Choosing an ISO 9000 Registrar

Selecting the Registrar that will determine whether your company meets the ISO 9001 requirements for registration is one of the most important decisions you will make. You want to select a Registrar that will best fit your needs and will work with you and your organization to achieve the best possible results.

You will work with your selected Registrar for years to come so it is important to evaluate a few companies and make your decision based on clear criteria. This Buyer's Guide provides you with a general understanding of the role of the Registrar in your ISO 9001 certification and a checklist of guidelines you can use to compare different companies.

The Registrar is responsible for determining whether your company's Quality Management System (QMS) meets the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard.

Pre-Assessment (optional)	You may request a pre-assessment audit by the Registrar as a check of your readiness prior to the actual Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits. A pre-assessment audit is an "off the record" review of your quality management system to help you identify any remaining gaps. A pre-assessment is an optional step; if you are working with a consulting firm for preparing for your ISO certification, you should not need a pre-assessment from the Registrar.
Stage 1 Audit	The Registrar will conduct the Stage 1 audit to be sure you have implemented the required processes and the basic documentation required by ISO 9001. In some situations, the Stage 1 audit may be conducted "virtually" via phone and email; check with your Registrar to inquire about this option. Any concerns or gaps identified by the Registrar must be corrected prior to the Stage 2 audit.
Stage 2 Audit	The Stage 2 audit is the thorough walk-through of your quality management system to ensure ISO requirements are met and overall effectiveness. Non-conformances will be documented in the audit report. You must respond to non-conformances with a written corrective action within 30 days of the Stage 2 audit.
Issue ISO Certificate	Upon successful completion of your Stage 2 audit the Registrar will issue you a certificate which is good for 3 years.
Surveillance Audits	The Registrar will return to your facility every 6 or 12 to conduct Surveillance audits to be sure your QMS is maintained. Surveillance audits have a more limited scope than the initial certification audit.
Re-certification Audit	Every 3rd year a complete audit of your quality management system must be completed in order to renew your certification. A new ISO 9001 certificate will be issued upon successful completion of the re-certification audit.

Get two or three quotes from different Registrars to compare. Here is a list of questions you might ask to help determine the best fit for your organization:

	Registrar 1	Registrar 2
Company name
Website
Phone number
Contact name
Contact email
First year audit cost
Estimate of travel costs
Additional first year fees
TOTAL FIRST YEAR FEES
Second year audit cost
Estimate of travel costs
Certification maintenance fee
TOTAL RECURRING FEES (Year 2 and following)
Is the Registrar qualified to audit your industry?
What Standards does the Registrar audit to? (This may be important if you need another certification at a later date)
Are they ANAB Accredited? (For USA certifications.) (Are they accredited by other agencies relevant to your country or industry?)
Are they responsive to you when you contact them? (Providing a quote, answering questions, etc.)
How big is their organization? (This may be relevant especially if you are a very small company. You may want to consider a smaller Registrar as well.)
Where are their auditors located? (To minimize travel costs)
Call Notes (Always call the Registrar to check them out)
Business References (Be sure to ask to talk to some of their actual clients who have been certified)
My Ranking of the Registrars (1,2,3 etc...)

For more information about how to choose a Registrar or for some general recommendations call our office to speak with our experienced ISO 9001 consultants (866-354-0300) or send an email to .

9000World and www.9000world.com are owned by Core Business Solutions, Inc., a full-service provider of products and services to assist companies in preparing for ISO 9001 certification.