anab accreditation
ANAB Accreditation - Why it's Important
What It Means
What is Accreditation
Accreditation means a program, laboratory, institution, or organization has been audited by an independent Accrediting Body and has been found to meet the requirements of a specified standard or similar evaluation criteria. For organizations that certify people, the specified standard is International Standard ISO/IEC 17024, “Conformity assessment – General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons.” For the Vibration Institute, our independent Accrediting Body is ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board). ANAB is internationally recognized and meets the highest standards for accrediting organizations. In addition, ANSI is the official United States member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
The Vibration Institute’s Vibration Analyst Certification Program is ANAB-Accredited Personnel Certification Program – Accreditation #8045.
Why is Accreditation Important to you
Value. Trust. Assurance. You are ensured a high-quality credential that is accredited to meet the globally accepted standards for vibration analysts. While anyone can offer an exam and say it meets the standards for ISO 18436 vibration analyst certification, the Vibration Institute’s VA certification program is annually audited by ANAB to assure continued conformance to ISO/IEC 17024, ISO 18436-1, and ISO 18436-2 certification requirements. Through the ANAB accreditation process, the Vibration Institute demonstrates its commitment to improving the quality and relevance of our vibration analyst certification program and maintaining the respect of our industry.
US Department of Defense and ANSI/ANAB accreditation:
The Vibration Institute meets the US Department of Defense requirements for vibration analyst certification. ANAB’s Personnel Certification Accreditation Program under ISO/IEC 17024 meets the requirements of the National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law on November 25, 2015. This legislation mandates that any credentialing program used by members of the armed forces be recognized by an accreditation body that meets enumerated quality criteria. ANAB’s Personnel Certification Accreditation Program meets these criteria, as the program operates in compliance with ISO/IEC 17011 and ISO/IEC 17024.
The Vibration Institute provides globally recognized Certification of Persons as Category I, Category II, Category III, and Category IV vibration analysts in accordance with ISO 18436-1 and ISO 18436-2. Our vibration analyst Personnel Certification Program has been accredited by ANAB since 2010 and continues to meet the highest standards of certification. ANAB has also achieved signatory level for Multilateral Recognition Arrangements (MLA) through both the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC, formerly PAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) for the certification of persons.
The following is from PAC-EXEC-009, “. . . accreditation body members of the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC) who have successfully completed the rigorous peer evaluation requirements to become eligible for mutual recognition under the PAC Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA). It goes on to say, “Under the terms of this arrangement, every conformity assessment body accredited by any one of these PAC MLA signatories is to be recognizes as equally reliable or equivalent to any other conformity assessment body accredited by another of the PAC MRA signatories within the scope of PAC MLA actively”.
Accepting Other Organizations Certifications as a Pre-Requisite:
ACCEPTED:
CMVA: The CMVA vibration analyst personnel certification program is accredited by SCC (Standards Council of Canada) to ISO/IEC 17024. The SCC is an APAC MLA signatory body. The Vibration Institute accepts CMVA certifications as a prerequisite for sitting for Vibration Institute vibration analyst exams.
Mobius Institute: Mobius Institute’s vibration analyst personnel certification program is accredited by JAS-ANZ (Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand) to ISO/IEC 17024. JAS-ANZ is an APAC MLA signatory body. The Vibration Institute accepts Mobius certifications as a prerequisite for sitting for Vibration Institute vibration analyst exams.
BINDT: BINDT’s (British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing) vibration analyst personnel certification program is accredited by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) to ISO/IEC 17024. UKAS is part of the IAF. The Vibration Institute accepts BINDT certifications as prerequisite for sitting for VI vibration analyst exams.
NOT ACCEPTED:
Technical Associates: TAC’s vibration analyst certification program not accredited by an independent accreditation body to ISO 17024. Thus, the Vibration Institute cannot accept TA certifications as pre-requisite for sitting for VI vibration analyst exams.
Emerson: Emerson is not accredited by an independent accreditation body to ISO 17024. Thus, the Vibration Institute cannot accept Emerson certifications as pre-requisite for sitting for VI vibration analyst exams.
Failure Prevention Associates: is not accredited to an independent accreditation body to ISO 17024. Thus, the Vibration Institute cannot accept Failure Prevention Associates certifications as pre-requisite for sitting for VI vibration analyst exams.
Zenco Vibration Experts: is not accredited to an independent accreditation body to ISO 17024. Thus, the Vibration Institute cannot accept Zenco Vibration Experts certification as pre-requisite for sitting for VI vibration analyst exams.
*Training provided by any organization that addresses the content of ISO 18436-2 typically can be used to meet training requirements of the VI vibration analyst certification program.
Please contact our office if you have questions regarding accepting certification from other organizations.
We can be reached at (630) 654-2254 or vicertification@vi-institute.org
References
International Standards Organization (ISO)
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is the world’s largest developer and publisher of International Standards. ISO is a network of the national standards institutes of 164 countries, one member per country, with a Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, that coordinates the system. ISO is a non-governmental organization that forms a bridge between the public and private sectors.
ISO/IEC 17024
Conformity assessment — General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons. Specifies requirements for a body certifying persons against specific requirements, including the development and maintenance of a certification scheme for personnel.
ISO/IEC 17011
Specifies general requirements for accreditation bodies assessing and accrediting conformity assessment bodies (CABs). It is also appropriate as a requirements document for the peer evaluation process for mutual recognition arrangements between accreditation bodies.
ISO 18436
Condition monitoring and diagnostics of machines — Requirements for qualification and assessment of personnel:
ISO 18436-1
Requirements for certifying bodies and the certification process Defines the requirements for bodies operating certification systems for personnel who perform machinery condition monitoring, identify machine faults, and recommend corrective action. Procedures for the certification of condition monitoring and diagnostic personnel are specified.
ISO 18436-2
Vibration condition monitoring and diagnostics Specifies the general requirements for vibration analysis personnel who perform machinery condition monitoring and diagnostics of machines. Certification to this standard will provide recognition of the qualifications and competence of individuals to perform machinery vibration measurements and analysis using portable and permanently installed sensors and equipment.
ISO 18436-3
Requirements for training bodies and the training process Defines the requirements for bodies operating training programs for personnel who perform machinery condition monitoring, identify machine faults, and recommend corrective action. Procedures for training of condition monitoring and diagnostic personnel are specified.
International Accreditation Forum (IAF)
According to the IAF, http://www.iaf.nu/, “The IAF is the world association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Bodies and other bodies interested in conformity assessment in the fields of management systems, products, services, personnel and other similar programs of conformity assessment. Its primary function is to develop a single worldwide program of conformity assessment which reduces risk for business and its customers by assuring them that accredited certificates may be relied upon. Accreditation assures users of the competence and impartiality of the body accredited
Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC)
According to the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation, The PAC operates within the framework of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and in cooperation with other regional groups of accreditation bodies around the world.
IAF is an association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Bodies and other bodies interested in conformity assessment which exists primarily to facilitate world trade by working to remove technical barriers that may flow from demands for certification and/or registration of management systems, products and like processes.
PAC MLA
PAC Members operate a Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA). Signatories of a PAC MLA are recognized by their other members of the PAC for meeting the standards of accreditation/certification scopes.