Introduction to ISO 9001 Lead Auditor:
Under the Chartered Quality Institute & the International Register of Certificated Auditors (CQI IRCA), there are five (5) auditor grades namely (Associate Auditor, Internal Auditor, Auditor, Lead Auditor, and Principal Auditor) and 13 schemes amongst which QMS, EMS, and OHSMS are most requested for. In this article, we will focus on the ISO 9001 Scheme, and the Lead Auditor grade and will provide the step-by-step processes on how you can become ISO 9001 Lead Auditor of the Quality Management System. Read also, How to become ISO 14001:2015 EMS Lead Auditor and How to become ISO 45001:2018 OHSMS Lead Auditor.
Requirements to become ISO 9001 Lead Auditor
Keep in mind that anyone can become ISO 9001 lead auditor with training and audit experience. It begins with attending the CQI IRCA Certified ISO 9001 training course and obtaining the certificate of achievement by successfully passing the continuous evaluation and the online final examination. This is a mandatory requirement as the journey to becoming a certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor begins here! Refer to table 1 below for ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor requirements.
Table 1: Lead Auditor Requirements
Learning |
Auditing Experience |
|
You must have attended the CQI IRCA Certified ISO 9001:2015 QMS Lead Auditor training, passed the examination, and received the certificate of achievement. Note: Certificate of Achievement must be obtained from an institute that is an Approved Training Partner (ATP) of CQI IRCA. E.g 3FOLD Training |
To become a Lead Auditor, you must first satisfy both auditor and lead auditor grade requirements. Auditor GradeYou must have successfully completed a minimum of four management system audits which encompass all elements of the audit cycle with a minimum of 20 days and 15 days on-site. Lead Auditor GradeYou must have led an auditing team in conducting at least 3 full quality management system audits with a minimum of 15 days and 10 days on-site. Note: Audits must have been conducted after passing the IRCA certified training course and must be within 5 years of your date of the membership application. |
Required processes to become ISO 9001 Lead Auditor:
To become ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, here are the basic steps that you need to take:
1. Enroll in an Approved Training Partner (ATP) of IRCA
2. Undergo a 40-hour training as convenient for you (see upcoming batches)
3. Successfully complete course continuous evaluation and the final online exam
4. Receive your Certificate of Achievement
5. Begin your auditing experience and ensure to keep your audit log
Where can you get the CQI IRCA Certified ISO 9001 Training?
To ensure that you receive an authentic and IRCA approved certificate of achievement, you must attend the ISO 9001 lead auditor training at an Approved Training Partner (ATP) of IRCA. 3FOLD Training is a CQI IRCA Approved Training Partner. Enroll at 3FOLD Training and gain the skills and confidence you need to excel in your career. 3FOLD provides world-class training materials, including pre-course reading, video lessons, prior knowledge quiz, delegate manual, case study, and recording sessions to help you comprehend the course and develop skills needed to conduct 1st 2nd, and 3rd-party audits of the quality management system.
How much does it cost to apply for the CQI IRCA Lead Auditor Grade Membership?
The CQI IRCA Lead Auditor Grade Membership fees are different from country to country. To see the application fees for your country, visit CQI IRCA Lead Auditor Grade Membership fees, select your country and click on the find button. Refer to figure 1.
Conclusion:Â
Becoming an lSO 9001 lead auditor is easily achievable through our guidance. The first thing you need to do is to ensure that you have the requirements, then follow the due process. ISO 9001:2015 QMS Lead Auditor training is now conducted online in a 100% live virtual interactive class which means that you can attend from the comfort of your home or office. All you need to do is ensure that you have a good working device (phone, tablet, or laptop) and a stable internet connection.Â
Delay no further and become ISO 9001 Lead Auditor! Contact us today through the contact us form, email, or WhatsApp, we are here to guide you.
