Accreditation check: What it is and how to conduct it properly

Accreditation checks (ACs) are a critical process for industries that prioritise security, trust and compliance, such as aviation, security and government sectors. Knowing what an AC is and how to conduct it can be an important part of a security cleared role.

What is an accreditation check?

An AC is a detailed background check that is required for anyone seeking airside passes for UK airports. It’s designed to mitigate insider threats to national security, while allowing personnel to be airside unescorted in order to carry out their responsibilities.

Lack of awareness of ACs can lead to compliance issues and businesses must be aware that data needs to be continually provided, even after the check is completed. Failure to do so can lead to the clearance only being valid for 12 months instead of five years.

Why accreditation checks are essential

The importance of accreditation checks in industries like security, aviation or the government can’t be overstated in terms of security and compliance. Since January 2022, these enhanced background checks have been mandatory for airside passes to be issued.

Proper accreditation can prevent legal and operational challenges, enabling the smooth running of operations through visibility on the status of individuals. Once the security vetting process has been completed, those with AC status can obtain an Airport Identification Card or UK Air Carrier Crew Identification Card.

Steps to conduct an accreditation check

Conducting accreditation checks is only done by the UK government, with the experts at IDGateway processing them. The easiest way to complete these checks and maintain accreditation check compliance is through the VettingGateway online platform.

Here’s how:

• Create an account with VettingGateway to access the ​​IDGateway background checking experts, who are the only company to offer an end-to-end solution for ACs.
• The automated tools will help you collect references, apply for criminal record checks and conduct Avsec training.
• This information is then collated into a background check, identity check and Aviation Security training (GSAT) accreditation.
• Apply for the AC to the UK government via AirportGateway, which is integrated with VettingGateway, meaning it takes just one click.
• Manually check for updates on the status of your application.
• Once completed, your AC means you can apply for an airside pass.
• Ongoing submission of data is required to remain valid.

Common mistakes to avoid

Making mistakes during the accreditation process can have a number of consequences. These include delaying the results or ending up with an incorrect accreditation status, but a check which is undertaken on the platform that uses automated tools helps to cut the chances of going wrong.

• Avoid any inaccuracies in the information you submit by checking it several times.
• Don’t leave your AC to the last minute, as it will take at least five days to be processed and longer if there are any errors.
• Ensure everything from your employment history to your references are in order, so the checks are straightforward.