certification Process
PNP Certifications focuses on solutions that work for business and people.
We provide a custom and tailored approach with our auditing methods that suits your business. We have a strong business background, practical approach to certification standards, auditing, schedules, training and development. With PNP Certifications, you will have our support throughout the process, ensuring a relaxed and comfortable process for each certification cycle. Our certification follows a simple step-by-step process:
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Complete the Certification Application form (available here) including selecting relevant management standards, the scope of the certification, staff and operational sites. This information will give our certification team an overview of your business to work out a non-binding fee proposal for your certification.
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We will provide you with a Fee Proposal outlining the certification programme, including costs and terms. You will need to accept the Fee Proposal, including our Certification Terms and Conditions and return the Certification Application Form prior to scheduling the audit.
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Self-Gap Analysis (Optional)
To ensure you are ready for your certification, we recommend you complete a Gap Assessment (available here) and send it to us prior to the Stage 1 audit. If you feel you are ready, you should commence the next steps towards the registration process.
Auditor's Gap Analysis (Optional)
If you are unsure of readiness, you can book one of our auditors to conduct a gap analysis against the basic requirements of the standard(s) with you, with the aim of identifying any gaps to be closed out prior to the certification.
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Once the Certification Application is accepted, it will trigger the Stage 1 Audit. This is a high-level review of the management system, including a review of site-specific requirements. Through the Stage 1 Audit, our auditors will determine readiness for the Stage 2 Registration Audit and agree on an audit timeline with you. A report of the initial findings will be prepared, and if any major non-conformances are identified during the Stage 1 Audit, these will need to be closed out prior to the Stage 2 Audit.
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The Stage 2 Audit (Registration Audit) is a comprehensive, in-depth audit of the organisation's conformance against the relevant standard(s). It must be completed no later than six (6) months after the Stage 1 Audit. A full report will be provided at the end of the audit, detailing any areas of non-conformance. If there are any major non-conformities, the company is required to submit a corrective action plan to the auditor for acceptance. The non-conformities must be closed off within the agreed time frame, and any required objective evidence must be provided for verification. Where applicable, the auditor will recommend your organisation for certification, on the premise of no major non-conformities raised.
An impartial PNP technical reviewer will conduct an independent review of the recommendations for the certification, and if successful, will grant the certification.
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You will receive your Certificate of Registration for your company in the form of an original hard-copy and a soft-copy with a certificate number as registered on the Certified Organisation’s Register, the registered scope of certification and expiry date.
All certificates issued remain valid for a period of three (3) years from the date of the Stage 2 Audit subject to satisfactory conformance with the certification standards as verified during periodic surveillance audits. A client or any interested party may check the validity of the certificates on the Certified Organisation’s Register. For the duration of the certificate, you will be able to use the PNP Certification Logos in line with the rules for usage of logos and marks.
Surveillance Audits
Over the following two years after certificate issuance, PNP Certifications will be conducting Surveillance Audits to verify the organisation's ongoing implementation and maintenance of the management system. These audits are typically held annually but could be more frequently depending on the organisation. Surveillance Audits are usually of lesser audit scope and only focus on important areas.
If non-conformances are found during a Surveillance Audit, these will have to be closed off in a specified timeframe in order to maintain the certificate. If they are not closed out in a satisfactory manner, the certification may be subject to cancellation.
PNP Certifications will notify you three (3) months in advance for scheduling the audit and provide a scope for the audit. The audit must be completed prior to the certificate date.
Recertification Audits
On the third year, after the completion of two years of Surveillance Audits, a full Recertification Audit will be undertaken. This is a full audit against all requirements of the standard(s), similar to the one undertaken during the Stage 2 Audit, to demonstrate continued conformance against all requirements of the standard(s). PNP Certifications will notify you four (4) months in advance for scheduling of this Recertification Audit.
Transfer of Certificates
If you wish to transfer your current certification that you hold with another conformity assessment body to PNP Certifications, contact our team at enquiries@pnpcertifications.com.au. We will review your enquiry and existing certification status and will need to request your latest audit report from your current conformity assessment body. We will issue you with our certificate, subject to satisfactory review. We will continue the audits as per your current audit cycle.
Changes of Operations, Expanding or Reducing the Certification Scope
Throughout the audit process, the scope of the certification may be required to change for any number of reasons. This may include changes to the legal, commercial, organisational status or ownership, organisation and management, scope of operations and major changes to the management system and processes.
Mandatory audit days are calculated in line with the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and are based on the organisation's operations, including but not limited to, scope, personnel numbers, shifts and locations. Therefore, any major changes must be communicated and confirmed in writing prior to scheduled audit days to ensure the audit programme continues to be appropriate to the organisation.
PNP will review the changes that you are applying for and then determine if those changes will have an impact on the certification costs, planned audit frequency, audit duration, or if any new audit activities are planned.
Our PNP auditors are specialists in auditing organisations efficiently and effectively to achieve ISO certification without unnecessary delay, hassle or disruption, with our flexible assessments and outstanding customer support.