aligned. Everyone involved—assessors, examiners, administrative staff—needs to understand what changed and why.
How to approach it:
Hold structured training sessions for scheme updates.
Conduct calibration exercises to align assessor judgments.
Keep attendance and competency records.
Pro Tip: Maintain a Training Record Matrix for each scheme. It shows exactly who’s qualified for which updates—one of the first things auditors check.
Pitfall: Announcing updates informally. If it’s not documented, it didn’t happen in ISO terms.
Step 7 – Monitor and Continually Improve Each Scheme
Compliance doesn’t end after the update. ISO/IEC 17024:2012 expects continual improvement.
That means reviewing scheme performance data—exam results, complaints, appeals, stakeholder feedback—and taking corrective actions when trends appear.
Pro Tip: Schedule an annual “Scheme Review Meeting.” Include data analysis, feedback summaries, and improvement plans. Document the minutes and actions.
Example: A professional-skills certification body added these annual reviews. Their next surveillance audit noted “demonstrated commitment to continual improvement.”
Pitfall: Ignoring scheme performance metrics between audits. Improvement is expected to be proactive, not reactive.
FAQs – Common Questions About Updating Certification Schemes
Q2: How often should we revalidate schemes? A: At least once every three to five years, or whenever the job role or regulation changes.
Q3: Do we need separate schemes for each job level? A: Not necessarily. ISO/IEC 17024 allows multi-level schemes, but each level must have its own competence criteria and assessment process clearly defined.
Future-Proofing Your Certification Schemes
Updating your certification schemes for ISO/IEC 17024:2012 isn’t a one-time exercise—it’s how you keep your credibility alive.
When your schemes are validated, impartial, and continually improved, accreditation becomes easier and clients trust your certificates more.
Start with one scheme. Run it through the seven steps, audit it internally, and then replicate the process. That’s how robust, ISO-compliant systems are built.
Next Step: Download QSE Academy’s ISO/IEC 17024 Certification Scheme Update Toolkit to access editable templates, clause-mapping sheets, and training guides to fast-track your compliance journey.
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.
