Home Certification Certificate transfer

CERTIFICATE TRANSFER

Considering a change of certification body?

An organization considering a change of certification body should begin with a transfer eligibility review. An existing certificate is important evidence, but it does not make transfer automatic. Its status, scope, accreditation arrangements and supporting audit history all matter.

FIRST STEP

Eligibility review

Confirm status, scope and assessment history.

BEFORE CHANGES

Written arrangements

Understand the proposed route and responsibilities.

01 / TRANSFER GUIDANCE

Information to prepare

The current certificate and any site or scope schedules.
The standard and edition, issue and expiry dates, and current certification body.
Confirmation of current status and any known suspension or withdrawal issue.
Recent audit reports and the status of outstanding findings, where available and authorized for sharing.
Details of changes in activities, sites, ownership or organizational structure.
The reason for considering transfer and any practical deadline.

Send an initial summary to info@eqrmcert.com. If records contain confidential information, ask for an appropriate method of transfer rather than putting sensitive material into a public message.

02 / TRANSFER GUIDANCE

What a review needs to establish

A review must distinguish a valid transfer from an application that requires a different assessment route. The receiving body’s service and accreditation scope need to fit the standard and activities. Unresolved findings or missing information may affect what can happen next.

IAF publishes a mandatory document on the transfer of accredited management system certification. Its application depends on the accreditation and programme involved. Referencing that document here does not establish that a particular EQRM or SCAS certificate falls within an IAF recognition arrangement.

03 / TRANSFER GUIDANCE

Keep existing arrangements clear

Before cancelling an agreement or changing the way you describe your certification, confirm the position in writing with the parties concerned. Ask who is responsible for any scheduled surveillance, what happens to open findings and how the effective date of a replacement certificate would be handled.

Do not assume the new body will preserve every date or scope statement on the old document. Differences in company names, sites or activities may need to be resolved before a decision can be made.

04 / TRANSFER GUIDANCE

Does transfer mean there will be no further audit?

Not necessarily. The review outcome and applicable requirements determine whether additional assessment is needed. A promise of automatic approval without considering the record is not a sound basis for planning.

05 / TRANSFER GUIDANCE

Can an expired or suspended certificate be transferred as active?

Do not treat it as active. Tell EQRM the actual status and ask which application route is appropriate. Concealing a status issue can lead to incorrect planning and misleading claims to customers.

Start a transfer enquiry. If your question concerns the authenticity or status of an existing EQRM record, use the information on Certificate Verification.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions about transferring certification

Clear answers before you take the next step.

Can any certificate be transferred?

Eligibility depends on the certificate, issuing arrangements, current status and applicable programme. An enquiry does not establish eligibility; EQRM must review the supporting information.

Does transfer start a new certification cycle automatically?

Do not assume a new start date or expiry date. The existing cycle, assessment history and applicable rules inform the arrangements agreed following review.

Can an expired or suspended certificate simply be transferred?

Disclose the actual status. Expired, suspended or otherwise restricted certification needs specific review and may require a different route from a straightforward transfer.

Should we cancel our current arrangements first?

Understand existing contractual obligations and obtain written confirmation of the proposed route before making changes. Avoid creating a gap based only on an initial enquiry.

Which records should we prepare?

Start with the certificate, scope, site list, current status, recent audit reports and the status of findings. Agree a suitable way to share confidential records before sending them.

START WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION

Start with a transfer review.

Tell us your activities, locations and the standard you are considering. We’ll review availability and the scope of the proposed engagement.