Overview
ASTM E2708-23, Standard Terminology for Accreditation and Certification, is an international standard developed by ASTM International. This document serves as a comprehensive glossary of terms commonly used in the fields of accreditation and certification. Drawing from ASTM Committee E36 standards, international guidelines, and credible industry sources, ASTM E2708-23 provides standardized definitions to support the consistent application and understanding of terminology across accreditation and certification programs worldwide.
The terminology aligns with internationally recognized principles from the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. As accreditation and certification activities are carried out across diverse sectors, the standard is instrumental in clarifying language, promoting best practices, and facilitating the development of future ASTM documents.
Key Topics
ASTM E2708-23 covers a broad range of concepts, including but not limited to:
- Accreditation: Definitions related to the formal recognition of competence by authoritative bodies, including terms such as accreditation body, accreditation certificate, and accreditation scheme.
- Certification: Terminology associated with third-party attestation of conformity for products, services, systems, and personnel. This includes definitions for certification body, certification program, and certification mark.
- Personnel Credentialing: Key terms such as candidate, certificate holder, continuing competence, credentialing body, and recertification processes.
- Assessment Processes: Terms describing assessment types, methods, and roles, including assessor, technical expert, assessment technique, and examination/test formats.
- Conformity Assessment: Vocabulary related to processes for verifying that requirements are fulfilled, such as conformity assessment body, conformity surveillance, and attestation.
- Governance and Fairness: Definitions addressing due process, conflict of interest, governance structures, and public protection.
- Document Types and Procedures: Comprehensive explanations of certificates, agreements, policy documents, audits, and procedural standards.
- Reference to International Practices: Synchronization with terms from ISO/IEC 17000, ISO 9000, and other internationally recognized standards.
Applications
ASTM E2708-23 is a vital resource for diverse stakeholders involved in accreditation and certification programs, including:
- Accreditation Bodies: Ensures consistent usage of key terms and supports transparent communication with conformity assessment bodies.
- Certification Organizations: Helps design, operate, and govern certification schemes with clarity and alignment to international best practices.
- Assessment Professionals: Assists assessors, technical experts, and auditors by providing standardized definitions for roles and processes.
- Regulatory Agencies: Facilitates regulatory oversight and harmonization by unifying terminology and interpretation of requirements.
- Training and Continuing Education Programs: Supports curriculum development and professional training by ensuring accuracy in terminology.
- International Trade and Market Access: Promotes mutual recognition and reduces barriers across national and international markets by standardizing communication.
For those writing new standards, managing credentialing programs, or navigating accreditation requirements, ASTM E2708-23 is an essential reference that ensures shared understanding and operational efficiency.
Related Standards
ASTM E2708-23 references several other important standards and documents, such as:
- ASTM E2659 – Practice for Certificate Programs
- ISO 9000 – Quality management systems - Fundamentals and vocabulary
- ISO/IEC 17000 – Conformity assessment - Vocabulary and general principles
- ISO/IEC 17011 – Requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies
- ISO/IEC 17024 – Requirements for bodies certifying persons
- ASAE Certification and Accreditation Law Handbook
- ICE Basic Guide to Credentialing Terminology
By integrating terminology from these references, ASTM E2708-23 serves as a bridge between national and international accreditation and certification practices, supporting uniformity and global best practices in terminology management.