IRCA Registration
Introduction
In the UK, the certification of internal auditors of quality systems, is controlled by IRCA, the International Register of Certificated Auditors and is administered by the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI). The scheme commenced on 1st January 1993 and sets standards of competence and integrity for those wishing to register themselves as trained auditors, by including assessments of their abilities, including the co-ordination and controlling of audit work undertaken by themselves and teams under their leadership. The scheme aims to upgrade the standard of auditing and ensure that only trained and demonstrably competent personnel are involved in the auditing of quality systems.
To become registered under the scheme, candidates have to demonstrate the required levels of skill, qualifications and experience. Communication skills, education, company training, work experience and audit experience are just some of the aspects considered. In addition, candidates must show that they have completed appropriate training courses which have been approved by the International Register of Certificated Auditors.
The QMS 2000 Scheme
To meet the requirements of ISO9001:2000 and ISO19011:2002, IRCA has a certification structure with 6 grades:
QMS 2000 Internal Auditor
QMS 2000 Provisional Auditor
QMS 2000 Auditor
QMS 2000 Lead Auditor
QMS 2000 Principal Auditor
QMS 2000 Internal Auditor
You should consider this grade if you conduct internal audits of your organisation’s QMS. In most cases you will not be a full time auditor, and you may only audit a few times a year, but you will have a good understanding of quality management systems and how they add value within your own organisation.
Because internal auditing is only part of your work, IRCA does not require the same level of qualification and experience as for some of the other grades.
Certification to this grade is valuable to you in the same way as with other qualifications that recognise your competence. It is valued by your employer not only as an indicator of your competence, but also because it supports your organisation’s ISO9001:2000 management system.
Summary of certification requirements for this grade:
• Education- At least secondary education
• Work Experience- Five years, (or 4 years with a degree or near degree)
• One year’s quality work experience Auditor Training
• An IRCA certified ISO9001:2000 Foundation course or accepted alternative
• Successful completion of an IRCA certified ISO9001:2000 Internal QMS Auditing course or accepted alternative Auditing Experience
• Five audits totalling at least 15 hours
QMS 2000 Auditor/Lead Auditor
These grades are primarily for people who are involved in conducting audits on other organisation’s quality management systems. You may or may not be a full time auditor but these grades give credibility to the audits you perform by demonstrating to the auditee organisation that you have achieved a recognised standard in auditing.
Auditors for all grades agree to be bound by the IRCA code of conduct.
Certification Procedure
Application for certification may be made by all persons who meet the specified criteria and who can support their application with documentary evidence (eg of training, audits carried out, etc). Applications may be submitted directly to the IRCA, or through a Registration Agency, on forms obtained from the Secretariat.
All registered auditors are required to maintain a log of their involvement in quality system audits in a prescribed format and keep records of any additional training completed after registration. Auditors must inform the Secretariat of any change of employer or private address. This objective evidence is to be made available on request by the IRCA.
All communications, correspondence, documentation, interviews and presentations in support of any application must be in English or accompanied by a certified translation of the originals - particularly where foreign language qualification certificates are concerned.
The scheme is governed in accordance with English law and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
Application Forms may be obtained from IRCA by post or may be downloaded from the web-site www.irca.org.
A detailed explanation of the certification criteria is contained in IRCA’s document IRCA/602 and is available from IRCA (see address details) below.
An application pack and current fee scales can all be obtained directly from:
IRCA
PO Box 25120
12 Grosvenor Crescent
London
SW1X 7ZL
Tel: +44(0)20 7245 6833
Fax: +44(0)20 7245 6755
Website address: www.irca.org