ISOQAR Review: ISO Certification and Auditor Training

ISOQAR review: what the UKAS-accredited certification body and its ISOQAR Academy training offer UK businesses, how to plan certification costs and which current offers apply.

For many small and growing businesses, ISO certification arrives as a requirement rather than a goal. A tender asks for ISO 9001, a client wants proof of information security, or a contractor framework expects health and safety certification. At that point the questions are practical: which certification body, how much over the full cycle, and how much disruption. ISOQAR is a long-established, UKAS-accredited body that certifies to a wide range of standards and runs auditor training through ISOQAR Academy, and choosing it well comes down to planning the whole cycle rather than the first invoice.

This desk review is based on ISOQAR's published service information and the offers listed on Dealnory, checked on November 4, 2026. We have not been through an ISOQAR audit or course. Dealnory may earn a commission through our links at no extra cost to you. Check current ISOQAR offers once you know which standard or course you need.

ISOQAR review: certification and training under one roof

ISOQAR was established in 1993, has its registered office in Cardiff and cites more than 30 years of experience. It is accredited by UKAS, the UK's national accreditation body, and certifies to standards including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001, ISO 42001, ISO 22301, ISO 50001, ISO 20000-1 and ISO 22000, as well as carbon standards such as ISO 14064-1 and NHS DSPT assessments.

Alongside certification, ISOQAR Academy runs more than 25 training courses, from foundation and internal auditor courses to CQI and IRCA approved lead auditor courses and ISO 9001:2026 transition training. The company also refers clients to a network of more than 300 independent ISO consultants for implementation support, keeping certification and consultancy separate.

Getting certified: plan the full three-year cycle

ISO certification usually runs on a three-year cycle, with an initial certification audit followed by surveillance audits and then recertification. When you request a quote, ask for the cost across the whole cycle, including audit days, travel and any certificate fees, so you can compare certification bodies on a like-for-like basis.

ISOQAR says its pricing is transparent with no hidden fees, and it offers integrated audits when you need more than one standard. If you are pursuing ISO 9001 alongside ISO 14001 or ISO 45001, an integrated audit can reduce the total number of audit days compared with certifying each standard separately. Ask how audit days are calculated for your size and number of sites.

Switching certification body: the free transfer

For organisations already certified elsewhere, ISOQAR offers to transfer an existing certificate free of charge. It says the transfer is designed to avoid a break in certification or disruption to the existing audit schedule, and that it does not require additional audits in the normal case.

The transfer itself being free does not mean the certification is free. ISOQAR's published invoicing information indicates you are invoiced for the relevant year of the cycle once the certificate is issued, so compare the ongoing fees with your current provider before switching, and check your existing contract for notice periods.

ISOQAR Academy: choosing a course format

ISOQAR Academy courses are offered as classroom sessions in Manchester, London, Bristol and Leamington Spa, as tutor-led virtual classrooms, as self-paced e-learning and as in-house training at your premises. Lead auditor courses run over several days, while foundation and internal auditor courses are shorter.

If you need a qualification recognised across industries, check that the course is CQI and IRCA certified. For a team, in-house delivery can be more efficient than sending people individually, while e-learning suits someone who needs flexibility around work. Factor in exam requirements and how certificates are issued when comparing options.

Who ISOQAR suits, and who may want something else

ISOQAR suits UK small and medium businesses that need accredited certification to compete for contracts, organisations looking to consolidate several standards with one body, companies unhappy with their current certification body, and professionals building auditor credentials.

It is a weaker fit if you need hands-on help writing your management system, since certification bodies must stay independent and ISOQAR refers that work to consultants. Businesses operating mainly outside the UK should also confirm local office coverage and auditor availability in their region.

Our verdict: a credible choice if you plan the cycle

ISOQAR combines UKAS-accredited certification across many standards with a substantial training academy, backed by three decades in the field. The free certificate transfer and integrated audits make it worth a quote for businesses with existing certification or multiple standards.

Ask for full-cycle pricing, compare it with at least one other accredited body and choose training formats that suit your team. With that done, ISOQAR is a solid option for UK certification and auditor training.

Current offers and a sensible final price

ISOQAR currently lets organisations transfer an existing ISO certificate to it free of charge, with no break in certification, although normal certification fees apply for the cycle once the certificate is issued. It also offers integrated audits for organisations certifying to more than one standard, which can reduce total audit time compared with separate audits, and quotes are given individually, so ask for a full three-year figure. Training promotions run for limited periods, so check any course code's end date before booking. Check the latest ISOQAR coupons and offers on Dealnory to see what is active today.

Coupon codes, deals and availability depend on ISOQAR's current terms and may change or expire.

Sources and disclosure: ISOQAR official certification, training and transfer pages and the offers listed on Dealnory, checked November 4, 2026. Editorial assessment of published information, not a hands-on test. Dealnory may earn commission from qualifying purchases. Images are editorial illustrations.