Accreditation 3024825 225017574 2008-07-11T14:03:52Z 62.189.76.250 {{wiktionary|accreditation}} [[Image:Accreditation.jpg|right|thumb|230px|In [[systems engineering]] accreditation is the formal certification that a model or simulation is acceptable for use for a specific purpose. Accreditation is conferred by the organization best positioned to make the judgment that the model or simulation in question is acceptable. That organization may be an operational user, the program office, or a contractor, depending upon the purposes intended.<ref> [http://www.dau.mil/pubs/pdf/SEFGuide%2001-01.pdf ''Systems Engineering Fundamentals.''] Defense Acquisition University Press, 2001 </ref>]] '''Accreditation''' is a process in which is [[certification]] of competency, authority, or credibility is presented. Organizations that issue [[credential]]s or certify third parties against official standards are themselves formally accredited by accreditation bodies (such as [[UKAS]]); hence they are sometimes known as "accredited certification bodies".<ref>[http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/arc/ARC1012.pdf#search='Accreditation%20of%20certification%20bodies' USDA ISO Guide 65 Program Accreditation for Certification Bodies], US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, August 9, 2007</ref> The accreditation process ensures that their certification practices are acceptable, typically meaning that they are competent to test and certify third parties, behave ethically, and employ suitable [[quality assurance]]. One example of accreditation is the accreditation of [[Test method|testing]] [[laboratory|laboratories]] and certification specialists that are permitted to issue official certificates of compliance with established [[Physical property|standard]]s, such as [[physical]], [[chemistry|chemical]], [[forensic science|forensic]], [[quality]], and [[security]] standards.<ref>[http://www.fsc.org/en/about/accreditation/accred_certbod Accreditation of Certification Bodies], Forest Stewardship Council website (accessed January 25, 2008)</ref> Accreditation processes are used in a wide variety of fields: * [[Accredited investor]] * [[Accredited in Public Relations]] * [[Accredited Registrar]] * [[Diplomatic accreditation]] * [[Email sender accreditation]] * [[Professional certification]] * [[Healthcare]] **[[International healthcare accreditation]] **[[Hospital accreditation]] **[[Joint Commission|Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations]] **[[Trent Accreditation Scheme]] * [[Educational accreditation]] ** [[List of recognized accreditation associations of higher learning]] ** [[Regional accreditation]] (United States) ** [[Accreditation mill]] ** [[List of unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning]] ** [[List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning]] == See also == *[[Accreditation Council]] ''(disambiguation)'' *[[Authentication]] *[[Certification]] * [[Verification and Validation]] *[[Homologation]] * [[International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation]] *[[Quality assurance]] *[[Standards organization]] * [[Validation]] *[[Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik]] == References == {{reflist}} == External links == * [http://www.european-accreditation.org European co-operation for Accreditation] - a member of [[International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation]] * [http://www.iasonline.org/ International Accreditation Service] - a subsidiary of [[International Code Council]] * [http://www.ioas.org/ International Organic Accreditation Service] [[Category:Quality assurance]] [[Category:Accreditation]] [[cs:Akreditace]] [[nl:Accreditatie]] [[sr:Акредитација]]