ANAB Accreditation for Private Sector Preparedness Voluntary Certification (PS-Prep^TM)

Under an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security, ANAB has developed a program to oversee the certification process, manage accreditation, and accredit qualified third parties to carry out certifications of private sector entities for disaster preparedness, emergency management, and business continuity. Certification bodies (CBs) can be accredited for any or all of the designated PS-Prep standards: ASIS SPC.1, BS 25999-2, and NFPA 1600.

Accreditation and Certification

Please note that although you may hear or see them used interchangeably, the terms "accreditation" and "certification" have distinct meanings. ANAB is an accreditation body and provides oversight of accredited certification bodies (also known as registrars). ANAB accreditation provides assurance to a certification body's customers that the certification body is competent to do its work. The certification bodies (not ANAB) conduct audits and issue certificates to organizations seeking certification.

If you're visiting this site to find out how your organization can become PS-Prep certified, please be aware that the requirements, fees, and much of the information on this site apply to CBs seeking ANAB accreditation rather than organizations seeking certification.

For specific information on requirements to become certified, contact an ANAB-accredited certification body that is specifically qualified for PS-Prep (see below or search the ANAB directory).

CB Requirements

The requirements listed below are for certification bodies seeking ANAB accreditation but the PS-Prep standards (ASIS SPC.1, BS 25999-2, and NFPA 16000) are also used by organizations seeking certification.

Accreditation Requirements for Management Systems CBs

ANAB Accreditation Rule 37

ASIS SPC.1-2009 Organizational Resilience: Security, Preparedness, and Continuity Management Systems - Requirements with Guidance for Use (available free of charge)

BS 25999-2:2007, Business continuity management. Specification (available for a nominal charge from BSI)

NFPA 1600 Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs 2010 and 2007 Editions (available free of charge)

For more information, contact ANAB.

CB Application

CBs seeking ANAB accreditation can view the PS-Prep applications for ASIS SPC.1, BS 25999-2, and NFPA 1600 in .pdf format to understand specific requirements but the application process must be completed online via ANAB's EQM database; first-time EQM users must register to create an account. (Note: Organizations seeking PS-Prep certification must obtain an application from an ANAB-accredited certification body.)

PS-Prep is a base standard program in ANAB's fee schedule for CBs seeking ANAB accreditation.

Please refer to the information about the accreditation process at How to Become an ANAB-Accredited Certification Body. (Note: Organizations seeking PS-Prep certification can read about the certification process but should contact an ANAB-accredited certification body for more specific information.)

Certification Bodies

These certification bodies are accredited, in application, or have indicated their intent to become accredited by ANAB to offer certification for PS-Prep standards:

• National Quality Assurance, USA (accredited)
• Orion Registrar, Inc. (accredited)
• British Standards Institution
• Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc.
• SRI Quality System Registrar

For direct links to these CBs, see our complete list of accredited CBs.

Public List of Companies

A public listing of private sector entities that have been certified as being in conformance with the program (provided the entities consent to such a listing) will be maintained by ANAB.

Additional PS-Prep Information

You can find more information about private sector preparedness at the PS-Prep site.

Read the final workshop report on Achieving Preparedness Through Standards Implementation: Challenges and Opportunities for Small Businesses.

You can listen to a free educational webinar on Career Options and the PS-Prep Program sponsored by two non-profit organizations. (Note: Registration is required to access audio).

PS-Prep Auditor Training

These are the options for PS-Prep auditor training conforming with the requirements of ANAB Accreditation Rule 37 indicated in parentheses:

• RABQSA Certified Auditor Training (Accreditation Rule 37, section 8.2.1) - select RABQSA RES-Resilience Management Systems Auditing in Competency Unit or Course Type field
• ANSI Certificate Accreditation Program (Accreditation Rule 37, section 8.2.1.1) - scroll to organization(s) offering  Business Continuity Management System Auditor - BCM 5000

There are no options for ISO/IEC 17024 accredited certification at this time (Accreditation Rule 37, section 8.2.1.2)

ANAB also offers accreditation for Organizational Resilience-Emergency Management-Business Continuity Management Systems (OREMBCMS), which is not the same as PS-Prep.