What's the Difference Between ANAB-Accredited and ANSI Accreditation?
When comparing ANAB vs ANSI, you’re probably wondering: Does this training meet a recognized quality standard? ANSI (the American National Standards Institute) oversees how standards are developed in the U.S., while ANAB (the ANSI National Accreditation Board) accredits training programs and certification bodies to those standards.
Accreditation is a third-party review process that verifies a program meets defined quality and oversight requirements, helping employers and learners trust the training they choose. At 360training, we’re a trusted provider of ANAB-accredited training with millions of learners served.
In this blog, we will explain the difference between ANAB and ANSI and what it means when selecting training for work.
What Is ANAB?
ANAB stands for the ANSI National Accreditation Board. It operates as a separate organization under the ANSI umbrella. It accredits programs and organizations to confirm they meet defined requirements for quality, consistency, and oversight.
ANAB accredits organizations and programs across many industries, including:
- Management systems
- Calibration and testing laboratories
- Forensic services
- Inspection bodies
- Certificate programs
Because ANAB’s accreditation programs extend well beyond the U.S., it provides accreditation services in 80 countries and is the largest multi-disciplinary accreditation body in the western hemisphere.
ANAB also supports the organizations it accredits by offering training on accreditation topics and program requirements. This helps certification bodies and program owners build, maintain, and improve credible programs over time.
What This Accreditation Covers
ANAB accredits a few different “buckets,” but when you’re looking at training credentials, these two are the ones you’ll see most often:
- Certification programs: prove someone’s competence
- Certificate programs: confirm someone completed a course with defined learning outcomes and an assessment
For example:
| Accreditation Type | Standard Used | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Certification Programs | ISO/IEC 17024 or CFP Standards | Food Protection Manager, professional certs |
| Certificate Programs | ANSI/ASTM E2659-18 | Food handler programs, training certificates |
What Is ANSI?
Founded in 1918, ANSI stands for the American National Standards Institute. It’s a private, nonprofit organization that administers and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standards and conformity assessment system. Basically, it’s the ecosystem that helps industries agree on what “good” looks like and how to verify it.
ANSI:
- Serves a wide range of stakeholders across business, government, and consumers.
- Coordinates standards development. It typically doesn’t write standards itself. Instead, it helps ensure the process behind standards is credible.
- Focuses on fairness and consistency by promoting requirements like openness, balance, consensus, and due process in how standards are created and applied.
- Acts as a neutral hub that brings public- and private-sector stakeholders together, and it also represents U.S. interests in global standards work (including ISO).
When you see “ANSI accreditation” mentioned, it’s often shorthand for the idea of “certifying the certifier.” In other words, a third-party accreditation process evaluates the organization that issues certifications to confirm it operates with competence and impartiality.
ANAB vs ANSI Accreditation: Key Differences
In short, ANSI provides the oversight framework and standards coordination while ANAB performs the accreditation assessments for many programs and organizations. Laboratories, certification bodies, and certificate programs are typically described as ANAB-accredited, not “ANSI-accredited.”
If you want further clarity on the difference between ANSI and ANAB, here’s a breakdown of what ANAB vs ANSI looks like:
| Feature | ANAB | ANSI |
|---|---|---|
| Organizational Role | Accreditation body; owned subsidiary of ANSI | Coordinates/administers U.S. voluntary standards + conformity assessment system |
| What They Accredit/Oversee | Accredits certification bodies, labs, inspection bodies, and certificate programs | Accredits standards developing organizations (SDOs) and oversees due-process requirements for American National Standards |
| Type of “Accreditation” | Program-level + organization-level accreditation (assessment-based) | Process/procedure accreditation for standards development; system-level coordination |
| How You’ll Commonly See It Described | “ANAB-accredited” (e.g., an accredited certification body or certificate program) | “ANSI-accredited” typically refers to SDO procedures/standards process (not labs/courses) |
| Market Presence | Large multi-disciplinary accreditation body operating internationally | National + global standards authority; U.S. representative in international standards bodies |
| Training Component | Offers accreditation-focused training | Not primarily a training provider |
Why ANAB and ANSI Accreditation Matters
In regulated and safety-sensitive work, such as food safety, alcohol service, and workplace safety, training goes a long way. Employers and regulators need confidence that a program follows clear requirements, measures learning consistently, and stays accountable over time. That’s where ANAB and ANSI come in.
Here’s why ANAB and ANSI accreditation matters:
- Ensures credibility and quality of training programs. Accreditation adds third-party oversight, so the program isn’t just saying “trust us”; it’s being evaluated against defined requirements.
- Demonstrates compliance with internationally recognized standards. ANAB accredits certificate programs against ANSI/ASTM E2659 and accredits personnel certification bodies against ISO/IEC 17024, depending on the type of credential.
- Strengthens employer and industry confidence. When a credential is based on recognized requirements and external review, it’s easier for employers to accept it, especially in industries where safety and compliance matter.
- Reduces liability risk through validated assessment processes. Strong programs focus on measurable learning outcomes and assessments that are valid and reliable. This is helpful if training decisions ever need to be explained or defended (for example, during audits or incident reviews).
Accreditation typically isn’t a one-and-done badge. For example, ANAB’s certificate accreditation process includes steps like:
- Application and document review
- Assessment
- Corrective actions
- An accreditation decision
- Ongoing surveillance assessments to confirm continued conformance
On the ANSI side, “accreditation” commonly refers to accrediting standards developers’ procedures, which must demonstrate due process safeguards like openness, balance, lack of dominance, and consensus, so standards are created fairly and consistently.
Examples of ANAB-Accredited Training Programs
ANAB accreditation shows up most in fields that intersect with public health and compliance, including:
- Food service
- Environmental health
- Occupational safety
When you see ANAB-accredited in a training catalog related to those fields, it’s usually tied to certificate program accreditation (training + assessment that meets a defined standard) or to a proctored certification exam that verifies competency. In industries where safety and compliance matter, outside accreditation helps employers trust that the program isn’t “made up as it goes.”
Here are a few real-world examples of ANAB-accredited server training programs:
- National Food Handler Certificate (ANAB-accredited) : A food handler course designed to meet common food safety training requirements and issue a food handler certificate upon completion.
- ANAB–CFP Accredited Food Protection Manager Certification (proctored exam) : A competency-based credential that’s administered in accordance with ANAB and Conference for Food Protection (CFP) standards and is accepted in many states that require a certified food protection manager.
- ANAB-Accredited Food Allergy Training : Food allergy awareness training offered as an ANAB-accredited course option.
If your job requires food safety training, the National Food Handler course mentioned above is the perfect option that checks the ANAB-accredited box.
Choosing an Accredited Program: What to Look For
When you’re comparing ANAB vs ANSI labels on training, it helps to slow down and check what kind of credential you’re getting. Here’s a practical checklist you can use, especially for food safety, alcohol service, and other regulated industries:
1) Accreditation Type: Certification vs. Certificate
These two terms look similar but mean different things. Certification is a competence-based credential (proves you can do a job to a defined standard). This is commonly tied to ISO/IEC 17024 accreditation for bodies that certify people. A certificate is proof that you completed training and met the learning outcomes/assessment requirements. This is commonly tied to ANSI/ASTM E2659-18 (and newer editions) for certificate programs.
2) Standards Used: ISO/IEC 17024 vs. E2659
Look for the specific standard named, not just a badge. For example:
- ISO/IEC 17024 is a standard for personnel certification bodies (competency-based programs).
- ANSI/ASTM E2659-18 is for certificate programs (training + assessment). Note: E2659 has been updated (E2659-24 is the latest), and ANAB has a transition plan for accredited organizations to demonstrate compliance with the newer version by a set deadline.
3) Industry Acceptance: Who will recognize it?
Ask: Will my employer, state, or local agency accept this? Accreditation helps demonstrate quality, but acceptance can still vary by state/local rules (common in alcohol server training and food handler requirements) and employer policies (some companies standardize on certain credentials).
A good program should clearly state where it’s intended to be used and what requirements it supports.
4) Renewal Requirements: Do you need to retake it?
Before you buy, check whether the credential expires (and how often) and whether renewal requires a refresher course, a new exam, or proof of continuing education. Requirements vary a lot depending on the credential type and jurisdiction.
5) Assessment Method: How do they verify learning?
Accredited programs typically emphasize clear learning outcomes and validated assessments. Practically, you’ll want to know:
- Is there an end-of-course exam?
- Is the exam proctored (remote or in-person)?
- Is there a skills demonstration or job-task evaluation (less common for online-only training)?
How ANAB and ANSI Accreditation Work Together
Think of ANAB and ANSI Accreditation like a two-part system:
- ANSI sets the framework: ANSI coordinates the U.S. private-sector standards and conformity assessment system and provides neutral oversight for how American National Standards are developed, including due-process expectations (like openness, balance, and consensus).
- ANAB performs program-level accreditation: ANAB is an owned subsidiary of ANSI that runs accreditation programs and evaluates organizations and programs against recognized requirements, like ISO/IEC 17024 (personnel certification bodies) and ANSI/ASTM E2659 (certificate programs).
This relationship helps ensure:
- Impartiality: Accreditation adds third-party oversight, so programs and certification bodies are evaluated against published requirements instead of self-verified claims.
- Alignment with ISO standards: ANSI serves as the U.S. voice in international standards organizations, and ANAB accredits to internationally recognized conformity assessment standards like ISO/IEC 17024.
- Global recognition: Because ANSI operates in the international standards ecosystem and ANAB’s accreditation programs operate across multiple countries (and for ISO/IEC 17024, ANAB emphasizes international recognition of the program), accredited credentials and programs can carry broader acceptance.
ANAB-Accredited Training with 360training
By now, the ANAB vs ANSI difference should feel a lot clearer: ANSI provides the standards' “big picture,” while ANAB focuses on accreditation. When you choose ANAB-accredited training, you’re choosing a credential backed by structure, oversight, and consistency.
That matters because the stakes are real. Food safety expectations, workplace policies, and local rules don’t leave much room for “close enough.” Accredited programs help employers feel confident that the training and assessments follow a recognized model and are built to meet audit-ready expectations.
Online training also makes it easier to stay compliant without rearranging your life because it’s self-paced and mobile-friendly while supporting regulatory training needs.
Many roles require proof of training, and ANAB-accredited options can help meet common employer and jurisdictional expectations (always confirm your local requirements if you’re unsure).
The National Food Handler Certificate is a great place to start if you’re looking for an ANAB-accredited option designed for food service teams who need quality training they can trust.
Start your ANAB-accredited training with 360training’s Learn2Serve today.
ANAB Accreditation vs ANSI Accreditation
The ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) provides accreditation and training services for a wide range of industry-specific certificate programs. Certification bodies (CBs) that display competence to audit and certify businesses adhering to management systems standards are evaluated and accredited by ANAB. Accreditation from a prestigious and respected organization such as ANAB, ensures the impartiality and competence of the CB and fosters confidence and acceptance of the CB's certifications by users in the public and private sectors.
According to ANAB, they accredit two types of personnel credentialing programs:
- Certification Program
Accreditation under the Certification Program is based upon ISO/IEC 17024 (Conformity assessment – General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons) or the Conference for Food Protection (CFP) Accreditation Standard for food protection managers.
- Certificate Program
Accreditation under the Certificate Program is based on ANSI/ASTM E2659-18, Standard Practice for Certificate Programs.
All candidates seeking ANAB certification accreditation as a certifying organization must adhere to ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015. A completed copy of the ISO/IEC 17021-1 Requirement Matrix is required from applicants.
ANAB is a wholly owned subsidiary of ANSI, registered as a separate legal entity and renamed the ANSI National Accreditation Board.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) currently administers accreditation programs for personnel certification agencies. In other words, ANSI “certifies the certifier” or is the “certification of a certification.” They are a third-party body that accredits quality and credible certifications to ensure fairness and transparency from companies.
Certification bodies tell companies what standards they need to meet to earn their marks to use after their name, but many certification bodies don’t go through that process themselves, so ANSI is there to “certify the certifier.”
The international standard (ISO/IEC 17011) serves as the foundation for the procedure followed by ANSI to accredit certification bodies. The ANSI process complies with the highest certification level and exemplifies best practices in accreditation, this is ensured by its strict adherence to a globally recognized accreditation process.
A completed ANSI certification serves as proof of compliance with the accreditation standard ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024. This certification is significant to its recipients because it confirms the recipient's distinction, from a reliable accredited program, in the industry the individual is pursuing. This certification can be obtained through a range of recognized programs, from oil and gas industry training to food handlers training programs. Employers, credential holders, recruiting managers, and industry leaders are the ones most interested in seeing this result for individual employees.
An ANSI certification is extremely valuable to attain for the following reasons:
- Reduced liability insurance cost due to the ANSI process of increased accountability and transparency requirements.
- It serves as a strong legal defense in the case of false allegations made against the certification holder.
- Many government agencies rely on this type of certification to assure that the program in question provides appropriate training.
- Lastly, these certifications are respected because they demonstrate to employers that the certification holder underwent a reliable assessment in their own ability to practice certain skills or expertise.
Moreover, to verify the information submitted by each applicant, the ANSI accreditation procedure includes both a review of a paper application and the completion of an assessment, including an on-site inspection. ANSI is the only organization that uses an on-site evaluation to accredit organizations that issue personnel certifications.
For more information about ANAB, refer to the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) website. For more information about ANSI, refer to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) website.
