A few points......
A cal lab can be ISO registered under 9K.....however, that is insufficient level of rigor for accreditation.....some customers only need the 9K, but most that would require an external oversight require accreditation, which means 9K is a good beginning but only that.
Now, accreditation means ISO/IEC 17025, under either the 1999 or 2005 version, depending on the accrediting body's transition schedule for its accredited labs.
No, 17025 accreditation is NOT - REPEAT NOT - the same as A2LA.....A2LA is ONE accrediting body operating in North America.....oh, they also are not the first, there are two other U.S. based accrediting bodies that are older.....IAS (the older of those two) and NVLAP.
IF YOU ARE SEEKING ACCREDITATION - or about to - then talk to ALL the recognized accrediting bodies in North America before deciding on one. Get quotes from all to include estimated number of assessor days, total cost (except maybe for expenses), renewal options, and so forth. So who to ask?
International recognition:
IAS
NVLAP
A2LA
SCC/CLAS (Canada)
EMA (Mexico)
NACLA (basically U.S. only) recognition:
L-A-B
ACLASS
Hope this helps.
Hershal