RJC Certification: Step-by-Step Guide for 2026

RJC membership is the starting point, not the certification. The RJC certification process is a scoped, independent audit pathway. Treating membership as the finish line can leave teams unclear about which entities, sites and standards need to be assessed.

The pathway combines scope definition, internal preparation, audit evidence and a certification decision. Different standards apply to different activities: the Code of Practices (COP) 2024 is the foundational mandatory standard, Chain of Custody (CoC) is voluntary, and the Laboratory Grown Material Standard (LGMS) applies to members handling lab-grown materials. New members must achieve COP certification within two years of joining.

This guide takes you from membership and scope definition through preparation, independent audit and the final decision. You’ll learn how to identify the relevant standard and entities, organise records and personnel, and respond methodically if nonconformities are identified. A clear plan helps your organisation prepare for each stage.

What the RJC Certification Process Means for Your Jewellery Business

Before choosing an RJC route, map what your business does and what customers expect you to demonstrate. List the products and materials you handle, the functions you perform, the sites involved and the business relationships that shape your supply chain. This gives you a practical basis for defining the certification scope, rather than selecting a standard by name alone.

The RJC certification process independently assesses an organisation’s conformity with an applicable RJC standard within a defined scope. The requirements and evidence considered depend on the selected standard and the parts of the organisation included. Since RJC standards and audit rules can change, confirm the current requirements and version for your route before planning an assessment.

Is RJC membership the same as RJC certification?

No. Membership means joining the Responsible Jewellery Council. Certification is a separate outcome based on assessment against an applicable standard. Membership alone doesn’t demonstrate that a business holds a current certificate. New members must achieve Code of Practices certification within two years of joining, but the certification decision still depends on the assessment and applicable rules.

Keep the two statuses distinct in internal plans and external communications. Confirm which standard applies, define the organisational scope and establish what the assessment will cover. A certificate relates to a specific standard and scope, not automatically to every site, activity or business relationship connected to a company.

Which organisations should consider the RJC pathway?

Jewellery and watch businesses involved in relevant supply-chain activities may consider the pathway when customer requests, sourcing commitments or stakeholder expectations make responsible business practices and independent assurance important. A customer may request evidence, for example, or an organisation may want a clearer framework for managing its operations and supply-chain responsibilities. These are planning considerations, not claims that every buyer or market imposes the same requirement.

Start by listing operating sites, business functions and relationships that could affect the assessment scope. Distinguish design, sourcing, manufacturing, trading and retail activities, and note which locations carry them out. This map helps you locate relevant processes and records and identify scope decisions that need careful attention.

This guide focuses on the RJC pathway, rather than comparing RJC with alternative schemes. Organisations assessing separate social assurance needs can review social accountability audits provided by International Associates Limited. This is a distinct service, not a substitute for RJC certification.

RJC Certification Process: The Main Steps from Scope to Audit

The RJC certification process follows a clear sequence, but its precise requirements depend on current RJC rules, the selected standard and the organisation’s scope. The main steps are to identify the need, set the scope, prepare evidence, complete an independent assessment, address findings and receive a certification decision.

• 1. Identify the need. Clarify what certification should demonstrate and which customer, sourcing or stakeholder expectations it needs to address.
• 2. Define the scope. Map the relevant legal entities, locations, activities and supply-chain roles. Then use current RJC guidance to determine whether COP, CoC or LGMS applies.
• 3. Prepare. Review applicable requirements, assign process owners and organise records that show how relevant activities are managed in practice.
• 4. Complete the assessment. An independent auditor gathers and evaluates evidence against the requirements for the selected standard and scope.
• 5. Address findings. Respond to identified nonconformities through the applicable correction and review process.
• 6. Receive the decision. The audit report informs the certification decision, which is made through the relevant process under current RJC rules.

Your organisation is responsible for accurately defining its activities, providing access to relevant information and addressing findings. The auditor independently assesses conformity and reports the results. A certification decision-maker reviews the assessment outcome under the applicable process. International Associates Limited provides independent assessment services to support organisations through the RJC audit pathway. These roles are distinct: an audit report is not itself a certificate.

How do you select the standard and define the audit scope?

Build a scope map before preparing for the audit. Record the legal entities, operating locations, functions and supply-chain roles involved. Then match the assurance you need to the applicable standard, COP, CoC or LGMS. Handling laboratory-grown materials, for example, may affect which standard applies. Treat the map as a starting point and review scope boundaries against current RJC guidance.

What happens during the independent RJC audit?

The auditor assesses relevant evidence, which may include records, interviews with personnel and observation of operational activities. The aim is to determine whether applicable requirements are met within scope. Staff should be ready to explain how procedures work, and records should reflect actual operations. The assessment format and duration depend on the applicable rules and scope, so don’t assume a single schedule or audit format.

RJC’s wider sustainability context is reflected in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs profile, which describes how its work can contribute to the UN 2030 Agenda. This provides context for the standards. Certification, however, is a specific assessment against applicable requirements, not a guarantee of broader outcomes.

RJC COP vs COC vs LGMS: Choose the Certification Route That Fits

The standards serve different purposes, so the right route depends on your activities and the assurance you need. The Code of Practices (COP) is the foundation for RJC certification. Chain of Custody (CoC) is voluntary and focuses on traceability for specified precious metals. The Laboratory Grown Material Standard (LGMS) applies to RJC members handling laboratory-grown materials. A business may need to assess more than one standard, but the standards are not interchangeable and not every organisation needs all three.

For 2026, the current versions are COP 2024 and CoC 2024. COP is mandatory for RJC audits, and LGMS is mandatory for RJC members handling laboratory-grown materials. When setting your scope, confirm the current RJC requirements and applicability guidance. The relevant boundaries depend on your organisation’s activities.

When should a business assess the Code of Practices?

Assess COP as the foundational standard in the RJC pathway. To define a workable scope, connect your business activities, locations and relevant stakeholder expectations to the current COP requirements. Before building an audit plan, use the applicable RJC guidance to confirm the version, boundaries and exact requirement wording. Don’t rely on a broad description of the standard alone.

When should a business assess CoC or LGMS?

Consider two separate questions: do your activities involve gold, silver or platinum group metals in a way that fits current CoC guidance, and does your organisation handle laboratory-grown materials covered by LGMS? Review each standard against the materials, processes and sites involved. Your answers help determine whether either route is relevant alongside COP in your RJC certification process.

How to Prepare for an RJC Audit and Manage Findings

Effective preparation makes your organisation’s actual operating practices clear and verifiable. Gather evidence for the standards and scope that apply, assign personnel who understand the relevant processes, and arrange access to in-scope sites and records. Current records that show how work is managed are more useful than documents created only to satisfy an audit.

Audit readiness means being able to show, consistently and at each in-scope location, how documented processes operate in practice. Check that policies match operational records, staff explanations and observed activities. The RJC certification process depends on evidence assessed against applicable requirements, not on the volume of paperwork assembled.

What evidence should teams organise before the audit?

Organise evidence by applicable requirement and make it easy to trace from policy to implementation. The precise records depend on the selected standard and scope, but teams can prepare by grouping:

• Current policies and procedures that describe relevant commitments, responsibilities and controls.
• Operational records showing how those controls have been used in practice.
• Process ownership by identifying personnel who can explain the work, records and escalation routes they manage.
• Site and scope information so the audit team can access relevant locations, functions and evidence.

Check for consistency across applicable entities and sites. If a procedure is shared across locations, confirm that records and staff accounts reflect how it is applied locally. Brief employees on the assessment purpose and their roles, but don’t script answers. Clear, accurate explanations are more useful than rehearsed responses.

What happens if an auditor identifies a nonconformity?

First, make sure you understand the finding in relation to the applicable requirement and evidence. Then follow the response and closure process set by current RJC rules. A considered response generally involves investigating the underlying cause, determining corrective action, assigning responsibility and retaining evidence that the action has been implemented. Document the evaluation and response rather than relying on informal assurances.

Deadlines, closure evidence and the effect of unresolved findings on certification depend on current RJC rules and the applicable standard. Don’t assume one response method or timetable applies to every finding. Keep a clear record of actions and communications so progress can be reviewed through the required process.

For independent assessment support, arrange an RJC audit with International Associates Limited.

After the RJC Audit: Certification Decision and Ongoing Responsibilities

Completing an audit doesn’t itself grant certification. The audit report records the assessment outcome, while a separate certification decision follows review against applicable RJC requirements. The decision depends on the evidence, scope and any findings, not simply on the audit having taken place.

Under the current RJC process, certificates are issued by audit firms and are valid for three years. Mid-term reviews are also required. The applicable standard and scope determine what the organisation must demonstrate, so track current RJC rules and dates. The audit report alone does not define ongoing responsibilities.

When is an RJC certificate issued after the audit?

After the assessment, the audit outcomes are reviewed through the applicable certification decision process. Open findings may affect the route to a decision, so follow current RJC rules for responding to and closing them. Certification isn’t automatic, and timing depends on the review and any required follow-up. Don’t plan around a fixed turnaround unless it has been established for the specific assessment.

After a positive decision, the certificate records the applicable certification and scope. Review its details so internal teams understand which entities, locations and activities it covers. Don’t treat the certificate as evidence for activities or sites outside its defined scope.

How can organisations maintain RJC certification?

Certification requires continued attention throughout its validity period. Keep a record of the certificate’s scope and validity, monitor changes to applicable RJC requirements, and plan for required mid-term reviews and recertification under the current cycle. If your organisation changes its sites, activities or supply-chain roles, assess whether those changes affect the scope or applicable requirements.

Assign responsibility for tracking review dates, maintaining evidence and communicating relevant updates across the organisation. This helps ensure conformity is managed as part of ongoing operations, not only in preparation for an assessment.

International Associates Limited provides independent RJC assessment services globally. Its regional presence across Europe, Asia and the Middle East supports organisations operating across markets, with audit administration supported by modern IT infrastructure. Consider RJC certification with International Associates Limited as your next step in planning an independent assessment.

Set Your RJC Assessment Plan in Motion

A sound RJC certification process starts with a clear scope, the applicable standard and evidence that reflects how your business operates. Membership and certification are distinct, as are the audit report and certification decision. Preparing process owners, records and sites in advance helps your organisation approach each stage with clarity.

International Associates Limited provides RJC certification and independent assessment services, with a UK headquarters in Glasgow and regional offices across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Its audit processes are supported by modern IT infrastructure. To define your assessment scope, discuss your RJC certification assessment with the team.

A carefully scoped assessment gives your organisation a practical foundation for preparation, responding to findings and planning ongoing responsibilities. Independent assessment support can help you move through the process with a clear view of each stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the RJC certification process take?

The process from application to audit typically takes 6-12 months, although your organisation’s scope, readiness and audit findings can affect the schedule. Allow time to map entities and sites, prepare evidence, complete the independent assessment and respond to findings. The certification decision follows assessment and review, so the application-to-audit estimate isn’t a guaranteed certificate date.

Which RJC standard should a jewellery business choose?

Choose based on your activities and the assurance you need. The Code of Practices (COP) is the foundational mandatory standard for RJC members. Chain of Custody (CoC) is voluntary and addresses traceability of gold, silver and platinum group metals. The Laboratory Grown Material Standard (LGMS) applies to RJC members handling laboratory-grown materials. Use current RJC guidance to determine applicability and scope.

What happens during an RJC certification audit?

An independent auditor assesses evidence against the requirements that apply to the selected standard and organisational scope. The assessment can involve reviewing policies and operational records, interviewing personnel and examining relevant activities. Ensure responsible staff can explain how procedures work in practice and that evidence reflects actual operations. Audit arrangements depend on applicable RJC rules and the scope being assessed.

Can a business apply for more than one RJC standard?

A business may need to assess more than one standard if its activities make multiple routes applicable. COP provides the foundational certification route, while LGMS applies to members handling laboratory-grown materials. CoC may be relevant to organisations seeking traceability assurance for specified precious metals. These standards aren’t interchangeable. Use current RJC guidance to establish which requirements and scope apply to your operations.

What happens if an RJC audit identifies nonconformities?

The organisation must follow the applicable RJC process to understand and address each nonconformity. This generally involves reviewing the underlying cause, defining corrective action, assigning responsibility and retaining evidence of implementation. Unresolved findings can affect the route to a certification decision. Deadlines, closure requirements and certification implications depend on current RJC rules, so track them against the specific assessment and standard.

How often does RJC certification need to be renewed?

An RJC certificate is valid for three years, and mid-term reviews are required. Track the certificate’s scope and expiry date, monitor relevant standard updates, and plan for required follow-up and recertification under current RJC rules. The timing and activities depend on the applicable standard and certification cycle. Completing the initial audit doesn’t remove the need for ongoing assessment.