Certificate transfer.

What a transfer is

A transfer lets a certified organisation move to another certification body without starting again from an initial audit. The new body picks up the cycle where it stands: the certificate it issues keeps the expiry date of the original, and the remaining audit programme carries on.

Only a valid certificate can be transferred. A suspended, withdrawn or expired certificate cannot; the request is then handled as an initial application.

Conditions for taking over a current cycle

Before accepting a transfer, Gardiant Certification will carry out a prior review, on paper and, where needed, through a visit. Someone competent in the standard and the sector will look at:

• The issuing body: the certificate must come from one of the accredited certification bodies for the standard concerned or, for Qualiopi, from a labelling body recognised by France compétences.
• Certificate validity: the certificate must be in force and neither suspended nor under threat of suspension, with its scope and expiry date checked with the issuing body or against the public list.
• Audit reports: the latest initial or renewal audit report and the surveillance reports since, to place the organisation within its cycle.
• Open nonconformities: the status of each nonconformity raised. Any major nonconformity still open must be cleared, and its closure verified, before transfer; action plans for minors are reviewed.
• Complaints: complaints received about the certified activities and how they were handled, together with any proceedings under way with the issuing body.
• Scope and reason: the scope must fall within Gardiant Certification's competence, and the reason for changing body is asked for.

How it will work

1. Request. The organisation will send its current certificate, its latest audit reports and the status of its nonconformities with the request.
2. Prior review. Gardiant Certification will check the points above and may, with the organisation's consent, contact the issuing body to confirm the certificate's status.
3. Transfer decision. This will be taken under the same rules of independence as a certification decision. Any refusal will be reasoned in writing.
4. Certificate issue. The Gardiant Certification certificate will carry over the scope and expiry date of the original. The next audit will take place on the date set in the cycle's audit programme.

The organisation ends its agreement with the issuing body on the terms of that agreement, and refers to only one certificate for any given scope.

When a full audit is needed

A straightforward transfer will not be possible, and a full initial or renewal audit will be carried out, where:

• the certificate is suspended, withdrawn or expired;
• a major nonconformity remains open;
• audit reports are unavailable or do not show where the organisation stands in its cycle;
• the issuing body is not one of the accredited certification bodies for the standard;
• the scope has changed significantly since the last audit;
• serious complaints remain unanswered;
• for Qualiopi, in any other case provided for by the applicable regulations.

Making the request

Choose “transfer” as the audit type in the quote request and state your current certification body.