ANSI accredits Microsoft and IHMM certification programs.
Press Release Summary:
Microsoft and Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM) have been granted accreditation under ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024, joining 27 other accredited credentialing bodies under ANSI. Accreditations include Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Administrator and Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Server Administrator. Professional accreditations by IHMM include Certified Hazardous Materials Manager and Certified Hazardous Materials Practitioner.
Original Press Release:
ANSI Accredits Two Personnel Certification Programs
Microsoft and IHMM become latest credentialing bodies to receive accreditation
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), coordinator of the U.S. standards and conformity assessment system, has announced its accreditation of two additional organizations engaged in the credentialing of professionals. Microsoft and the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management have become the latest organizations to be granted accreditation under ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024, joining 27 other credentialing bodies that have previously received ANSI accreditation.
Approved during the September 17, 2009, meeting of ANSI's Personnel Certification Accreditation Committee, the new accreditations were granted to:
Microsoft Corporation
(Accreditation Scopes)
Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Administrator
Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Server Administrator
Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM)
(Accreditation Scopes)
Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)
Certified Hazardous Materials Practitioner (CHMP)
"ANSI is pleased to congratulate Microsoft and the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management on their accreditation," confirmed Dr. Roy Swift, ANSI senior director of personnel credentialing accreditation programs. "This achievement marks the culmination of a multi-month effort to demonstrate compliance to a rigorous internationally recognized accreditation process, which involves both a desk review and an on-site visit."
"Microsoft is committed to ensuring high quality certification exams and we're excited to have our credentials recognized by ANSI for the rigor that we put into our exam development process. We believe this rigor directly impacts the value of our certifications for our credential holders, hiring organizations and academic institutions," said Bill Wall, director of Microsoft Certifications.
"Earning ANSI accreditation demonstrates IHMM's ongoing commitment to setting globally accepted standards for professional competency and quality in the environmental, health, safety, and security industry," said Elizabeth Pfeiffer, CHMM®, Chair of the IHMM Board of Directors. A global leader in the accreditation of personnel certification programs under ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024, ANSI is the only U.S. accreditor to require a week-long assessor training as well as a mandatory annual training update to meet the requirements of ISO/IEC 17011.
"The ANSI accreditation process provides certification bodies with an internationally recognized measurement of quality and benchmarks by which to evaluate and improve their practices," continued Dr. Swift.
A member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), ANSI also chairs the IAF working group charged with harmonizing the work of accreditation bodies around the world that are performing independent third-party review of personnel certification programs.
"ANSI and the IAF are helping to build consumer and public confidence in certification programs and the personnel who receive credentials from those organizations," explained Dr. Roy Swift, who also chairs the IAF working group. "Accreditation by an independent body that conducts an impartial review under the auspices of ISO/IEC 17011 and ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024 creates an extremely valuable distinction for a personnel certification program. This value extends through the service network - from certification body, to certificate holder, to employer, to the public they serve."
Personnel certification programs that have already received ANSI accreditation include:
American Board of Industrial Hygiene
American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry
American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
American Society for Clinical Pathology
American Society for Nondestructive Testing
ASIS International
Association of Professionals in Business Management
Board of Certified Safety Professionals
Cardiovascular Credentialing International
Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)
Construction Manager Certification Institute
CSA America
Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC)
InfoComm International
Information System Audit and Control Association
International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, Inc.
International Society of Arboriculture
National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology
National Center for Construction Education and Research
National Commission for Certification of Crane Operators
National Fire Protection Association
National Inspection Testing Certification Corporation
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
Project Management Institute
Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association
Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals Certifying Organization
Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau
Since the inception of ANSI's Personnel Certification Accreditation Program in 2003, the Institute has accredited 29 personnel certification bodies that represent more than 60 different credentials. In total, over one million professionals currently hold certifications from ANSI-accredited personnel credentialing bodies.
"With the expanding globalization of the workforce, accredited personnel certification bodies address a pressing need for consistency within the service sector," said Dr. Swift. "Connecting certification bodies to the rest of the world is one of the major benefits of ANSI accreditation."
About ANSI
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and the American quality of life by promoting, facilitating, and safeguarding the integrity of the voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system. Its membership is comprised of businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations. The Institute represents the diverse interests of more than 125,000 companies and organizations and 3.5 million professionals worldwide.
The Institute is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and, via the U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and is a U.S. representative to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).
