Frequently Asked Questions

The International Council for Standards & Certification (ICSC Ltd) is a UK-registered certification organisation. We issue certifications across four areas: ISO-aligned standards, Continuing Professional Development (CPD), competence levels, and company standards. ICSC Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 17110748.

No. ICSC is a private limited company registered in the UK. We are not a government body, regulatory authority, or statutory organisation. Our certifications are issued under ICSC's own assessment framework and do not carry statutory or regulatory force.

No. ICSC is not accredited by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or by any national accreditation body such as UKAS. Our certification frameworks are developed in alignment with internationally recognised ISO standards and principles — this is what we mean by 'ISO-aligned'. Our certificates are issued under ICSC's own assessment and governance framework.

ISO-aligned means that our certification frameworks, assessment criteria, and processes have been developed with reference to internationally recognised ISO standards. The relevant ISO standards inform the structure and requirements of our programmes, but ICSC certificates are not the same as ISO accreditation. If you require formal ISO accreditation, you should contact an accredited certification body recognised by a national accreditation authority.

ICSC certifications are open to individuals and organisations across all sectors. ISO-aligned and competence certifications are typically sought by professionals wishing to demonstrate compliance or capability against defined standards. CPD certificates are available to individuals undertaking structured professional development. Company standards certifications are available to organisations seeking a structured framework for internal or external assurance.

ISO-accreditation is formal recognition granted by an accreditation body (such as UKAS in the UK) confirming that a certification body meets specific international standards for competence and impartiality. ISO-aligned means a framework has been developed with reference to ISO standards but has not been independently assessed for accreditation. ICSC certifications are ISO-aligned, not ISO-accredited.

The timeframe depends on the certification type and the completeness of evidence submitted. We aim to complete assessments in a timely manner following receipt of all required documentation. Contact us at info@councilforstandards.org to discuss timelines for your specific certification.

Certificate validity varies by certification type. Contact us at info@councilforstandards.org for specific validity periods applicable to your certification.

Yes. Where certificates have a defined validity period, renewal is available subject to re-assessment or evidence of continued compliance. Contact info@councilforstandards.org to discuss renewal for your specific certificate.

Use our online verification system at councilforstandards.org/verify. Enter the certificate number printed on the certificate. The system will confirm whether the certificate is valid, expired, or revoked, along with the holder name, certificate type, issue date, and issuing details.

If a certificate number returns no result or shows as invalid, this may indicate the certificate has not been issued by ICSC, the number has been entered incorrectly, or the certificate may be fraudulent. Report concerns via our Contact page or email integrity@councilforstandards.org.

Report it immediately using our 'Report a Suspicious Certificate' form on the Contact page, or email integrity@councilforstandards.org. All reports are treated confidentially and reviewed by our integrity team. Do not rely on the certificate for any decision until verification is confirmed.

Visit our Get Certified page for a step-by-step overview, then contact us at info@councilforstandards.org to discuss your requirements. We will advise on the appropriate certification stream, evidence requirements, and next steps.

Use the Contact form on our website, or email us directly: info@councilforstandards.org (general), privacy@councilforstandards.org (data protection), integrity@councilforstandards.org (fraud or misuse), legal@councilforstandards.org (legal matters).