akreditasyon

Akreditasyon is a formal recognition by an authoritative accreditation body that an organization or program is competent to carry out specific tasks and to demonstrate conformity to applicable standards. It covers activities such as testing, calibration, inspection, certification of products or management systems, and the accreditation of educational programs. Accreditation is not certification of the entity itself, but of its competence to perform certain tasks or of its program’s quality.

The process typically involves an application, a review of documentation, an on-site assessment, and a formal decision. After accreditation, surveillance and periodic re-assessment ensure continued competence. Accreditation bodies operate under international arrangements to promote mutual recognition; key standards include ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratories, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection bodies, ISO/IEC 17021 for certification bodies, and ISO/IEC 17011 for accreditation bodies.

National and international bodies: Many countries have a national accreditation body, such as TÜRKAK in Turkey, UKAS in the United Kingdom, DAkkS in Germany, ANAB in the United States, COFRAC in France, and DANAK in Denmark. International cooperation through IAF (International Accreditation Forum) and ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) enables cross-border acceptance of accreditation certificates and reports.

Applications and significance: Akreditasyon supports credibility and quality assurance across sectors, facilitates trade by reducing technical barriers, and helps consumers trust services ranging from medical testing and environmental analysis to education program accreditation. It is distinct from certification, which is the formal attestation that a product, service, or management system meets a specific standard, usually provided by a certification body rather than an accreditation body.