APO Accreditation Body

1. Introduction

An accreditation and certification program was identified as one activity that could raise the APO’s visibility and authority as a leading productivity organization. Recognizing the competency and credibility of national productivity organizations (NPOs) or their affiliates as APO-accredited certification bodies (CBs) will build APO brand awareness, cultivate and expand a community of experts, and strengthen APO leadership in the area of productivity.

Therefore, the Governing Body, in its review of the APO Strategic Plans, approved the establishment of an accreditation body. This separate, impartial entity known as the APO Accreditation Body (APO-AB) is responsible for assessing and accrediting CBs following the APO General Requirements for Certification Bodies: Certification of Persons Scheme, which is aligned with ISO/IEC 17024.

2. Vision

To be the leading future-oriented productivity-related specialist accreditation body and expand the recognition of APO certification programs worldwide.

3. Mission

To enhance the image and reputation of NPOs/affiliated organizations in APO members by recognizing them as APO-accredited CBs on productivity and future-oriented programs. This will involve:

1. Ensuring the validity of APO certification programs;
2. Close cooperation with stakeholders in APO members related to APO-AB activities through regular consultation, coordination, and communication;
3. Promoting APO accreditation services worldwide by engaging with other international organizations promoting productivity-related and future-oriented programs; and
4. Continuously improving APO-AB activities, adding value, and ensuring transparency, credibility, impartiality, and accessibility by APO members through a structured, systematic accreditation system.

4. Quality Policy

The APO-AB is committed to operating its accreditation programs and related services at the highest quality in compliance with international standards to meet the needs and expectations of APO member governments. Through the balanced representation of key stakeholders and interested parties within or outside the APO membership, the APO-AB ensures that the professionalism, competency, impartiality, and transparency of its services are maintained at all times.

5. APO Accreditation System

6. Organizational Structure

7. APO-AB Council

The main responsibility of the APO-AB Council is to formulate policies relating to the accreditation system for endorsement by the APO Workshop Meeting of Head of NPOs. The list below is the APO-AB Council for 2019–2021.

8. Scope for Accreditation

The APO-AB accredits organizations that operate APO Certification of Persons (CoP) schemes. The APO-AB will develop new certification schemes periodically to meet the needs of member countries. Current schemes being developed are shown below:

9. Accreditation and Certification Documentation

9.1 APO-AB Requirements for Certification Bodies (COP001/2019)
9.2 Procedure for Accreditation (PRO4001/2019)
9.3 Term and Conditions Governing the Use of APO-AB Symbol for CB (TOR 3002/2019)

10. List of Certified Persons

Click here for the APO-Certified Productivity Practitioners