Accreditation schemes

SOAC currently offers the following accreditation schemes:

• Calibration laboratories (ET) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025;
• Testing laboratories (ES) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025;
• Medical laboratories (ML) in accordance with ISO 15189;
• Inspection bodies (IN) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17020;
• Management system (CS) certification bodies in accordance with ISO/IEC 17021-1;
• Product certification bodies (CE) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17065 including Global G.A.P;
• Personnel certification bodies (CP) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17024;
• Proficiency test organizers (PTs) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17043; and
• Verification/validation (VV) bodies in accordance with ISO/IEC 17029.

SOAC's testing and calibration accreditation schemes and medical testing scheme have been internationally recognized since obtaining signatory status to the International Laboratory Accreditation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) in May 2022. SOAC’s management system certification accreditation scheme is also internationally recognized for the following sub-domains within the main domain:

• Management System Certification (ISO/IEC 17021-1); Quality Management Systems (ISO/IEC 17021-3); QMS (ISO 9001:2015);
• Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS) – [Level 4: ISO 22003-1; Level 5: ISO 22000];
• Environmental Management System (EMS) to ISO/IEC 17021-2 and ISO 14001;
• Energy Management System (EnMS) to ISO 50 003 and ISO 50 001;
• Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) to ISO/TS 17021-10 and ISO 45001.

SOAC’s product and management system certification accreditation schemes have been internationally recognized since obtaining signatory status to the International Accreditation Forum's Multilateral Recognition Agreement (IAF MLA) in December 2023.

Since September 2026, SOAC has been accepted as a signatory member of the AFRAC MRA on the following schemes:

• Persons certification bodies ISO/IEC 17024;
• Validation and Verification bodies to ISO/IEC 17029;
• Proficiency testing providers to ISO/IEC 17043,
• Inspection bodies to ISO/IEC 17020.