Standards, Certification and Membership

A standard has a publisher, designation and edition. It can address terminology, methods, requirements or other defined subjects.

Referencing a standard identifies the document used. It does not establish that the publisher assessed the organization or product citing it. Read the applicable requirement and the basis for any claimed conformity separately.

In the American National Standards framework, ANSI's roles include accrediting standards developers' procedures and approving documents as American National Standards. Those are defined functions within that framework. They cannot be inferred from an organization's name or from its use of the word “standard.” ANSI's Roles.

For any document, ask who issued it, what status is claimed and where that status can be checked. A Committee guide should be identified as a guide unless there is a factual basis for another designation.

A certification claim needs an object, scheme, issuing body, scope and current status. The object may be a product, person, process or management system, depending on the scheme.

ISO explains that it develops standards and does not itself perform certification. A certificate related to an ISO standard is issued through the responsible certification arrangement, not automatically by ISO. ISO: Certification.

Accreditation addresses the competence of a conformity assessment body for specified activities. Read the actual scope and status rather than assuming every activity of the organization is covered.

ANAB's separate directories for different types of accredited bodies illustrate why the object of the recognition matters. ANAB Directories.

Membership identifies participation under an institution's membership terms. The category and period explain the relationship. They do not automatically establish product conformity, an accredited activity or a professional license.

Likewise, contributing to a publication does not by itself establish a committee appointment, and attending an event does not imply endorsement by every participating organization.

Ask what is being claimed, who made the decision, which document defines the scope and how current status can be checked. Then examine whether the claim has been extended beyond that scope.

Use Technical Questions for procedural clarification and Name & Logo Use for the Committee's identity conditions.

This guide explains distinctions. It does not claim that NCQM holds an external accreditation or operates a certification scheme.