The Governing Requirements for Certification Programs (GRs) are provided for identifying the activities required to demonstrate that the participating company’s management system fulfills the requirements for certification to the selected standard and other normative documents. The GRs provide for the administration of the audit program from application to certification. They also contain clarifications, explanations, and additional requirements to those found in the Standard of Certification Programs (AISC 207) and are also used to provide modifications to the Standard until a formal revision can be made.

The Governing Requirements for Certification Programs have been updated and took effect on June 15, 2025, for all participants and applicants. Please refer to our Bulletin 2025-01 for more information.

• Governing Requirements for Certification Programs
• Supplemental Requirements for Building Fabricators (BU)
• Supplemental Requirements for Bridge Fabricators (SBR, IBR, ABR)
• Supplemental Requirements for Highway Component Manufacturers (CPT)
• Supplemental Requirements for Fabricators of Hydraulic Steel Structures (HYD, HYDA)
• Supplemental Requirements for Erectors (CSE)
• Supplemental Requirements for Fracture Control Endorsement (FCE)
• Supplemental Requirements for Complex Coatings Endorsement (CCE)

The Governing Requirements for Certification Programs (GRs) provide for the administration of the audit program from application to certification, and they apply to every participant or applicant. The Supplemental Requirements are additional requirements that are tailored for a specific certification or endorsement. For example, a Certified Bridge Fabricator must adhere to the GRs and the Supplemental Requirements for Bridge Fabricators - similar to how they must meet the criteria of Chapter 1 & 4 of the Standard for Certification Programs.

The updated Requirements took effect for anyone having an audit on or after June 15, 2025, for both current participants and applicants. Auditors will then begin issuing Areas of Concerns (AOCs) for noncompliance with any new or updated criteria from the Requirements. QMC auditors use AOCs to inform you of recent changes to the Governing Requirements, the Standard, and/or other normative reference documents.

If the auditor issues an AOC, they will review the AOC at the following audit. If you do not effectively resolve an AOC before the next audit, the auditor will issue a Corrective Action Request (CAR).

The 2025 revision is not a complete revision of the Governing Requirements for Certification Programs (GRs) but does add important changes and updates including updated terminology as defined in the glossary below. Changes are noted in the Preface of the GRs. Each change is noted as either: New, Editorial, Revision, or Moved. 

The Governing Requirements for Certification Programs are published in May and take effect on June 15. They may also be amended periodically through bulletins. See our Bulletins page for the latest updates.

Please visit the Certification Resources page for a wide-range of quality-related resources to help streamline your quality management system. From a non-conformance worksheet to an entire guide of required, normative and beneficial, informative references, these tools will simplify your daily tasks and improve your overall quality.

Please contact us any time at either [email protected] or 312-670-7520.

We list your current principal, certification, A/P, and QA/QC contacts on your annual invoice. If one of these happens to change, you need to update your Company Profile Form, as stated in: 

PR 1.11: “AISC relies on email to communicate with Applicants and Participants. Any changes to contact information MUST be provided to AISC. See PR4.9 concerning Company Profile. It is the Participant/Applicant’s responsibility to ensure communications are being received.”

Use the Company Profile Form to notify us. Please remember you have to contact AISC Certification and Membership separately if any staff profile changes.