The International Accreditation Programme (IAP) delivers a unique global accreditation service to health and social care external evaluation organisations and standards developing bodies. Since 1999, the IAP has provided these organisations with an independent third-party assessment process to validate existing systems and drive continuous quality improvement. The IAP enables these organisations to demonstrate their credibility and benchmark their performance on an international level. Operating in over 70 countries, the IAP offers four separate peer review assessment options:

ISQua EEA’s activity does not constitute an accreditation within the meaning of Article 2 (10) of Regulation (EC) NO. 765 / 2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008. ISQua EEA bases its evaluation of bodies and standards exclusively on privately developed standards, and they do not comprise an assessment or accreditation by public authorities.

What are the benefits for a healthcare user of choosing care from an accredited provider?

External evaluation provides assurances that health or social care facilities have adequate quality systems in place. It also contributes to quality improvement, risk mitigation, patient/user safety, improved efficiency and accountability, and sustainability of the health or social care system. In other words: By choosing care from an accredited provider, you choose care from a provider that has demonstrated a commitment to deliver quality services and has demonstrated that they have the capacity and capability to deliver quality services.

Whether you are

  • A policymaker or healthcare purchaser (insurer)
  • A health or social care professional
  • A health or social care provider
  • Or someone who now or in the future needs to use health or social care services for yourself or for your loved ones
An accreditation stamp can be used as an indicator that a health or social care provider is trustworthy.

But what about the trustworthiness of the accreditation?

ISQua EEA awards offer a way of ensuring that an accreditation is based on sound, evidence-based best practice. Look for the accreditation seal of the provider – and go to the website of the accreditor. An ISQua EEA award logo found here will indicate that the accreditor meets accepted standards for accreditation.

What does an ISQua EEA award mean?

Organisations who have achieved an accreditation by ISQua EEA are entitled to display these logos – from the logo you can clearly see which accreditation(s) the organisation has received and the duration of the award.
An ISQua EEA Standards accreditation award demonstrates that health and social care standards have been developed and evaluated in line with international best practice.
An ISQua EEA External Evaluation Organisation award demonstrates that external evaluation organisations meet international best practice requirements in the areas of governance, strategic, operational and financial management, risk management, quality improvement, human resource management, information management, surveyor management, client management and accreditation / certification awards.
An ISQua EEA Surveyor Training Programme award assures organisations that their surveyor training programmes have been developed and delivered in line with international best practice and this can be demonstrated to their clients, funders and other stakeholders. The Standards for Surveyor Training Programmes address programme development and planning, programme management, trainee management, training programme delivery, assessment of competence and quality improvement.
An ISQua EEA Quality and Patient Safety Training Programme award assures training providers that they and their training programme meet international best practice requirements and demonstrates this to their clients, trainees, funders, and other stakeholders. The Standards cover programme development and planning, programme management, training programme delivery, trainee/learner management, assessment of competence and quality improvement.
ISQua institutional membership demonstrates that organisations are part of the ISQua global institutional members network dedicated to actively improving healthcare quality and safety for all.    This logo means the organisation has membership – it is not an accreditation award.

Access Fee explained

The Access Fee is a once off payment, which entitles an organisation to enter the International Accreditation Programme (IAP) and to receive the full information pack.  Please note that you would only pay the access fee once and you would not be invoiced for this again even if you were to proceed to get additional accreditation services with ISQua EEA in the future.

Access Fee  (once off payment on entry to the IAP) 2024/2025
Low Income Countries €1,650
Lower Middle-Income Countries €1,925
Upper Middle –Income Countries Category 1 €2,200
Upper Middle – Income Countries Category 2 €2,475
High Income Countries €2,750