Abstract

The Registrar Accreditation Board (RAB) is a private, not-for-profit organization that offers three services: registrar accreditation, quality systems auditor certification, and accreditation of auditor training courses. RAB board members are appointed by the ASQC Board of Directors. Members of the RAB's board of directors meet monthly at their own expense to oversee operations, review the organization's financial performance, approve its budget, and approve the charter and establishment of committees and councils.

RAB's Operations Council supports the development of policies and procedures governing the registrar accreditation program, the auditor certification program, and the course provider accreditation program. The Accreditation Council assures that audits adhere to the accreditation process. In 1990, the RAB and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) joined forces to create the American National Accreditation Program for Registrars of Quality Systems. The criteria for accrediting registrars includes those used by the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

RAB's Certification Program for Auditors of Quality Systems assures that candidates are qualified to audit quality systems for compliance with recognized standards, such as the ISO 9000 series. Applicants to RAB's auditor certification program must complete one of two courses.

On a worldwide scale, the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), which was founded in 1993, provides a forum for accreditation bodies to discuss issues. Also, the Committee on Conformity Assessment (CASCO) worked with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to form a planning group on Quality System Assessment Recognition (QSAR).