Certification bodies
Accredited registrars that can audit and certify your organization
How certification works
ISO does not certify organizations directly. Instead, independent certification bodies (also called registrars) conduct the audits. These bodies must be accredited by a national accreditation body (such as ANAB in the US or UKAS in the UK) to ensure their audits meet international standards. The certification process typically involves a Stage 1 documentation review followed by a Stage 2 on-site audit.
15 accredited certification bodies
These firms have demonstrated ISO 42001 audit capabilities. Sorted by market activity and geographic coverage.
Schellman
Tampa, FL, USFirst ANAB-accredited ISO 42001 certification body (Sep 2024). Market leader with the most ISO 42001 certifications issued globally. Also holds UKAS accreditation.
BSI Group
London, UKThe world's first national standards body. First UKAS-accredited certification body for ISO 42001 (Nov 2025). Also holds RvA accreditation. Pursuing EU AI Act notified body designation.
A-LIGN
Tampa, FL, USANAB-accredited for ISO 42001 (Oct 2024). Over 4,000 ISO assessments globally. Issued the first ISO 42001 certificate to Synthesia. Strong in combined SOC 2 + ISO bundled audits.
Mastermind Assurance
Alpharetta, GA, USClaims to have issued the world's first accredited ISO 42001 certificate (Jul 2024). AI governance specialist with exclusive focus on AI and data governance standards. Also offers Lead Auditor training.
SGS
Geneva, SwitzerlandWorld's largest inspection, verification, and certification company. ANAB-accredited for ISO 42001 (Apr 2025). Global network of 2,500+ facilities in 115 countries.
DNV
Oslo, NorwayIndependent assurance and risk management provider. RvA-accredited for ISO 42001. Strong heritage in complex, regulated industries including maritime, energy, and healthcare.
Bureau Veritas
Paris, FranceGlobal testing, inspection, and certification leader with 70+ international accreditations across 80+ countries. AI-trained auditors with remote and hybrid audit options.
TÜV SÜD
Munich, GermanyGerman technical inspection and certification body with 150+ years of safety expertise. Offers ISO 42001 certification and lead auditor training with strong EU AI Act alignment.
LRQA
London, UKFormerly Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance. UKAS-accredited for ISO 42001. One of the world's leading assurance providers with deep roots in risk management and safety.
Sensiba
San Jose, CA, USANAB-accredited for ISO 42001 (May 2025). Top-75 US CPA firm and certified B Corp. 90+ auditors with 2,000+ audits completed across 10,000+ clients.
TÜV Rheinland
Cologne, GermanyANAB-accredited for ISO 42001. One of nine US-accredited certification bodies confirmed by ANAB as of November 2025. Global TIC leader with broad multi-industry expertise.
Prescient Security
Chicago, IL, USInformation security and compliance firm. Listed on IAF CertSearch. Over 3,000 SaaS companies certified globally. Also holds AICPA and CREST credentials.
EY CertifyPoint
Amsterdam, NetherlandsEY's independent certification body, founded 2002. RvA-accredited. Backed by the global EY network with deep enterprise consulting integration.
MSECB
Montreal, CanadaIAS-accredited for ISO 42001 (Jan 2025). One of the largest certification bodies internationally with certified organizations in 70+ countries.
BDO
Brussels, BelgiumFifth-largest global accounting and advisory network. Conducted Salesforce's landmark ISO 42001 audit covering Agentforce, Einstein AI, and Slack AI.
How to choose a certification body
- ✓Verify accreditation — confirm the body is accredited by a recognized national accreditation body (ANAB, UKAS, DAkkS, etc.)
- ✓Check ISO 42001 experience — ask how many ISO 42001 audits they've completed and whether their auditors have AI domain expertise
- ✓Consider bundled audits — if you already hold ISO 27001 or SOC 2, choosing a body that offers combined engagements saves time and cost
- ✓Evaluate geographic fit — choose a body with auditors in your region to minimize travel costs and scheduling complexity
- ✓Request references — ask for client references from similar-sized organizations in your industry
- ✓Compare pricing — Stage 1 + Stage 2 audit fees typically range from $15,000–$50,000 depending on organization size and scope
Ready to start?
Assess your readiness before engaging a certification body.
This directory is for informational purposes only. Verify accreditation status directly with the relevant national accreditation body before engaging a registrar. ISO42k is not affiliated with any certification body.