There are two main sections in ISO/IEC 17025 - Management Requirements and Technical Requirements. Management requirements are primarily related to the operation and effectiveness of the quality management system within the laboratory. Technical requirements address the competence of staff, methodology and test/calibration equipment.

"Management system" refers to the organization's structure for managing its processes - or activities - that transform inputs of resources into a product or service which meet the organization's objectives, such as satisfying the customer's quality requirements, complying to regulations, or meeting environmental objectives.

ISO 9001 is a generic management standard that can be applied to any business enterprise, public administration, or government department.

Testing and calibration laboratories that comply with ISO 17025 will also operate in accordance with ISO 9001.

1. Scope

2. Normative References

3. Terms and Definitions

4. Management Requirements

5. Technical Requirements

Elements 4 and 5 contain the actual accreditation requirements.

- Organization
- Quality system
- Document control
- Review of requests, tenders and contracts
- Subcontracting of tests and calibrations
- Purchasing services and supplies
- Service to client
- Complaints
- Control of nonconforming testing and/or calibration work
- Corrective action
- Preventive action
- Control of records
- Internal audits
- Management reviews

Technical Requirements

- General
- Personnel - Accommodation and environmental conditions
- Test and calibration methods and method validation
- Equipment
- Measurement traceability
- Sampling
- Handling of test and calibration items
- Assuring the quality of test and calibration results
- Reporting the results