The National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), India’s official accreditation organization, has received international recognition for its accreditation program for personnel certification bodies. This announcement was made during the annual meeting of the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation in Singapore on 20th June, 2019. The NABCB has signed the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) of the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC), based on the international standard, ISO/IEC 17024.
ISO/IEC 17024 and the Role of Personnel Certification Bodies
ISO/IEC 17024 sets out specific requirements for the operations of Personnel Certification Bodies, also known as certification bodies for people. These entities are responsible for validating an individual’s capability to perform a specific service or role, such as electrician or welder, through the issuance of a certificate. With this new recognition, the NABCB expects to facilitate the export of Indian services and skills globally by confirming that individuals are certified following international standards by these certification bodies. This development is expected to benefit many professionals in India, particularly those who lack formal education or certification programs.
The Impact of NABCB’s International Recognition
The international recognition means that any individual carrying an ISO/IEC 17024 certificate with the NABCB logo will be recognized internationally. As part of the Quality Council of India, an autonomous organization linked to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, NABCB is tasked with accrediting certification or inspection bodies according to applicable international standards under a system of international equivalency.
| Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| NABCB | Responsible for the accreditation of certification/inspection bodies as per international standards |
| ISO/IEC 17024 | Specifies criteria for the operation of Personnel Certification Bodies |
| APAC | Responsible for managing and expanding a mutual recognition arrangement among accreditation bodies in Asia Pacific region |
| Impact | Facilitates the export of Indian services and skills globally |
About Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC)
The APAC was established on 1st January 2019, with its fundamental role being to manage and expand a mutual recognition arrangement (MRA) amongst accreditation bodies in the Asia Pacific region. The MRA facilitates the acceptance of conformity assessment results such as test reports, test certificates, inspection reports, and certification across the region and with other regions worldwide. The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) recognises APAC as one of four APEC Specialist Regional Bodies (SRBs) that support the work of the APEC Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance.