Different levels of CQI IRCA Auditor Grade membership

Understanding CQI IRCA Auditor Grade Membership

Before looking at the different CQI IRCA Auditor Grade membership levels, it is useful to understand two key terms that are frequently used on the journey to becoming a certified auditor:

1. Scheme
2. Grade

A certification scheme identifies the area in which you are seeking auditor certification, while the grade represents the auditor membership level.

What Are CQI IRCA Certification Schemes?

IRCA has various certification schemes. Three popular schemes covered in this article are:

• Quality — ISO 9001
• Occupational Health and Safety — ISO 45001
• Environment — ISO 14001

Choosing a certification scheme depends on your work experience and the course you have completed.

For example, if you work in the field of occupational health and safety and have completed an ISO 45001 OHSMS Lead Auditor Course, the natural selection would be the Occupational Health and Safety — ISO 45001 certification scheme.

What Are the Different CQI IRCA Auditor Grades?

The CQI IRCA Auditor Grade membership levels covered in the original article are:

1. Associate Auditor
2. Internal Auditor
3. Auditor
4. Lead Auditor
5. Principal Auditor

Once you understand the difference between a certification scheme and an auditor grade, the next step is deciding which grade you should work towards.

How Do You Choose a CQI IRCA Certification Scheme?

Choosing the certification scheme is relatively straightforward because it depends on your work experience and the course you have completed.

For example, someone working in occupational health and safety who has completed an ISO 45001 OHSMS Lead Auditor Course would naturally consider the Occupational Health and Safety — ISO 45001 certification scheme.

Your professional field and completed course therefore help determine the relevant certification scheme.

Which CQI IRCA Auditor Grade Should You Choose?

Choosing the auditor grade requires a different decision.

You may need to consider two questions:

1. Should you apply directly for Associate Auditor Grade after completing the course?
2. Should you wait until you have gained sufficient auditing experience and then apply for a higher-level auditor grade?

There is no single right or wrong answer to these questions in the approach described in the original article.

The decision can depend on how frequently you conduct audits as part of your work.

Scenario 1: You Perform Audits Frequently

If your full-time job involves auditing — whether first-party, second-party, or third-party auditing — or you perform audits frequently, one approach is to gain sufficient audit experience before applying for a higher auditor grade.

You could then apply for the Auditor, Lead Auditor, or Principal Auditor Grade Membership after gaining the required auditing experience.

If auditing is a regular part of your work, you may be able to accumulate the required Lead Auditor Grade audit experience within a shorter period.

Scenario 2: You Perform Audits Occasionally

If auditing is only a part-time responsibility and you do not conduct audits frequently, another approach is to apply for the Associate Auditor Grade after completing the course.

This allows you to become part of the IRCA Auditor Registry while continuing to develop your auditing experience.

As you gain additional audit experience over time, you can work towards upgrading your membership.

Lead Auditor Course and the Five-Year Period

The original article states that the Lead Auditor course is valid for five years from the date of completion when applying for different IRCA Auditor Grade Membership levels.

It also states that if five years have passed, you will need to attend the Lead Auditor course again.

CQI IRCA Auditor Grade Membership: Summary

CQI IRCA auditor membership involves understanding both the certification scheme and the auditor grade.

The certification scheme relates to your professional field and the course you have completed. The examples covered in this article are:

• ISO 9001 — Quality
• ISO 45001 — Occupational Health and Safety
• ISO 14001 — Environment

The auditor grades covered are:

• Associate Auditor
• Internal Auditor
• Auditor
• Lead Auditor
• Principal Auditor

If auditing is a frequent part of your work, you may choose to gain sufficient audit experience before applying for a higher grade.

If you perform audits less frequently, you may choose to begin with the Associate Auditor Grade and work towards upgrading your membership as you gain auditing experience.