About Accreditation Partners Incorporated

Our Mission

Accreditation Partners Incorporated exists to strengthen trust in American commerce. We do this by providing businesses with an independent, credible, and transparent certification that communicates operational legitimacy to clients, supply-chain partners, and institutional buyers. Our mission is not consumer protection - it is business-to-business credentialing: giving commerce the clear signals it needs to move faster and with greater confidence.

In a marketplace crowded with self-reported claims and unverified badges, the CCert seal represents something different - an independent assessment conducted by trained reviewers who have no stake in the outcome.

Our History

Accreditation Partners Incorporated was founded in 2009 by a coalition of twelve business leaders spanning manufacturing, logistics, professional services, and finance. The founding board identified a structural gap in the American business ecosystem: while product standards bodies (such as UL, NSF, and ANSI) provided rigorous testing for goods, no comparable framework existed to credentialize the businesses behind those goods.

The organization launched its first certification program in 2010 with 47 charter applicants across six states. By 2015, the CCert registry had grown to more than 800 active certifications across 30 states. As of today, more than 2,400 businesses in 48 states carry an active CCert designation, with thousands more in the application pipeline.

Our Process

Every certification begins with a formal application in which the business discloses its legal name, registered address, EIN, and operational history. Our review team independently verifies each claim against public records, state registrations, and third-party data sources. No certification is issued on the basis of self-reported information alone.

Higher certification tiers require progressively more rigorous review. Silver-level applicants must provide documentation of product certifications, country-of-origin compliance, and current liability insurance. Gold applicants undergo a structured virtual interview with ownership and a comprehensive examination of business history, third-party reviews, and accreditation standing. Platinum applicants are subject to a two-day on-site visit by a pair of senior reviewers and must agree to periodic unannounced compliance spot-checks during their certification period.

Certifications are issued for three-year terms and must be renewed through a streamlined re-verification process. Certifications may be suspended or revoked at any time if material discrepancies are identified.

Independence & Impartiality

Our independence is the foundation of our value. Accreditation Partners Incorporated does not accept contingency fees, equity arrangements, or advertising revenue from businesses in our certification program. Our review staff are prohibited from holding financial interests in any applicant company and are required to disclose conflicts of interest before any review assignment.

Certification decisions are made by a panel process, never by a single reviewer, and applicants have the right to appeal any adverse determination to the Standards Review Committee within 30 days of notification. We do not publish the reasons for denial in the interest of legal neutrality; however, general guidance is always available to applicants who wish to strengthen a future application.

Our Team

Accreditation Partners Incorporated is governed by an independent Board of Directors composed of professionals with backgrounds in auditing, supply-chain management, legal compliance, and entrepreneurship. Day-to-day operations are led by a Chief Certification Officer and a team of regional review coordinators located across the United States.

Our review staff includes former auditors, industry-specific subject matter experts, and trained verification specialists. All reviewers complete a mandatory certification program developed in conjunction with our Standards Review Committee before conducting independent assessments.

Why Certification Matters

Business credentialing reduces friction across the entire commercial ecosystem. When a buyer or institutional partner can confirm at a glance that a vendor carries an active CCert designation, the vendor screening process is shortened, contract negotiations move faster, and disputes over representations and warranties are less frequent. For smaller businesses competing against larger incumbents, a Platinum or Gold certification provides a credible, third-party signal that levels the playing field.

Beyond individual transactions, certification promotes accountability and continuous improvement. Businesses that commit to third-party review tend to invest more in documentation, compliance, and operational consistency - qualities that benefit their employees, customers, and communities alike. We believe that raising the general standard of business conduct in America is not just good for commerce; it is good for everyone.