IECEE CB Scheme Testing and Certification

The process is straightforward and in simple terms, consists of the application by you, the testing by the CBTL, a review of the test report by the NCB, and finally, the issuing of the certificate.

1. Submit an application to the Element NCB or the Element CBTL where you want testing completed.  
2. The NCB confirms the choice of CBTL for testing. 
3. Provide product samples and documentation to the CBTL. 
4. CBTL tests your product to the relevant standard. 
5. CBTL sends the test report to the NCB. 
6. NCB reviews the report and issues the CB certificate. 
7. Use the CB certificate to get local certifications in other countries, or for direct market access.  

CB certificates don't expire, but they are typically accepted by most regulatory authorities for 3 years from the issue date. Updates may be needed if there are design changes or updates to the relevant standards.

No. In addition to the member countries of the IECEE, CB certificates can also provide direct market access into some countries. Whilst the scheme was originally intended as a mutual recognition agreement between members, now only one third of all CB certificates (about 40,000 in 2024) are used to directly obtain a certification mark from an IECEE member body. The other two-thirds of CB certificates (approximately 80,000) are used for direct market access, for government driven regulatory compliance, for non-IECEE certification marks, or in business-to-business agreements.

CB certification is a full third-party test and assessment process to internationally agreed standards and testing rules. This differs from CE/UKCA which only use standards to support the essential requirements of the EU directive or regulation. Hence a CE/UKCA test report or certificate may not cover all of the requirements of the standard – something that can be problematic outside of the EU/UK. While separate from CE/UKCA marking, CB certification often covers most of the essential safety requirements for these marks, and hence CB test reports with a CENELEC national differences section will support your technical file for CE/UKCA Declaration of Conformity.

The IEC or International Electrotechnical Commission is a standards organization that sets global standards for electrical, electronic, and related technologies. It promotes safety, efficiency, and reliability to support international trade and sustainable development. The IEC works with 88 member countries and thousands of experts to create voluntary international standards and offer globally accepted conformity assessment schemes (IECEE, IECEx, IECQ and IECRE)

The IECEE CB Scheme is an international system for mutual acceptance of test reports and certificates dealing with the safety of electrical and electronic components, equipment, and products. It allows manufacturers to access global markets without costly and time-consuming repeating of tests in each country. It operates under the IEC’s conformity assessment system.

The acronym CB Scheme stands for “Certification Bodies’ Scheme”.