Beware of '10-Day ISO 9001 Certification' Claims

Some consultants suggest they can get a business certified to ISO 9001 in as little as 10 days. In reality, this cannot be credible under accredited certification processes.

What ISO 9001 really requires

For a start:

• ISO 9001 certification requires evidence that a Quality Management System is implemented and operating, including records of audits, reviews, corrective actions, and staff competence. These cannot be authentically created overnight.

• Accredited certification also involves a two-stage external audit, which alone typically takes weeks to schedule and complete.

The reality of timelines

If a certification offer seems too fast to be true, it probably is. In most cases, it means the certificate is not accredited and may carry no recognition or value with clients, regulators, or tenders.

At best, a more realistic timeline for starting from scratch might be:

• 2 - 3 months for a small, simple business

• 6 - 12 months for a medium, more complex business

How to protect your business

We recommend businesses carefully check out the provider of such promises. What are the consultant’s referees saying? Is the proposed certification body accredited (for example, by JAS-ANZ in Australia)?

👉 You can verify accredited bodies here: JAS-ANZ Accredited Bodies Register.

EQAS Certification is an independent boutique Practice Member with Equal Assurance, which provides JAS-ANZ Accredited Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) compliance services.