CNAS Certification Consulting | 17025 Certification Application - Authorized Signatory Assessment Requirements

CNASOn-site Authorized Signatory AssessmentRequirements:

Authorization Signatory's Authority Review

The authorized signatory for laboratory accreditation is recognized by CNAS and has the ability to issue laboratory reports or certificates with the recognition mark. The authorized signatory applying for laboratory accreditation must be clearly defined by the laboratory in terms of their authority, having the ultimate technical review responsibility for the reports/certificates they issue, and the authority to reject results and reports/certificates that do not meet recognition requirements.

Review and authorization signatory's technical and signature credentials

The assessment team should focus on evaluating the authorized signatory's technical capabilities to ensure they meet the requirements and are familiar with the relevant CNAS requirements. The authorized signatories of the laboratory have the corresponding technical work experience. In a special case, if, according to the industry management regulations, reports or certificates must be issued by the laboratory head (administrative issuance), and if this person does not hold the CNAS authorized signatory qualification within the relevant scope, then the reports or certificates must be signed by an authorized signatory recognized by CNAS (technical issuance). The authorized signatory can also appear as a reviewer (or other title) of the reports or certificates.

Form of authorization signature by the approver

The assessment of authorized signatories should be conducted separately, rather than in a centralized manner. The technical capability review of authorized signatories can be conducted simultaneously during on-site tests or by reviewing technical records.

Review the authorized signatory's scope of authorization

For comprehensive laboratories, special attention should be given to the authorized scope of the authorized signatory, which should cover all testing/calibration projects (including various fields). Confirm that the technical capabilities meet CNAS requirements. No recommendations can be made for fields without technical work experience or those that do not meet CNAS requirements. For example: No recommendation can be made for the signing scope of chemical testing projects when there is no background in the chemical field or when the requirements of CNAS-CL01-A002 are not met.