To guide you along the way, laid out below are the key steps in the accreditation process.
You will be able to access the support documents and information that you need at each step of your accreditation application.
Accreditation
Accreditation in 4 steps
Step 1: Before applying for accreditation
If the following conditions apply, it is probable that your body is eligible for accreditation:
-
The activity for which you are requesting accreditation is recognised as a conformity assessment activity (e.g., analyses, tests, calibrations, medical examinations, production of reference materials, organisation of interlaboratory comparisons (proficiency testing), inspections, certifications, verifications, etc.).
- The body is legally responsible for this activity.
- The body is based in France (including French overseas territories)*.
* Cofrac can accept applications from bodies established abroad only in compliance with Regulation EC 765/2008 and the international rules of collaboration. Contact the Quality and International Affairs Department with any questions.
To claim accreditation, you must satisfy the operating requirements specified in the standard corresponding to the activity targeted for accreditation, along with the corresponding rules set by Cofrac.
The requirements can be found on the page Norms & standards. You can identify the standard corresponding to your activity by consulting the list of standards & reference frameworks.
Once you have identified the standard applicable to your activity, you can obtain it from the AFNOR website (French standardisation agency).
The documents produced by Cofrac are accessible free of charge from the documentation area of our website.
The cost of an initial accreditation depends on various criteria (requested accreditation scope, headcount and/or volume of business of the body, number of facilities concerned, type of organisation, etc.).
In addition to these costs there are of course the costs associated with putting in place the organisation for meeting the accreditation requirements, ahead of the Cofrac assessment, and for maintaining this organisation for as long as the accreditation remains in force.
It is important to note that, for as long as the body is accredited, Cofrac will provide surveillance of the accreditation and will invoice the associated costs.
The types of operations invoiced by Cofrac and the amounts concerned are specified in the pricing documents.
Once you have identified the desired scope of accreditation, and the requirements associated with these activities, it is a matter of adapting, if necessary, your organisation to satisfy these requirements.
If you do not yet have a quality management system, you can be supported by a professional, bearing in mind that Cofrac cannot be involved in this regard, as it must remain independent to carry out the assessment.
It is important that the procedures put in place by the body have already been implemented so that Cofrac's assessment can determine if they are correctly applied and that operation is in compliance with the accreditation requirements.
