Payment Network Certification

Payment network certification is the formal testing that a card network or payment scheme requires before a system may connect to it or a product may go live. Acquirers and processors must show that their authorisation, clearing and settlement messages follow the network's specifications; issuers must prove that their cards and host systems handle transactions correctly; and terminal makers must have devices approved for chip and contactless acceptance, typically through EMV testing via EMVCo and the networks' own brand tests. Security approvals, such as PCI PIN Transaction Security for terminals, are separate but often run in parallel. Certification is usually repeated when software changes, when networks release new rules, or when a new card product launches, and it can take weeks or months. Fintech programmes often rely on a certified processor or BIN sponsor to avoid certifying themselves. Also see payment network rules and EMV chip.