By Jasmin Dhakaan Accreditation Expert | The Conformity Edge – ISO/IEC 17000 Weekly Series
It started with a collapse.
A factory inspector signs off on a boiler installation without noticing a faulty pressure valve. A week later, the system explodes causing injuries, panic, and shutdowns.
A cybersecurity “expert,” certified from a weekend course, misses a critical vulnerability during an audit. Two months later, the client’s data is breached, with millions lost in recovery.
These are not isolated stories. They are echoes of a deeper problem we face globally: we have confused possession of certificates with possession of competence.
And in a world where professionals make life-impacting decisions daily whether it is in engineering, inspection, health, education, or IT we cannot afford to keep making that mistake.
This article is not about bashing certificates. It is about reminding ourselves of what certification should mean and how the ISO/IEC 17024 accreditation standard is quietly setting a gold standard worldwide.
A Crisis of Confidence in Certification
The democratization of learning is a gift. But when certification becomes a business model, it becomes a risk.
In today’s digital ecosystem, certificates are everywhere. Online courses. Weekend webinars. AI-assisted exams. But the question regulators and employers are now asking is:
What does this truly prove?
“Can this person perform under real conditions?”
“Are they competent, or just certified?”
When certifications become a commodity, credibility is compromised. I have seen regulatory fines, failed inspections, incorrect lab results, and ethical breaches all tied to underqualified personnel.
This is not just a paperwork issue. It is a people issue. Trust is the currency of high-stakes industries. And when trust is eroded, so is safety, quality, and public confidence.
ISO/IEC 17024: Global Standard for Personal Certification
What makes ISO/IEC 17024 different?
It is not a course. It’s not a training certificate. It is an international benchmark that certifies individual competence based on structured evaluation, not attendance.
Under ISO/IEC 17024:
- Certification bodies are required to be impartial, transparent, and accredited.
- Individuals are assessed not just on theory, but real-world performance.
- Ongoing competence is verified through surveillance and recertification.
Unlike conventional training programs, ISO/IEC 17024 looks at the whole picture: skill, knowledge, application, ethics, and continued performance.
This is more than compliance. It is about credibility and confidence.
Who Certifies the Certifiers?
ISO/IEC 17024 works because it does not rely on self-declared authority.
It places the certifying body under scrutiny too, requiring accreditation by a third-party, such as ANAB, EGAC, GAC, UKAS, or EIAC. These accreditors audit the processes, verify impartiality, and ensure that competence frameworks are upheld.
This layer of metacredibility ensures:
- Assessors are qualified and unbiased.
- Examination systems are secure and reproducible.
- Records are maintained, and complaints are taken seriously.
It’s like this: if your doctor is certified by a board that answers to no one, how much can you trust their skills?
But if they are certified by a board that itself is regularly audited for fairness, accuracy, and integrity that is confidence you can stand on.
Because when a certificate is backed by a system that itself is regularly tested, it becomes a source of trust, not just a symbol of training.
That is what sets ISO/IEC 17024 apart. It does not just ask, “Did you teach?” It asks, “Did they learn and can they do the job well?”
Competence Is More Than Passing an Exam
Let’s be clear. Knowledge is essential. But knowledge alone does not equal ability.
Would you trust a pilot who scored 95% on their written test but had never landed a plane?
ISO/IEC 17024 introduces a paradigm shift:
- Practical simulations: Can the person solve real problems?
- Behavioral assessments: Do they make sound ethical decisions under pressure?
- On-the-job performance: Are they effective in dynamic work environments?
Studies show that the human brain builds trust through observed behavior over time. We do not just listen to what people say about themselves we look for patterns in how they act.
ISO/IEC 17024 embeds this truth by requiring:
- Performance evaluations
- Scenario-based assessments
- Peer and supervisor reviews
- Ongoing demonstration of competence
In today’s world of automation and shortcuts, true professionals are not defined by what they know on paper but by how they perform when it matters.
This is not just a technical requirement. It is a human one.
What Employers and Regulators Are Really Looking For
One compliance director told me:
“Training certificates show participation. ISO/IEC 17024 accredited certification shows capability.”
Today’s employers and regulators are not impressed by volume. They are focused on validity.
Whether you are in:
- Testing & Calibration Lab (Accredited by ISO/IEC 17025)
- Inspection Agency (Accredited by ISO/IEC 17020)
- Management System Certification Body (Accredited by ISO/IEC 17021)
—the expectation is the same: proof of performance.
Employers are no longer asking for course completion. They want:
- Problem-solvers, not rule readers
- Ethical decision-makers, not checkbox followers
- Consistent performers, not occasional high scorers
ISO/IEC 17024 meets this demand. It builds the workforce for today’s risk landscape.
Effect of Competence-Based Certification
Competence-based certification changes more than CVs. It transforms outcomes.
- Safeguard public interest: Ethical behavior becomes embedded, not optional.
- Enhance global mobility: ISO/IEC 17024-certified professionals are recognized worldwide.
- Build institutional trust: Regulators, clients, and the public gain confidence.
Imagine a world where every safety inspector, lab technician, auditor, and data privacy officer was certified by ISO/IEC 17024 accredited institute.
Fewer errors. Faster problem resolution. Better public outcomes.
That is the ripple effect of competence-first systems. They do not just tick boxes. They raise standards. They build a culture of excellence.
Stop Chasing Certificates. Start Building Competence.
It is time to ask the tough question:
Are we investing in learning that transforms?
ISO/IEC 17024 is not a trend. It’s a transformational model. A new way to:
- Define professional worth
- Maintain accountability
- Build trust, from the ground up
As professionals, regulators, and employers, we have a choice:
Continue validating knowledge alone
Or shift toward a world where competence, integrity, and action matter most
Degrees provide foundations. Training adds depth. But competence-based certification validates readiness for real-world impact.
Let’s Connect
Are you an employer, a certification body, or a professional looking to build or align your certification program with ISO/IEC 17024, let’s connect. I would be happy to share how it is being done across industries and how you can lead the change.
