For the purpose of accreditation, inspection is defined as the examination of a product, design, service, process, plant, material, component, or assembly to determine conformity with specific requirements or, on the basis of professional judgment, general requirements. Inspection of processes includes personnel, facilities, technology and methodology that make up the process. The results of inspection may be used to support certification.

A2LA recognizes the close relationship between inspection, sampling, testing and measurement, yet understands that inspection includes a variety of activities not covered in testing laboratory accreditation. Different but related requirements are needed. A2LA is committed to using the latest international standards and so uses as the general requirements for this program ISO/IEC 17020: 1998, General Criteria for the Operation of Various Types of Bodies Performing Inspection. A2LA interpretations of this Standard are taken from the IAF/ILAC-A4: 2004 - Guidance on the Application of ISO/IEC 17020. Added requirements deemed necessary to clarify issues related to the use of the A2LA-Accredited symbol on inspection reports and the relationship of inspections versus tests and measurements that may be involved as part of the inspection process are also included.

Accreditation is based on the assessment of the performance of an inspection body including procedures, staff competence and reporting. It is available to all types of inspection bodies including in-house services. A2LA acknowledges that some user organizations may choose to accept only inspections conducted by third party (independent) bodies. It is up to such organizations to decide which accredited inspection bodies they will accept.

An inspection body can be an organization, or part of an organization, but must be discretely identifiable in order to be accredited. An inspection body engaged in testing, measurement or sampling work may apply for accreditation for its work as a laboratory concurrently with its application for accreditation for inspection or add some simple tests to its inspection scope.

A2LA welcomes applications for the accreditation of all types of inspection work. The following are examples of work for which accreditation may be sought:

- Agricultural products
- Bulk cargoes (e.g. coal, iron ore, petroleum)
- Cargoes in containers and packages
- Cast products
- Cranes
- Electrical equipment
- Foods
- Forged products
- Mechanical equipment
- Pipelines
- Protective coatings
- Rolled products
- Structures (e.g., concrete, steel, timber)
- Textiles
- Welding