# How do you check an ISO certificate is genuine?

Check who issued the certificate, what it covers and whether the claimed accreditation is valid.

The Assurance Desk. Published 7 October 2026. Last checked 7 October 2026.

Part of the guide [What does ISO 27001 certification take, and who can certify you?](https://theassurancedesk.com/guides/iso-27001-certification-and-who-can-certify-you.md).

**The short answer.** Check a claimed UKAS accredited management system certificate with UKAS CertCheck, then confirm any unclear details with the body that issued it. Also check that the issuer’s accreditation covers the standard concerned. A certificate’s appearance alone does not answer those questions ([UKAS, CertCheck](https://www.ukas.com/certcheck/) and [UKAS, Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.ukas.com/faqs/), checked 7 October 2026).

## Where can you check a UKAS accredited certificate?

UKAS CertCheck is free to use and open to the public. It helps verify claims of UKAS accredited management systems certification, including certificates issued outside the UK ([UKAS, CertCheck](https://www.ukas.com/certcheck/), checked 7 October 2026).

Keep the supplier’s certificate to hand while you search. Compare the result with the company, service and locations you plan to buy from. Ask the issuer about any mismatch.

**Start with the real UKAS CertCheck search**

![The UKAS CertCheck starting screen, with a search box and a choice of company name or certificate number.](https://theassurancedesk.com/images/editorial/ukas-certcheck-search.png)

Use the search box to look for the supplier. This screenshot shows the starting screen, not a certificate or a verification result. Confirm any unclear details with the body that issued the certificate.

UKAS CertCheck, © United Kingdom Accreditation Service Ltd. Cropped for this editorial walkthrough. Captured 7 October 2026.
Source: UKAS, CertCheck, https://www.ukas.com/certcheck/ (checked 7 October 2026); UKAS, Frequently Asked Questions, https://www.ukas.com/faqs/ (checked 7 October 2026)

## What is the difference between certification and accreditation?

Certification checks an organisation, product or person against a standard. Accreditation checks the competence and impartiality of the body doing that checking. For a management system certificate, look at both ([UKAS, Accreditation vs Certification: What's the difference?](https://www.ukas.com/accreditation/about/accreditation-vs-certification/), checked 7 October 2026).

**Check the certificate and the checker**

- Accreditation body: Assesses the competence and impartiality of the certification body. (Assesses → Certification body)
- Certification body: Audits the organisation against a standard. (Certifies → Supplier)
- Supplier: Holds certification for the scope shown.

The issuer’s accreditation must cover the relevant activity or standard.

Source: UKAS, Frequently Asked Questions, https://www.ukas.com/faqs/ (checked 7 October 2026); UKAS, Accreditation vs Certification: What's the difference?, https://www.ukas.com/accreditation/about/accreditation-vs-certification/ (checked 7 October 2026)

> "if certification bodies are ‘the checkers’ then UKAS’s role as the government-appointed National Accreditation Body is to ‘check the checkers’."
> UKAS, Certification guidance
> UKAS, Accreditation vs Certification: What's the difference?, https://www.ukas.com/accreditation/about/accreditation-vs-certification/ (checked 7 October 2026)

## What should you compare?

UKAS recommends checking that the accreditation body is recognised, that the certification body holds the right accreditation, and that it actually issued the certificate. The UKAS schedule lists the activities covered by an issuer’s accreditation ([UKAS, Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.ukas.com/faqs/), checked 7 October 2026).

**Questions to resolve before relying on the certificate**

| Check | What to establish |
| --- | --- |
| Company and locations | Does the certificate cover the supplier and sites involved in your purchase? |
| Standard and work covered | Does the certified work match the service you need? |
| Current status | Can CertCheck or the issuer confirm that the certification remains valid? |
| Issuer’s accreditation | Does its accreditation cover this management system standard? |
| Unclear details | Can the issuing body confirm the certificate directly? |

Source: UKAS, CertCheck, https://www.ukas.com/certcheck/ (checked 7 October 2026); UKAS, Frequently Asked Questions, https://www.ukas.com/faqs/ (checked 7 October 2026)

## What if you cannot find a match?

Ask the supplier for the certificate and issuer details, then verify them directly. UKAS gives the issuer’s website or direct contact as routes to confirm a certificate ([UKAS, Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.ukas.com/faqs/), checked 7 October 2026).

Keep unaccredited certification separate from a false claim of accreditation. UKAS says accreditation is voluntary in many sectors, so an unaccredited certificate is not automatically illegal. Ask what your contract or tender requires and whether the certificate meets it ([UKAS, Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.ukas.com/faqs/), checked 7 October 2026).

For ongoing checks, a free CertCheck account can send alerts when the tracked certification’s accredited status changes ([UKAS, CertCheck](https://www.ukas.com/certcheck/), checked 7 October 2026).

## What to do

1. Get the certificate and identify its issuing body.
2. Check claimed UKAS accredited certification in CertCheck ([UKAS, CertCheck](https://www.ukas.com/certcheck/), checked 7 October 2026).
3. Check the issuer’s accreditation covers the relevant standard ([UKAS, Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.ukas.com/faqs/), checked 7 October 2026).
4. Ask the issuer directly to resolve missing or conflicting details ([UKAS, Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.ukas.com/faqs/), checked 7 October 2026).

## Common questions

### Does UKAS itself issue the supplier’s certification?

Certification bodies audit organisations. UKAS assesses certification bodies for accreditation, including their competence and impartiality ([UKAS, Accreditation vs Certification: What's the difference?](https://www.ukas.com/accreditation/about/accreditation-vs-certification/), checked 7 October 2026).

### Does no match prove that a certificate is fake?

Use the issuer’s website or contact it directly to verify the certificate. Also distinguish a false accreditation claim from unaccredited certification, which is not automatically illegal ([UKAS, Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.ukas.com/faqs/), checked 7 October 2026).

## Where next

- [What does ISO 27001 certification take, and who can certify you?](https://theassurancedesk.com/guides/iso-27001-certification-and-who-can-certify-you.md)
- [How to find UKAS accredited ISO 27001 certification bodies](https://theassurancedesk.com/guides/ukas-accredited-iso-27001-certification-bodies.md)
- [Customer security questionnaires: what they ask and how to answer](https://theassurancedesk.com/guides/customer-security-questionnaires-what-they-ask-and-how-to-answer.md)

## Sources

- UKAS, CertCheck: https://www.ukas.com/certcheck/ (checked 7 October 2026)
- UKAS, Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.ukas.com/faqs/ (checked 7 October 2026)
- UKAS, Accreditation vs Certification: What's the difference?: https://www.ukas.com/accreditation/about/accreditation-vs-certification/ (checked 7 October 2026)

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**Who publishes this.** The Assurance Desk is published by Add-Venture Advisory Ltd, company number 11854524, registered in England and Wales. The same owner runs Avouch, a marketing agency that sells AI visibility services to firms of the kind this site covers. That is a conflict of interest, and it is disclosed here.