# Certification File Templates

To successfully import Certification data into IAF CertSearch, you need to know about the following:

### Learn about the Certification data structure

{% content-ref url="../../iaf-certsearch-data-structure/certification-fields-glossary" %}
[certification-fields-glossary](https://support.iafcertsearch.org/accreditation-bodies/iaf-certsearch-data-structure/certification-fields-glossary)
{% endcontent-ref %}

### Downloadable Templates <a href="#learn-about-the-cb-data-structure" id="learn-about-the-cb-data-structure"></a>

To successfully import your certification data into the IAF CertSearch database, the data must be formatted in the provided templates.&#x20;

### Latest version - Summary <a href="#download-templates" id="download-templates"></a>

> version number: 2.1
>
> Release note: [IAF CertSearch Release - August 19, 2024](https://support.iafcertsearch.org/iaf-certsearch-releases/system-updates/iaf-certsearch-release-notes/iaf-certsearch-release-august-19-2024)
>
> Release Summary: New fields for Technical Sectors, where a sector can be defined and managed at a certification level.

<table data-card-size="large" data-column-title-hidden data-view="cards" data-full-width="false"><thead><tr><th></th><th data-hidden></th><th data-hidden></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="files"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p>Download template: <a href="https://f1.iafcertsearch.org/assets/t/ab/2.1/ab_certs.xlsx">version 2.1</a></p><p><br><strong>Excel Help Guides</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://f1.iafcertsearch.org/assets/t/ab/2.1/sample_ab_certs.xlsx">View Excel Sample</a></li><li><a href="certification-file-templates/manage-data-in-excel">How to manage certification data in Excel</a></li><li><a href="certification-file-templates/excel-general-rules">Excel General Rules</a></li></ul></td><td><a href="https://f1.iafcertsearch.org/assets/t/2.3/ab_cbs_sample.xlsx">View Excel Sample</a></td><td></td><td><a href="https://907136775-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FtxznoqtwGklxZjbTzUrS%2Fuploads%2FJ3MUzJ0wnlTwJS9xBf7K%2F%5Bfile-type%5D-excel.png?alt=media&#x26;token=5278a342-a237-4124-8b51-a2c9d54d4e4b">[file-type]-excel.png</a></td></tr><tr><td><p>Download template: <a href="https://f1.iafcertsearch.org/assets/t/ab/2.1/ab_certs.xml">version 2.1</a></p><p><br><strong>XML Help Guides</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://f1.iafcertsearch.org/assets/t/ab/2.1/sample_ab_certs.xml">View XML Sample</a></li><li><a href="certification-file-templates/manage-data-in-xml">How to manage certification data in XML</a></li><li><a href="certification-file-templates/xml-general-rules">XML General Rules</a></li></ul></td><td></td><td></td><td><a href="https://907136775-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FtxznoqtwGklxZjbTzUrS%2Fuploads%2FXTFwyZj8k5sd2sHbJq9v%2F%5Bfile-type%5D-xml.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c2e3c37a-21fd-475a-b5aa-cdac1201c1be">[file-type]-xml.png</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

#### Previous versions

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Excel Templates" %}
EXCEL previous template versions

<table><thead><tr><th width="219">Templates</th><th width="314">Release notes summary</th><th>Sample Data</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://f1.iafcertsearch.org/assets/t/ab/2.0/ab_certs.xlsx">Download version 2.0</a></td><td><p>Includes new <strong>Certified Entity</strong> fields where Certified Entity data can be managed independently.</p><ul><li>Data fields are used to manage the entity's business registered address.</li><li>Ability to add multiple main sites</li><li>Renamed <strong>"Certification Additional Site"</strong> tab to <strong>"Certification Sites"</strong></li><li>The addition of a flexible scope and <strong>Main Site Full Address</strong> field, to accommodate countries that have different address formats can utilized.</li></ul></td><td><a href="https://f1.iafcertsearch.org/assets/t/ab/2.0/sample_ab_certs.xlsx">view sample data</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://f1.iafcertsearch.org/assets/t/ab/1.1/ab_certs.xlsx">Download version 1.1</a></td><td>Add Company Identifiers such as TAX ID, Company ID, and Business Registration Number are added to enrich the integrity of the Entity data.</td><td><a href="https://f1.iafcertsearch.org/assets/t/ab/1.1/ab_certs_sample.xlsx">view sample data</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://f1.iafcertsearch.org/assets/t/ab/1.0/ab_certs.xlsx">Download version 1.0</a></td><td>N/A</td><td><a href="https://f1.iafcertsearch.org/assets/t/ab/1.0/ab_certs_sample.xlsx">view sample data</a></td></tr></tbody></table>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="XML Templates" %}
XML previous template versions

<table><thead><tr><th width="206">Templates</th><th width="314">Release notes summary</th><th>Sample Data</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://f1.iafcertsearch.org/assets/t/ab/2.0/ab_certs.xml">Download version 2.0</a></td><td><p>Includes new <strong>Certified Entity</strong> fields where Certified Entity data can be managed independently.</p><ul><li>Data fields are used to manage the entity's business registered address.</li><li>Ability to add multiple main sites</li><li><p>Renamed:</p><p>&#x3C;certification_additional_sites><br>&#x3C;/certification_additional_sites> to<br>&#x3C;certification_sites><br>&#x3C;/certification_sites></p></li><li>The addition of a flexible scope and Main Site Full Address field, to accommodate countries that have different address formats can utilized.</li></ul></td><td><a href="https://f1.iafcertsearch.org/assets/t/ab/2.0/sample_ab_certs.xml">view sample data</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://f1.iafcertsearch.org/assets/t/ab/1.1/ab_certs.xml">Download version 1.1</a></td><td>Add Company Identifiers such as TAX ID, Company ID, and Business Registration Number are added to enrich the integrity of the Entity data.</td><td><a href="https://f1.iafcertsearch.org/assets/t/ab/1.1/ab_certs_sample.xml">view sample data</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://f1.iafcertsearch.org/assets/t/ab/1.0/ab_certs.xml">Download version 1.0</a></td><td>N/A</td><td><a href="https://f1.iafcertsearch.org/assets/t/ab/1.0/ab_certs_sample.xml">view sample data</a></td></tr></tbody></table>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}