Transferring a Certificate to Assurco
Assurco welcomes transfers from other Certification bodies. Before we are able to transfer a certificate we must ensure we have obtained sufficient information to make a certification decision (ISO 17021-1:2015, c9.5.3.3).
Our transfer process follows the requirements of IAF MD 2:2017.
Is Your Certificate Eligible for Transfer?
For accredited schemes, the certificate must be issued by a body accredited by an IAF member. Any other certificate will be treated as a new certificate, please complete the new certification quote form.
Suspended certificates may not be transferred.
If the issuing certification body has ceased trading or had accreditation suspended/withdrawn, the transfer must be completed within 6 month or on expiry of the certificate, which ever is sooner.
Contact us to discuss whether your certificate is eligible for transfer.
Transfer Application
The client should make a transfer application to Assurco. The application should include:
- The Reason for requesting a transfer.
- A copy of the Current Certificate(s), allowing us to verify the certified scope.
- A copy of the original certification report or most recent recertification report.
- A Copy of most recent report(s), if a surveillance.
- Disclose any changes to scope such as staff numbers, locations, processes, products.
- Disclose any open non-conformities.
- Disclose any relevant complaints and actions taken, if any.
- Disclose any regulator engagement, if any.
- Disclose the current audit schedule, which may be within the report(s).
Application Review
The Assurco team will then perform a documentation review your application to:
- Ensure we have enough information to make a certification decision,
- Ensure we have the correct competence to deliver the certification scheme.
- Determine whether we need any additional information or a pre-transfer visit is required.
The application review will be conducted by a competent team member.
The Application Review includes:
- Checking any accreditation requirements of the issuing body and Assurco.
- The Reason for Transfer.
- Verifying that all the sites in scope have valid certification.
- Review of reports provider.
- Complaints received and action taken.
- Audit Schedule and Planning requirements.
- Any current engagement of the client with regulation bodies.
Transfer Quote and Acceptance
Assurco will provide the client with a quotation for transfer of their certificate based on the outcome of the review.
The client will need to accept Assurco’s quote and certification terms.
The Transfer
Assurco will conduct any of the activities identified during the application review and, where required, contact the issuing certification body to obtain necessary documentation.
When Assurco is able to confidently make a positive certification decision, we will issue your new certicate(s) which retain your original certification and expiry dates.
The audit schedule will then proceed as planned.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the Certificate has Expired?
We can not transfer expired certificates, however “the certification body can restore certification within 6 months provided that the outstanding recertification activities are completed, otherwise at least a stage 2 shall be conducted.” ISO 17021-1 2025, C9.6.3.2.5.
Can I Transfer a Suspended ISO Certificate?
No, suspended certificates are not eligible for transfer.
What if there are open non-conformities?
Major non-conformities should be resolved prior to the transfer. We may require a pre-transfer visit to satisfy us that non conformance has been closed out effectively.
Minor conformities should also be resolved or have a robust corrective action plan in place. A pre-transfer visit may be required, although this is less common.
What if the scope has changed?
If you want to change your certification scope, for example bring in new sites, products, processes etc, our advice would be to complete the transfer first and then carry out an Extension to Scope with us.