How to Check ISO Certification of a Company: A Complete Guide

If you want to check ISO certification of a company, you’ve landed in the right place.

Many businesses claim to be “ISO certified,” but how can you verify their certificate, ensure authentic accreditation, and protect yourself from scams?

In this article, ISO Cert International explains the proven steps to verify ISO certificate validity, perform ISO certificate lookup, and confirm accreditation.

You’ll discover simple methods, red flags to watch out for, and what documentation to demand.

Read on to transform uncertainty into confidence — and learn exactly how to check ISO certification of a company from start to finish.

What Does ISO Certification Mean?

When you want to check ISO certification of a company, you first need to understand what ISO certification actually is:

• Definition: ISO certification is a formal attestation by a third-party that a company’s management system (e.g. QMS, EMS, ISMS) meets requirements of a specific ISO standard (e.g. ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001).

• ISO does not directly issue certificates: ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) develops standards but does not certify organizations. Instead, independent certification bodies audit and produce certificates.

• Accreditation vs certification bodies: A certification body must itself be accredited by a recognized accreditation body to ensure quality and reliability.

• Importance of verification: Because some claimed certificates are fake or expired, checking ISO certification of a company is crucial for trust, procurement, compliance, and reputation.

read:

how to get iso certification for my company

Why Verify a Company’s ISO Certificate?

Verifying ISO certification of a company is not just a “nice to have” — it is often essential. Here’s why:

• Risk mitigation: Avoid doing business with firms presenting invalid or fake ISO certificates.

• Due diligence in procurement: Many contracts require proof of valid certification for suppliers.

• Assurance of quality & compliance: Verifying ensures that the certificate scope, standards, and audit practices are legitimate.

• Credibility and trust: Demonstrates transparency and integrity when you insist on actual verification rather than blindly accepting a claim.

• Ongoing monitoring: Even a valid certificate can lapse, be suspended, or be misused — so periodic rechecks matter.

read:

iso certification for small businesses

Key Steps to check ISO certification of a company

Below are the concrete steps to check ISO certification of a company, using certificate lookup, authentication checks, and red flags.

1. Collect Essential Certificate Information

Ask the company to provide:

1. Company’s full legal name (exact spelling)

2. Certificate number (unique identifier)

3. Applicable ISO standard(s) (e.g. ISO 9001:2015, ISO 27001)

4. Issue date and expiry (or surveillance audit cycle)

5. Name of the certification body (the issuing organization)

6. Scope of certification (which locations, which processes)

Without accurate details, your verification may fail or turn up false negatives.
Need accurate verification support for ISO certificates? Our team at ISO Cert International is ready to assist.

2. Use Certificate Lookup & Public Registries

Here is a comparison of major resources for verifying ISO certification of a company:

Use IAF CertSearch first, then national / regionally recognized registries, and finally the issuing certification body’s lookup if available.

3. Contact the Certification Body or Accreditation Body

If lookup fails or results are unclear:

• Write a formal inquiry including the certificate number and company name.

• Request confirmation: “Is this certificate valid, in force, with this scope?”

• Ask for a scanned copy of the certificate and its audit report summary.

• Confirm whether the certification body is itself accredited by recognized accreditation bodies.

Email us today: INFO@ISO-CERT.UK

to get reliable verification for your suppliers or partners and fortify your procurement process.

4. Validate the Accreditation of the Certification Body

To be confident in the certificate:

• Ensure the certification body is accredited by a recognized accreditation body.

• Check the accreditation body’s registry (national or regional).

• Confirm that the accreditation is current (accreditations can be withdrawn).

• If the certification body is not accredited, the certificate may lack credibility.

5. Be Alert to Red Flags & Fake Certificate Indicators

Some warning signs when checking ISO certification of a company:

• Certificate has no unique number or standard listed.

• Issue or expiry dates are missing or inconsistent.

• The company name on the certificate is misspelled or differs from legal name.

• Certification body claims cannot confirm existence of certificate.

• Certificate design looks low quality (blurry logos, no accreditation marks).

• No record in IAF CertSearch or reputable registries.

• Scope is vague (“All operations”) without clear boundaries.

If you see several red flags, treat the claim with suspicion or ask for further proof.
read: How long does ISO certification take?

Example Walkthrough: Verifying a Sample Company

Below is a hypothetical example to illustrate how you’d check ISO certification of a company using a real verification process.

Step by Step Example:

1. Obtain details: Suppose Company ABC Ltd. says it holds certificate number “ABC-ISO-2023-001” for ISO 9001:2015, issued by CertBody X.

2. Go to IAF CertSearch: Enter “ABC Ltd” or “ABC-ISO-2023-001”. If it appears, you get the cert body name, issue and expiry dates, and status.

3. Check national accreditation body: In UK, check UKAS CertCheck to confirm that CertBody X is a valid accredited registrant.

4. Contact CertBody X: Request confirmation of authenticity of that certificate number and scope.

5. Interpret results: If all match and everything is valid, you confirm the certificate is genuine. If any mismatch or lack of data, you escalate or decline reliance.

That is how you check ISO certification of a company in practice.

Common Challenges & Limitations

When you try to check ISO certification of a company, you may face obstacles:

• Some certification bodies or small firms may not publish public directories.

• Certificates may have lapsed or been suspended, yet company still claims them.

• National schemes differ, and some registries only cover accredited bodies in that country.

• Name mismatches (one version of a company name vs another) hamper lookup.

• Some companies hold partial or site-specific certification but advertise across all operations.

• In rare cases, certificate data may not yet be updated in public registries.

To overcome these, always combine multiple verification methods, request direct proof, and check accreditation of the certifying body.

Best Practices: What to Ask & Record

To make future checks easier:

• Maintain a certificate verification checklist, including all required fields.

• Request a PDF scan or copy of the certificate plus audit summary.

• Record verification date and outcome in your procurement or compliance system.

• Plan periodic re-verification (annually or before contract renewals).

• Insist that suppliers or partners notify you immediately if their certificate changes or is suspended.

• Keep copies and correspondence in an audit trail for future reference.

Conclusion

To check ISO certification of a company effectively, you must go beyond accepting claims — gather certificate details, use trusted public registries (like IAF CertSearch and national bodies), contact the issuing body, and validate the accreditation.

With this layered approach, you can spot fake certificates, ensure authenticity, and make better business decisions.

At ISO Cert International, we emphasize rigorous verification in every client engagement.

When you demand proof, not promises, you protect your organization and strengthen trust.

If you’re ready to move from uncertainty to certainty in your supplier or partner ISO validation, contact us now and let ISO Cert International’s experts assist you. Reach out via the email address on our site to start your verification journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I verify if a company is truly ISO certified?

To Check ISO Certification of a Company use a combination of certificate lookup in registries (e.g. IAF CertSearch), check the certification body’s directory, and contact the cert body. Use the certificate number, company name, and standard to cross-check.

Where can I search or look up ISO certificates?

Key tools include IAF CertSearch and national accreditation body lookups. Certification bodies often maintain their own client directories or certificate verification portals.

Does ISO itself provide certificate status?

No. ISO publishes standards but does not certify or maintain certificate registries. All certification is done by independent certification bodies.

What is the validity period of an ISO certificate?

Typically ISO certificates last 3 years, with surveillance audits each year. The exact expiry and audit schedule should be shown on the certificate and in the registry.

What if I can’t find a certificate in any public registry?

 The certificate may not be public, could have lapsed, or may be fake. In that case, request direct written proof from the certification body and check accreditation. If verification fails, treat the claim skeptically.