Frequently Asked Questions

Accreditation is a third-party attestation (by the Saudi Accreditation Center) that an entity provides conformity assessment services in a specific field and is officially qualified to perform certain conformity assessment tasks after meeting all the requirements outlined in international guidelines to ensure the continuity of its competence.

Accreditation builds confidence in reports, certificates, and conformity data. It supports the quality of results by ensuring their traceability, comparability, validity, and interchangeability, and it has positive economic impacts on both public and private sectors as well as consumers.

The center offers accreditation for laboratories, inspection bodies, certification bodies, Halal certification bodies, personnel certification bodies, management systems certification bodies, and product, process, and service certification bodies.

Yes, you can view the list of accredited entities through the following link:
https://www.saac.gov.sa/ar/accredited-cabs/

Conformity assessment bodies such as laboratories, inspection bodies, or certification bodies (for management systems, products, processes and services, personnel, Halal), whether they are government, private, or non-profit entities.

Please refer to the user guide for the Accreditation Application Management System (for Conformity Assessment Bodies).

Yes, the Saudi Accreditation Center has received international recognition from the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) in 2021 in the fields of laboratories and inspection, and from the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) in 2024 in the field of certification.

Yes, they can, in accordance with the regulations followed by the center.

Standards help increase the competitiveness of products and services, meet requirements in line with the latest production and technological methods, remove technical barriers to enhance international trade, and protect consumers by defining acceptable and internationally recognized quality levels for goods and products.

Conformity is the process of testing to determine whether a product or system complies with the requirements of a specification, contract, or regulation. Conformity assessment refers to any activity that directly or indirectly determines whether a process, product, or service meets relevant technical standards and requirements.

The accreditation process begins with the conformity assessment body (CAB) submitting an application via the website. SAAC then verifies the application's completeness, followed by a review and evaluation of the entity's documentation. Subsequently, an on-site assessment visit is conducted to verify technical competence. Once all requirements are met and competence is confirmed, the accreditation decision is made. For further details, please refer to the Accreditation Process Guideline: https://www.saac.gov.sa/media/rwyjofwa/accreditation-process-guideline-en.pdf

You can view the application requirements for conformity assessment bodies at the following link: https://www.saac.gov.sa/ar/knowledge/

The duration varies depending on the accreditation scope, the readiness and responsiveness of the entity, and how long it takes to close non-conformities. Generally, the process takes between 3 to 6 months.

The accreditation cycle is 3 years, which includes a periodic surveillance visit in the middle of the cycle. The accreditation certificate must be renewed six months before the three-year period expires.

The costs can be identified by reviewing the Regulation for Accreditation of Conformity Assessment Bodies via the following link: https://www.saac.gov.sa/media/uidhftvq/Regulation-for-Accreditation-of-Conformity-Assessment-Bodies.pdf

1. Log in to the new accreditation system.
2. From the main page, select 'Invoices'.
3. Choose the invoice to be paid.
4. Generate the payment number.
5. Complete the payment.
6. The invoice status will be updated on the same page.

Please refer to the Saudi Accreditation Center's remote assessment policy.

Please refer to the policy on the use of the Saudi Accreditation logo and mark.

You can apply to join the Saudi Accreditation Center as an assessor or expert through SAAC’s official website. Please visit the following link to complete the application process: (https://assessors.saac.gov.sa/).

To update your information as an assessor or expert, please log in to your profile in the Assessors and Experts System via the following link: (https://assessors.saac.gov.sa/)

You can track your application status via the following link: (https://assessors.saac.gov.sa/)."

The selection process for participants in assessment visits with the Saudi Accreditation Center is based on the specific technical field and the SAAC’s current needs. Please note that signing a cooperation agreement does not necessarily obligate SAAC to involve you in assessment visits.

Capacity building is one of SAAC’s key strategic pillars. We aim to enhance technical capabilities in the fields of accreditation, quality, and conformity assessment by providing general and specialized training programs. These programs are designed to develop the skills of assessors, experts, and practitioners, ultimately contributing to the overall quality of assessment and accreditation processes.

You can find all information regarding training programs by visiting the Training Programs page on our website: training.saac.gov.sa

You can access the system as follows:

• Create a new account and log in using your credentials.
• If you already have an account, ensure your email and password are correct.
• Try using a different browser or device if you encounter any technical challenges.

       For further assistance, you can contact us via email at: SAAC.Training@saac.gov.sa

You can log in using the email address and password you registered on the Training and Qualification Platform via the following link: (https://training.saac.gov.sa/). If you encounter any difficulties, please click on the 'Forgot Password' option and follow the instructions to recover your account.

If you experience any difficulties during the payment process, please try using a different browser or device. If the issue persists, you can contact us via email at: SAAC.Training@saac.gov.sa

If the payment has been completed but the invoice status has not changed in the system, please provide us with the payment receipt to verify the transaction and add you to the training program. Please note that the status update may take 1 to 2 business days. You can contact us via email at: SAAC.Training@saac.gov.sa

To apply for accreditation, the laboratory must provide the following documents:

• Commercial Registration for the facility (for private laboratories) or a Decree of Establishment/Regulation for government laboratories.
• A license from the relevant authority related to the laboratory's activity (only for private laboratories).
• The laboratory's Organizational Chart.
• A Quality Management System (QMS) that meets the requirements of the international standard ISO/IEC 17025:2017.
• The laboratory's Quality Policy.
• The latest copy of the Internal Audit Report.
• The latest copy of the Management Review Report.

SAAC provides accreditation services in the laboratory field for the following:

• Accreditation of Testing and Calibration Laboratories according to the international standard ISO/IEC 17025.
• Accreditation of Medical Laboratories according to the international standard ISO 15189.
• Accreditation of Reference Material Producers according to the international standard ISO 17034.
• Accreditation of Proficiency Testing Providers according to the international standard ISO/IEC 17043.
• Accreditation of Biobanking according to the international standard ISO 20387.

Please refer to SAAC’s policy regarding participation in Proficiency Testing (PT) and Comparison Programs.

Please refer to SAAC’s policy regarding the traceability of measurement to international units.

SAAC provides accreditation services in the laboratory field for the following:

• Accreditation of Testing and Calibration Laboratories according to the international standard ISO/IEC 17025.
• Accreditation of Medical Laboratories according to the international standard ISO 15189.
• Accreditation of Reference Material Producers according to the international standard ISO 17034.
• Accreditation of Proficiency Testing Providers according to the international standard ISO/IEC 17043.
• Accreditation of Biobanking according to the international standard ISO 20387.

The launch of accreditation services at SAAC is subject to comprehensive feasibility studies. New services are launched in coordination with the relevant legislative and regulatory authorities.

Training alone is not sufficient. The entity must function as a Persons Certification Body, meaning it issues certifications based on specific programs in defined fields, including theoretical and practical examinations that require a specific passing score or percentage.

SAAC provides accreditation services in the laboratory field for the following:

• Accreditation of Testing and Calibration Laboratories according to the international standard ISO/IEC 17025.
• Accreditation of Medical Laboratories according to the international standard ISO 15189.
• Accreditation of Reference Material Producers according to the international standard ISO 17034.
• Accreditation of Proficiency Testing Providers according to the international standard ISO/IEC 17043.
• Accreditation of Biobanking according to the international standard ISO 20387.

The launch of accreditation services at SAAC is subject to comprehensive feasibility studies. New services are launched in coordination with the relevant legislative and regulatory authorities.

Training alone is not sufficient. The entity must function as a Persons Certification Body, meaning it issues certifications based on specific programs in defined fields, including theoretical and practical examinations that require a specific passing score or percentage.

Please refer to the User Manual for the Accreditation Request Management System (for Conformity Assessment Bodies).

Please check your Junk/Spam folder. If the email is not found, you can request to resend the password via the platform or contact our technical support team.