ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Training

Module 3   ISO 9001 Quality Management System Audits 

3.9  RAB/QSA Accreditation Program
Many countries operate their own auditor registration scheme and most of them have entered into ‘memorandum of understanding’ arrangements with other countries for mutual recognition.

At the highest level, the quality management business is governed by national, governmental, semi-government or trade association bodies. In the USA, it is the Registrar Accreditation Board.

See Figure 3.9

ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Training - The RAB accredit the Registrars to an ISO standard called Guide 62. Registrars certify organizations to ISO quality management systems. The process is called registration, because it involves listing successful companies in a public register of registered companies.

Customers demand that suppliers provide assurance of product quality through quality system registration. On the training side, the same bodies such as the RAB, accredit training organizations.

ISO 9000 Training - The IATCA (International Auditor and Training Registration Association) was formed to facilitate the international recognition of registered quality management system auditors.

3.9.1 RABQSA/IATCA Criteria for QMS Auditor Registration
In the USA, the RABQSA program registers three types of auditors: (QMS-PA) quality management system provisional auditor, (QMS-A) quality management system auditor, and (QMS-LA) quality management system lead auditor, each with its own set of qualification requirements.

The purpose of auditor registration is to provide assurance that auditors possess the necessary qualifications to audit quality systems against recognized standards. Other reasons are to improve the consistency of audits, while establishing the competency, integrity, and proficiency of auditors.

ISO 9000 Lead Auditor Training - In order to overcome hurdles in recognizing auditors registered in other countries, the IATCA auditor registration program was established. The IATCA program does not have a provisional category and its lead auditors are referred to as Senior Auditors.

To become a RABQSA registered Auditor, an individual must meet certain criteria.

These include the following:
• Education
• Work experience
• Quality experience
• Auditing experience
• Managing audits
• Communication skills
• Training and examination
• Maintenance of proficiency

3.9.1.1   Education
• Bachelor’s, Associate, or Secondary
• More education; less work experience
• Diploma or equivalent documentation

3.9.1.2   Workplace and Quality Experience
• Must demonstrate current experience
• Bachelor’s requires at least 4 years
• Associate’s must have at least 6 years
• Secondary needs at least 8 years
• Two of last four years in “QA” activities
• Submit resume as objective evidence
• Identify up to 6 fields of experience

3.9.1.3   Training
• Complete an RAB accredited training course
• Pass a test on auditing basics and ISO 9001
• Course provider’s course satisfies RAB requirements
• Apply for RAB registration within 3 years

3.9.1.4  Audit Experience for QMS-Auditor:

ISO 9001 Auditor Training - All five audits for the QMS-LA grade must be performed as the lead auditor. At least two of the overall audits (for QMS and QMS-LA grades) must be “witnessed” by a registered QMS-LA (with one of the two audits with the applicant performing as the lead auditor). 

3.9.1.5  Nature of Audit Experience
• Must be full audits for initial registration
• Audits must include an evaluation report
• Audits can be 2nd or 3rd party audits
• 1st party audits must be independent of own QMS
• Offsite time limited to 1 day per onsite day
• ISO 9001 or other acceptable quality system standard
• List audit details and verification names  

All of these requirements are spelled out in detail on the RABQSA website

"Understanding ISO 9001" provides a detailed explanation of each ISO 9001 clause (requirements).

ISO 9001 FAQ provides answers to commonly asked questions about the ISO 9000 family of quality management standards.