# IAF CertSearch Release - August 19, 2024

## <mark style="color:red;">Release Highlights</mark>

{% hint style="warning" %}
Changes to the Certification Template apply to **Accreditation Bodies, Certification Bodies, and Multination Certification Bodies.**
{% endhint %}

### Certification Template Updates

* #### Release Version 2.1 of the Certification Template includes:

  * New fields for Technical Sectors, where a sector can be defined and managed at a certification level.

  <table><thead><tr><th width="194">Field Name</th><th width="198">Required/Optional</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Certification Identity Number</strong></td><td><a data-footnote-ref href="#user-content-fn-1"><mark style="color:red;">Required when adding a certification sector</mark></a></td><td>A Certification Identity Number (CIN) is essential for linking a certificate to its respective certification sector. Without a CIN, the system cannot assign the certificate to the appropriate sector.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Sector Name</strong></td><td><em>Optional</em></td><td>Represents a specific industry or area of economic activity.<br><br><em>example:</em> Agriculture, forestry and fishing</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Sector Code</strong></td><td><em>Optional</em></td><td>Numerical or alphanumerical code assigned to a sector for identification and classification purposes.<br><br><em>example:</em> 1</td></tr></tbody></table>

***

### Excel Template

&#x20;If you are using an Excel file to upload your certification data, please read the latest update below:

* New sheet tab: **Certification Sector**

<figure><img src="https://553712605-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FC7J1fASt4YMMm1gBrI1F%2Fuploads%2Fd7qB8zZqNsKMGJqCmeUS%2Fexcel-certification-sector.png?alt=media&#x26;token=619ec9f7-de03-4168-ab69-12559124e30b" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### XML Template

&#x20;If you are using an XML file to upload your certification data, please read the latest update below:

*Note: The technical sector fields are optional*&#x20;

```xml
   <certification_sectors>
      <certification_sector>
         <sector_name></sector_name>
         <sector_code></sector_code>
      </certification_sector>
   </certification_sectors>
```

### **API**

&#x20;If you are using API to upload your certification data, please see below:

* [Certified Entity API v2](https://support.iafcertsearch.org/api-developer-guide/api-integration/certification-body-apis/v2/certified-entity-api)
* [Certification API v2](https://support.iafcertsearch.org/api-developer-guide/api-integration/certification-body-apis/v2/certification-api)

***

### Download the latest certificate template version:

{% hint style="info" %}
**Rule: Handling sectors' data**

The system provides a list of acceptable sectors that can be processed. \
View the list here: [**IAF CertSearch Sectors**](https://support.iafcertsearch.org/accreditation-bodies/iaf-certsearch-data-structure/iaf-certsearch-dataset/technical-sectors)\
\
\&#xNAN;*If you use a sector not included in the IAF CertSearch Sectors, you will need to perform data mapping.*
{% endhint %}

Review and download updated templates by account type:

* **Accreditation Bodies**, [view template ](https://support.iafcertsearch.org/accreditation-bodies/data-management/import-certification/certification-file-templates)
* **Certification Bodies,** [view template](https://support.iafcertsearch.org/certification-bodies/data-management/import-certification/certification-templates)
* **Multination Certification Bodies,** [view template](https://support.iafcertsearch.org/mncb/data-management/data-import/certification-file-templates)

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