ISO/IEC 17024 is an international standard that defines how organizations that certify individuals must operate to ensure fair, competent, and consistent assessment of people. It is published jointly by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and is used worldwide for personnel certification, especially for roles such as auditors, inspectors, examiners, and other professional qualifications.

The standard explains how certification bodies design, manage, and maintain certification schemes for individuals, covering the full certification cycle from application to recertification. The current edition, ISO/IEC 17024:2012, was confirmed in 2018 and remains valid, while a revised third edition is in the final stages of publication and is expected to replace it in 2026. ISO/IEC 17024 is developed by ISO/CASCO, the ISO committee responsible for conformity assessment standards, and forms part of the ISO/IEC 17000 series, which sets the common framework for conformity assessment.

ISO/IEC 17024 requires certification bodies to:

• Act impartially and manage conflicts of interest

• Use defined and fair assessment methods to evaluate competence

• Apply clear rules for application, examination, surveillance, and recertification

• Protect confidentiality and personal information

• Operate a management system that supports consistent certification decisions

By setting clear expectations for how personnel certification bodies operate, ISO/IEC 17024 helps build trust in professional qualifications and supports international recognition of personnel certifications across sectors and borders. Further details are available on the official ISO standards page.