IAS vs ANAB Accreditation: Which Is Right for AS9100 Suppliers? When you search for IAS vs. ANAB accreditation , you get dozens of different answers, and every registrar claims its accreditor is the one that ma tters. If you are an aerospace supplier trying to qualify for an OEM contract, that confusion costs you time you do not have. This guide breaks down what IAS and ANAB accreditation actually mean for your AS9100 certificate, so you can choose a registrar w ith confidence instead of guesswork. Both accreditation paths carry international recognition, but the certification bodies built on each one deliver very different experiences. KSQA (K&S Quality Assessments LLC) holds IAS accreditation for AS9100 auditi ng, and this guide shows exactly where that path stands next to ANAB - accredited alternatives. IAS and ANAB accreditation bo th meet the same international recognition standard for AS9100, so the real differences that affect your business are turnaround time, pricing structure, and how the audit gets delivered. Quick Comparison: IAS vs. ANAB Accreditation for AS9100 The compar ison below places the two accreditation paths side by side on the factors that matter most to an aerospace supplier working against a deadline. Factor IAS - Accredited (KSQA) ANAB - Accredited (Typical) Global recognition International Accreditation Forum signatory International Accreditation Forum signatory Certification timeline 2 - 3 days after successful audit 6 - 12 months typical Audit delivery Virtual - first, in - person available Varies by registrar Pricing model Fixed price, no hidden fees Varies by registrar Aerospace scope IAQG member, ASA - 101 accredited IAQG member, varies by registrar Small - business focus Built for small and mid - size suppliers Varies by registrar W hat IAS Accreditation Delivers for AS9100 Suppliers KSQA's IAS accreditation gives AS9100 suppliers the same global recognition as larger registrars, backed by a faster, fixed - price certification process built for small and mid - size aerospace suppliers. A S9100 suppliers working with IAS - accredited KSQA receive their certificate within 2 - 3 days of a successful audit, compared to a 30 - to - 45 - day standard at many other registrars and 6 - to - 12 - month timelines at some ANAB - accredited firms. Faster certification means you can respond to OEM supplier deadlines without delaying contract awards. KSQA holds IAS Aerospace Standard Accredi tation (ASA - 101) and IAS Management Systems Certification Body Accreditation (MSCB - 207), and both accreditations remain active. “This standing exists because IAS is a recognized signatory body within the global accreditation cooperation framework, the same framework ANAB - accredited bodies operate under.” This means an OEM or prime contractor checking your certificate finds a registrar recognized under the same in ternational mutual recognition framework that ANAB - accredited bodies operate under. Your AS9100 certificate carries identical standing in a supplier qualification review, regardless of which accreditor's name appears on it. ● IAQG Membership and Aerospace - S pecific Accreditation Scope KSQA is a member of the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG), the body that oversees aerospace - specific quality requirements across AS9100 and related standards. Your auditors work within a framework built specifically for aerospace, aviation, space, and defense suppliers, not a generic quality management scope stretched to cover aerospace as an afterthought. This membership sits alongside the ASA - 101 accreditation, giving your certificate two layers of aerospace - specif ic credibility. ● 2 - 3 Day Certificate Turnaround vs. Industry Standard Most certification bodies take 30 to 45 days to issue a certificate after your final audit, and some ANAB - accredited registrars extend the full process to 6 - 12 months once you count gap analysis, Stage 1, and Stage 2 audits. KSQA issues your certificate w ithin 2 - 3 days of successful audit completion. When an OEM sets a supplier qualification deadline, that turnaround difference can decide whether you win the contract or lose it to a competitor who certified faster. ● Fixed - Price, Virtual - First Audit Process for Small Aerospace Suppliers Your certification cost is set upfront, with no hidden fees added after the audit begins. KSQA delivers gap analysis, Stage 1, and Stage 2 audits virtually by default, which removes travel costs and scheduling delays from your certification timeline. In - person audits remain available if your operation requires them, but the virtual - first model keeps your total cost predictable from the first quote to the final certificate. What ANAB Accreditation Offers “ ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board) accredits many of the certification bodies operating in the AS9100 space, including several long - established registrars with international reach.” Registrars built on ANAB accreditation often serve clients across dozens of countries and maintain large auditor networks. Certification timelines and pricing vary by individual registrar rather than by the accreditation itself, and most ANAB - accredited AS9100 programs follow a multi - stage audit process similar to any accredited certification body. This scale can suit suppliers who need multiple certifications across many international sites, since a single ANAB - accredited registrar may already hold accr editation for those parallel standards, and switching costs can be lower when one provider covers several standards at once. The Key Differences That Matter Once you look past accreditor names, the real differences between IAS - accredited and ANAB - accredite d registrars for AS9100 come down to speed, transparency, and whether the accreditation story gets fully explained to you. ● Timeline: Speed vs. Network Size Yes, ANAB - accredited registrars often bring a larger international network and years of multi - standa rd experience. But that scale typically means longer certification timelines, with many suppliers reporting 6 to 12 months from engagement to certificate. If your OEM contract has a fixed qualification deadline, a slower process built around a larger organization can put your award at risk. ● Why the Accreditor's Name Doesn't Determine Your Supplier Qualification Most AS9100 certification bodies name their own accreditor as a credibility marker and stop there, without explaining what accreditation itself guarantees. “IAS and ANAB are both signatories under the global mutual recognition framework that succeeded the International Accreditation Forum's Multilater al Recognition Arrangement, now operating through Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated.” — IAS “This means an OEM or prime contractor evaluating your supplier qualification accepts a certificate from an IAS - accredited body the same way it accepts one from an ANAB - accredited body.” — IAF The accreditor's name does not expand or shrink your qualification standing; the audit quality and the registrar's process do. Which Option Is Best for You? ● Best Fit for ANAB - Accredited Registrars Su ppliers who need multiple certifications across many international sites and who can accommodate a 6 - to - 12 - month qualification timeline may find that an established ANAB - accredited registrar with broad network coverage fits their situation. ● Best Fit for IA S - Accredited KSQA Suppliers facing an OEM deadline who need a fixed - price, virtual - first AS9100 certification delivered within 2 - 3 days of a successful audit are the clearest fit for KSQA's IAS - accredited process. Frequently Asked Questions About IAS vs. ANAB Accreditation 1. Is IAS accreditation as good as ANAB for AS9100 certification? Yes. IAS and ANAB both operate as accreditation bodies recognized under the same global mutual recognition framework, so an AS9100 ce rtificate issued through an IAS - accredited registrar like KSQA carries the same standing as one issued through an ANAB - accredited registrar. 2. How long does AS9100 certification take with an IAS - accredited body? KSQA issues your AS9100 certificate within 2 - 3 days of successful audit completion once you finish your Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits. This compares to a 30 - to - 45 - day standard at many other certification bodies and longer timelines at some larger registrars. 3. Do OEMs accept IAS - accredited AS9100 certificates? Yes. OEMs and prime contractors evaluate AS9100 certificates based on IAQG - recognized accreditation and audit quality, not the specific accreditor's name. An IAS - accredited certificate meets the same suppl ier qualification requirement as an ANAB - accredited one. 4. What is the difference between IAS and ANAB accreditation? IAS and ANAB are both accreditation bodies that oversee certification bodies under the same international recognition framework. The practi cal differences that affect your business come from the individual registrar built on each accreditation, including certification timeline, pricing structure, and whether the registrar delivers audits virtually or in person. 5. Does switching to an IAS - accred ited registrar affect my existing AS9100 certificate? Moving to a new registrar for your next audit cycle does not affect your current certificate's validity before it expires, and your new IAS - accredited registrar reviews your existing quality management system as part of the transition audit. Final Thoughts Choosing between IAS and ANAB accreditation for your AS9100 certific ation comes down to what your business actually needs: a broader international network reach with a longer timeline, or a fixed - price, virtual - first process that delivers your certificate within 2 - 3 days. If an OEM deadline is driving your decision, KSQA' s IAS - accredited process removes the guesswork and the wait. Request your AS9100 certification quote from KSQA today and f ind out how quickly your supplier qualification can move forward. CONTACT US Website: https://www.ksqa.org/ Mail: contact@ksqa.org Phone Number: +1 - 775 372 8348 Address: 5760 Hwy 32,Water Valley, MS 3896 5 C ONTENT COURTESY https://ksqa.org/blog/ias - vs - anab - accreditation - which - is - right - for - as9100 - suppliers/