Become an Assessor with INAB

Accreditation Process

The purpose of this section is to outline the process involved, including timelines and stages, and what should be expected when applying for accreditation with INAB. An INAB assessment manager will be assigned to each new application by the INAB manager and all queries relating to the accreditation process should be referred back to this individual.

Enquiry Stage

Before applying for accreditation, you will need a copy of the relevant standard in order to prepare your application.
Standards can be purchased from the Standards Website
DC1 will provide guidance in determining other documents which will be relevant to the application and accreditation.
INAB Regulations and INAB Terms and Conditions should also be considered. All relevant documents, forms and fee schedules are available to download from the INAB website
For further information please contact us .

Application Stage

Applications for accreditation are submitted via CRM portal.
Contact us using the 'Register to Apply for Accreditation' dropdown in order to be issued with a link to access the CRM portal. Please ensure that the company legal entity name is provided.
Once the organisation has been provided access to the CRM portal, the application can be completed ensuring that all relevant forms and documents are uploaded, as required. INAB policy, PS10 details which documents to submit with the application.
The appropriate application fee will be billed on submission of the application. Costs for application fees are available in the schedule of fees.
An assessment manager, appointed by the INAB manager, will contact the organisation once the application has been received and reviewed. Other supporting documentation may be requested at this stage. Please note that this process can take up to 30 days after the submission of the application.

Pre-Assessment Stage

A pre-assessment is designed to evaluate an organisation’s readiness for assessment. Although a pre-assessment is not required, it is recommended.
If the organisation decides that it does not want to proceed with a pre-assessment, the organisation will proceed directly to initial assessment.
If an organisation decides to proceed with a pre-assessment, a decision must be made by the organisation on whether they wish to have their pre-assessment completed by their assessment manager (as lead assessor) and/or technical experts/technical assessors.
The organisation will be notified of the proposed team and the date of pre-assessment prior to the assessment through CRM portal.
A pre-assessment is typically a one day assessment. However, this may differ depending on the size/type of organisation.
Assessment techniques such as document review, onsite assessment and staff interviews will be used during the pre-assessment stage of the accreditation process.
Reports from the pre-assessment will be available on CRM portal after the event. The reports will detail any potential gaps identified during the pre-assessment process which the organisation should focus on addressing prior to the initial assessment.
Costs for pre-assessments are available in the schedule of fees.

Initial Assessment Stage

If the organisation has proceeded with a pre-assessment, the initial assessment must take place within three months of the pre-assessment. If the organisation has decided to proceed directly to initial assessment, this can take place at a time requested by the organisation, provided that members of the assessment team are also available.
Details of the initial assessment, including details on the assessment team and duration of the assessment, will be visible to the organisation on CRM portal. The assessment team and duration of the assessment will depend on the scope of accreditation on the organisation’s application.
As part of the initial assessment, conformance to the applicable standard(s) and fulfillment of INAB requirements and other mandatory documents will be assessed by the assessment team.
Assessment techniques such as document review, staff interviews, onsite assessments, witnessing of conformity assessment activities (including those on customer sites, where applicable) and witness audits (certification, verification and inspection bodies) will be used by INAB.
Where nonconformities are identified by the assessment team, they will be managed through the CRM portal and the organisation will have three months to provide responses and evidence to resolve the nonconformities.
Reports from the initial assessment will be available through the event on the CRM portal.
The assessment team will make a recommendation on the application of accreditation at the end of the initial assessment. This recommendation could be to award accreditation, defer recommendation or a recommendation that accreditation should not be awarded.
Costs for initial assessments are available in the schedule of fees.

Recommendation to the INAB Board

Where the assessment team has recommended the award of accreditation and when all nonconformities raised at the initial assessment have been satisfactorily cleared, the organisation’s assessment manager will complete a report which will be presented to the INAB Accreditation Board to make the final decision on the award of accreditation.
The INAB Accreditation Board meets approximately six times a year.
The organisation will be informed on the final outcome of the INAB Accreditation Board decision.

Award of Accreditation

The organisation will receive a certificate of accreditation and a scope of accreditation. The certificate is valid for 5 years dependent on successful surveillance visits. The organisation will receive a unique registration number and symbol. The scope of accreditation will be publicly available on the INAB Directory on the INAB website.

Maintenance of Accreditation

An organisation's accreditation is maintained by means of annual surveillance visits.
The first surveillance visit takes place approximately 6 months after accreditation is awarded.
A full re-assessment is carried out every 4-5 years. Re-assessments are generally scheduled six months before the expiration of accreditation to reduce the risk of any lapse in an organisation’s accreditation.
Details of assessments, including details of the assessment team, duration and scope to be assessed, will be available through the CRM portal.
Assessment techniques such as document review, staff interviews, onsite assessments, witnessing of conformity assessment activities (including those on customer sites, where applicable) and witness audits (certification, verification and inspection bodies) will be used by INAB.
The assessment team will make a recommendation on accreditation at the end of the assessment. This recommendation may be to maintain accreditation, suspend accreditation (in part/full) or defer the recommendation.
The timeframe for the response to nonconformities raised at surveillance assessments/re-assessments is dependent on the classification of the non-conformity. A major nonconformity will require a response in two weeks and a minor nonconformity will require a response in four weeks. Nonconformities will be managed on the CRM portal.
The final decision on these assessments will be made by the INAB manager.
After a successful re-assessment, an updated certificate of accreditation will be created for the organization, which will be available on the INAB website.
Unannounced assessments may be carried out without prior notice by INAB. These assessments will primarily focus on quality system components.
Costs for surveillance assessments/re-assessments are available in the schedule of fees.

Extending your Scope of Accreditation

When considering extending the scope of accreditation, an application should be created on CRM portal, relevant documents uploaded and the application submitted to INAB.
Where the organisation wishes for the extension to scope to be assessed as part of the next INAB surveillance assessment, the application must be submitted at least 6 months ahead of the assessment to ensure appropriate time for planning.
The application will be reviewed by the assessment manager and a determination will be made on whether the extension to scope can be assessed by correspondence or whether an onsite assessment will be required.
Details of the assessment of the extension to scope, including the assessment team, expected duration and method of assessment, will be available through the CRM portal.
Nonconformities identified from an extension to scope assessment will have a timeframe for response of three months. Nonconformities will be managed through the CRM portal.
Reports relating to the assessment of the extension to scope will be available through the event on the CRM portal.
Where the extension to scope involves the organisation moving into a new technical area, the decision on accreditation will be made by the INAB Accreditation Board. Where the extension to scope is in an existing area where the organisation already holds accreditation, the decision on accreditation will be made by the INAB manager.
Once a decision has been made to award accreditation for the extension to scope, a new scope of accreditation will be created for the organisation, which will be available on the INAB website.
Costs for extension to scope assessments are available in the schedule of fees.

Contact us

(01) 614 7182

inab@inab.ie

Health and Safety Authority,
Metropolitan Building,
James Joyce Street,
Dublin 1,
D01 K0Y8