What Apave Certification does

Apave Certification is a France-based, independent third-party certification body operating as a wholly-owned SAS subsidiary of the Apave Group, a risk management conglomerate with heritage dating to 1867. The company delivers accreditation-driven certification services across five core lines: ISO management systems certification (ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, 50001, 27001); competency certification (DPO under CNIL framework, including a specialized health-sector variant; good treatment managers); electrical product certification under the IECEE CB Scheme plus market-specific marks for Japan (PSE), North America (NRTL), South Korea (KC), Gulf States (G-Mark), China (CCC), and Australia/New Zealand (RCM); services certification including Qualiopi (mandatory for French training organizations since January 1, 2022) and RGPD; and proprietary labels including HS2 for the silver economy and CSR 26000 for corporate social responsibility. The technical backbone is the company's COFRAC accreditations (n° 4-0552 under ISO 17021-1, n° 4-0521 under ISO 17024, n° 5-0587 for Qualiopi), which legally authorize it to issue accredited certificates, supported by a network of 250 qualified auditors and a 130-agency distribution footprint across France.

The go-to-market is sales-led, combining regional sales development managers who cover defined French territories (South-East, South-West, North-East, North-West, DROM) with a 130-agency local presence and an international partner auditor network spanning 20 countries. Pricing is customized per engagement, calculated against audit-day scales defined by accreditation bodies, with multi-year contract billing cadences typical of recurring surveillance audits. Customer acquisition is supported by digital channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, website quote-request forms, newsletter) and event participation. The company serves a diverse customer base spanning training organizations seeking Qualiopi certification, electrical product manufacturers needing market access, social housing providers pursuing HS2 labels, and organizations seeking ISO management systems certifications for operational and compliance purposes. Financials are not publicly disclosed; the SAS entity reports a nominal share capital of €325,555.56 and 11-50 direct employees, with the bulk of operational scale provided through the broader Apave Group infrastructure.

Name

Apave Certification

Legal name

Apave Certification

Website

https://apave-certification.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1867

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Apave Certification is a France-based, COFRAC-accredited third-party certification body and subsidiary of the Apave Group, delivering ISO management systems, competency, electrical product, services, and proprietary label certifications across 20 countries via a 250-auditor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Certification and Compliance Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Management System Certification (Food Safety + Quality/Environment/OHS) (AFALACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Certification Program Administration & Scheme Management (Standard Owners) (AFALACAC), Certification & Licensing Exam Management Platforms (EDAFADAG)

Keywords

• Third-party certification services
• Management systems certification
• ISO standards certification
• Electrical product certification
• Competency certification audits

Headquarters

HQ city

Courbevoie

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Certification Services: Apave Certification generates revenue through certification audits and assessments for management systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, ISO 27001), competency certifications (DPO, Bientraitance), electrical product certifications (CB Scheme, G-Mark, PSE, KC, CCC, RCM), services certifications (Qualiopi, RGPD), and custom labels (HS2, CSR 26000). Pricing is calculated based on a scale of audit days defined by accreditation bodies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Apave Certification is an independent third-party certification body that issues accredited certificates across management systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, ISO 27001), personal competencies (DPO under CNIL scheme, Manager/Referent for Good Treatment), electrical products (CB Scheme, PSE, NRTL, KC, G-Mark, CCC, RCM, C by Apave), services (Qualiopi, RGPD for training providers), and custom labels (HS2, CSR 26000). It operates a 250-strong auditor network covering 20 countries and issues roughly 2,500 certificates annually under COFRAC accreditations ISO 17021-1 and ISO 17024.

Product overview

Apave Certification is an independent third-party certification body and subsidiary of the Apave Group, providing a comprehensive portfolio of certification and labeling services. The offering spans six main areas: Management Systems Certification (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, ISO 27001), Certification of Competences (DPO, DPO in Health Field, Manager/Referent for Good Treatment), Electrical Products Certification (IECEE-CB, C by Apave, and market-specific certifications for Japan, North America, South Korea, Gulf States, China, Australia/New Zealand), Services Certification (Qualiopi, RGPD), Labels (HS2® High Health & Safety, CSR 26000), and Certification Engineering (custom labels). Operating across France and internationally with 20 countries of operation, the company leverages 250 auditors to deliver approximately 2,500 certificates annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ISO 9001 Certification - Quality Management System Certification of an organization's quality management system to ISO 9001 standard, demonstrating commitment to operational excellence and stakeholder satisfaction. Targeted at companies seeking worldwide recognition of their quality commitments.
• ISO 14001 Certification - Environmental Management System Certification of an organization's environmental management system to ISO 14001 standard, proving environmental compliance and reinforcing CSR approaches.
• ISO 45001 Certification - Occupational Health and Safety Management System Certification of an organization's health and safety management system to ISO 45001 standard, demonstrating commitment to employee wellbeing and regulatory compliance.
• ISO 50001 Certification - Energy Management System Certification of energy management systems to ISO 50001 standard, helping organizations improve energy performance and reduce consumption.
• ISO 27001 Certification - Information Security Management System Certification of information security management systems to ISO 27001 standard for data protection and cybersecurity compliance.
• Data Protection Officer (DPO) Skills Certification Official recognition of DPO expertise and proof of mastery of GDPR requirements, based on a scheme created by CNIL (the French data protection authority). Targeted at Data Protection Officers.
• DPO in Health Field Certification Specialized certification for DPOs working in the healthcare sector, validating expertise in the protection and management of personal data in the health domain.
• Qualiopi Certification Quality certification mandatory since January 1, 2022 for all training organizations wishing to access French public and mutualized funds. Issued under COFRAC accreditation based on the National Quality Certification Reference (RNCQ).
• RGPD Certification for Training Providers Certification attesting to the quality of training providers in data protection under CNIL's framework for protection of personal data.
• Certification as Manager or Referent for Good Treatment Certification for professionals specializing in good treatment practices and prevention of abuse risk in care settings (Bientraitance / prevention of abuse).
• HS2 - Label Haute Sécurité Santé (High Health & Safety) A voluntary certification label for organizations in the silver economy, promoting safety and health for seniors and vulnerable persons in housing and services, enabling them to live at home longer.
• CSR 26000 Label (RSE 26000) Overall performance label for CSR based on ISO 26000 standards, UN Sustainable Development Goals, and non-financial performance criteria, created by Jérôme Mât.
• IECEE-CB Certification International certification for electrical products under the IECEE CB Scheme, facilitating global market access and mutual recognition of test reports across member countries.
• G-Mark Certification (Gulf States) Certification for electrical products exported to Gulf countries, issued under G-Mark scheme.
• PSE Certification (Japan) Certification for electrical products exported to Japan under DENAN Law compliance with PSE marking.
• NRTL Certification (North America) Certification for electrical products exported to North America, including FCC compliance.
• KC Certification (South Korea) Certification for electrical products exported to South Korea under the KC scheme.
• CCC Certification (China) Certification for electrical products exported to China with regulatory compliance under the CCC scheme.
• RCM Certification (Australia/New Zealand) Regulatory Compliance Mark certification for products exported to Australia and New Zealand.
• C by Apave Apave's proprietary certification mark for electrical products.
• Label Engineering Services Custom certification label development services, creating tailored reference systems for skills, products, services or organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,500+ certificates delivered
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• COFRAC (Comité Français d'Accréditation)coreOthersApave Certification operates under COFRAC accreditation for certification activities. Accreditations include: n° 4-0552 (ISO 17021-1 for management systems certification), n° 4-0521 (ISO 17024 for person certification/DPO), n° 5-0587 (Qualiopi certification). COFRAC is the French national accreditation body that ensures the competence and impartiality of certification bodies.
• CNIL (Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés)coreOthersApave Certification offers DPO skills certification based on a scheme created by CNIL. The CNIL is the French data protection authority that establishes the reference framework for data protection officer competencies and GDPR compliance certifications.
• IECEE (International Electrotechnical Commission System for Conformity Testing)coreTechnology or IntegrationApave Certification offers CB Scheme certification for electrical products under the IECEE international system, enabling mutual recognition of test reports for product safety certification across member countries.
• Jérôme Mât (Creator of CSR 26000 Label)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CSR 26000 overall performance label was created by Jérôme Mât. The certification system was built and validated in conjunction with Apave Certification body, where Apave Certification acts as the independent third party guaranteeing impartiality with regard to candidates and legitimacy of the system with regard to stakeholders.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AFNOR Certification: AFNOR Certification is the French national standards body's certification arm, issuing ISO management system certifications under COFRAC accreditation. It directly competes with Apave Certification on Qualiopi and ISO certifications in the French mid-market.
• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is a French-headquartered global Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) giant offering ISO management systems, product, and competency certification. It is the most direct comparable to Apave Certification, operating in the same accreditation frameworks with overlapping product lines across management systems, electrical products, and CSR services.

Broad incumbents

• TÜV Rheinland: TÜV Rheinland is a major German TIC incumbent offering ISO management systems, electrical product (CB Scheme), and competency certifications globally. It competes directly on product certification and ISO lines, particularly for international accounts.
• DEKRA: DEKRA is a German-headquartered TIC major operating across product testing, certification, and management systems. It is comparable on electrical product certification (CB Scheme) and ISO management systems, with stronger automotive and industrial positioning.
• Intertek: Intertek is a global TIC company offering product certification, ISO management systems, and CSR services. It competes with Apave Certification on electrical product export certification (CB Scheme, G-Mark, KC, CCC, RCM) and management systems certifications.
• SGS: SGS is one of the world's largest TIC companies with broad ISO, product, and CSR certification offerings. It overlaps with Apave Certification's management systems and electrical product certification lines but at much larger scale and global reach.
• DNV: DNV (formerly DNV GL) is a Norwegian TIC major with strong management systems certification and ESG assurance practices. It overlaps with Apave Certification's ISO management systems and CSR/ISO 26000 offerings, particularly for European enterprises.
• BSI Group: BSI is the UK's national standards body operating a large commercial certification arm across ISO management systems, medical devices, and competency certifications. It competes with Apave Certification in international ISO 9001/14001/45001/27001 markets.

Emerging players

• Eurofins Certification: Eurofins is primarily a bioanalytical testing group that has expanded into certification through acquired entities. It is an emerging player in management systems and product certification, increasingly competing with traditional TIC bodies including Apave Certification in adjacent verticals.

Regional players

• Kiwa: Kiwa is a Dutch-headquartered TIC company operating across Europe in certification, testing, and inspection. It is comparable on ISO management systems and competency certifications, primarily serving European mid-market customers with similar service portfolio depth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC6ZiAcm5IwpJ8rHFf2USoTA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apave-certification
• Instagraminstagram.com/apave_officiel/?hl=fr
• Facebookfacebook.com/apave.certificationitalia.1

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Apave Certification