Frequently asked questions accreditation process
I want to apply for accreditation. How do I know if I am eligible for accreditation?
Before you submit an accreditation application to us, go through a short questionnaire on the Quick Scan Accreditation Application page. This will tell you immediately whether you are eligible for accreditation and whether submitting an application makes sense.
I want to apply for accreditation. How do I know which standard to use?
When completing the Quickscan Accreditation Application, you will be presented with an overview of the various disciplines/standards. You can also access this information directly by going to the Disciplines page. In the explanatory text you will find a reference to the corresponding standard.
How do I submit an accreditation application?
Submitting an accreditation application is done through our PRISMA Application Tool. This tool guides you through the process of submitting an accreditation request.
If you are not yet a client of ours, you can go through the Quickscan Accreditation Application. If your answers indicate that you are eligible for RvA accreditation, you can create an account in the Application Tool by clicking on the ‘submit application’ button.
If you are already a customer with us, your colleague who is registered with us as the first contact person of your organization will have received an account from us in the PRISMA Application Tool. The first contact person can create new accounts for you or your colleagues themselves through the Application Tool.
Can I receive information in advance about submitting an accreditation request?
Before you submit an accreditation application to us, you will go through a short questionnaire doing the Quick Scan Accreditation Application page. This will tell you immediately whether you are eligible for accreditation and whether submitting an application makes sense.
Do you still have questions after going through the Quickscan Accreditation Application? If you are already our customer, please contact your own Accreditations Project Coordinator (PCA). If you are not yet a customer with us, please contact us at nieuweaanvragen@rva.nl.
What application forms should I use to apply for accreditation?
Submitting an accreditation application is done in our PRISMA Application Tool. In this tool, you will be guided through the process of submitting an accreditation request. If you select the standard for which you want to submit an accreditation request, you will automatically be presented with the appropriate forms.
Do you want to apply for a scheme evaluation? If so, you cannot submit the application through the Application Tool. On the Scheme Evaluation Request Form page you will find a request form that you can send by email to schemabr012@rva.nl.
Before the Application Tool was up and running, I had already started preparing for an accreditation application, such as filling out the forms. How do I proceed?
If you started preparing an accreditation application before March 7 2023, you will still submit your accreditation application with application forms that you send by mail. Had you not yet downloaded all the forms from our website? If you are already a customer with us, in that case, please contact your own Project Coordinator for Accreditations (PCA). If you are not yet a customer with us, please contact nieuweaanvragen@rva.nl. They will send you the necessary forms.
You can also choose to make an account in the PRISMA Application tool by doing Quickscan Accreditation application. And then transfer the in information you have gathered and already completed forms into the Application tool yourself.
How long does it take to submit an accreditation application?
On the Accreditation Process page you can view all the steps of the accreditation process. Submitting an accreditation application is the first step in the accreditation process.
To submit an accreditation application, you will need to gather various documents from your own operations – depending on the standard you choose. The length of the process to have all the necessary information ready within your organization varies from organization to organization. However, do not underestimate the time investment. Especially if the subject matter is new to your organization. During this preparation period, you can use our Application Tool to collect the documents for your accreditation application.
Once you have gathered the necessary information and submitted the accreditation request, it will take (up to) four weeks for us to review your accreditation request. If we have approved your accreditation request, you will move on to the second step of the accreditation process: the preliminary examination.
How long does it take to receive an accreditation statement?
The average turnaround time of the accreditation process from submitting the accreditation application to receiving an accreditation statement spans up to one year. However, you must also take into account preparation time prior to submitting an accreditation application as well as the time the RvA takes to evaluate your application. See also the question ‘How long does it take to submit an accreditation application’, Depending on how well all the process parts proceed, the turnaround time can sometimes be shorter or longer. For more information on this, please contact us at nieuweaanvragen@rva.nl.
What surveys can I expect when I apply for accreditation?
Several forms of examination may be used to determine whether an accreditation can be granted. More information can be found in document BR002.
What steps does the accreditation process have?
The Accreditation Process page provides a schematic overview of all the steps to follow in the accreditation process.
What is the difference between a category A deviation and a category B deviation?
More information on category A deviations and category B deviations can be found in document BR004.
How should I submit my corrective actions?
How to submit your corrective actions is described in document BR004.
Can I submit an urgent application for accreditation or scope expansion?
Due to the independent role of the RvA, we are unable to respond to rush or priority requests for accreditation or scope expansion applications. All applications are processed according to our standard procedures and within the deadlines. More information can be found in our document BR002; Accreditation Policy Rule.
I have a question about using the PRISMA Application tool.
For questions about using the tool and your account, go to frequently asked questions about PRISMA tools.
Do you have another question?
Is your question not listed here ? Send us a message at nieuweaanvragen@rva.nl.