There is now a new and revised certification of IRCA’s auditor registration criteria in place. After listening at length to feedback from registered auditors about how to make improvements, the new criteria should simplify the process for certification making it much more straightforward and easier to understand.
The first major change concerns Principal Auditors. Previously there were three routes to Principal Auditor grade, each with separate criteria, leaving the definition of Principal Auditor unclear. Requirements for certification were also complex, with one route not requiring audits and with requirements for renewal complicated by different routes. Under the new system, there is one set of criteria for Principal Auditor and one definition of what Principal Auditor means, giving simplification and greater clarity about the grade. Principal Auditors will no longer have to submit audits. Instead, to obtain certification to this grade, a long history of conducting audits needs to be demonstrated. Having six years of certificated work as a Lead Auditor or three years working as a Lead Auditor with a certification body is the new criteria.
The reasoning behind this change is that Principal Auditors should be highly experienced Lead Auditors. Some candidates will no longer be conducting audits on a regular basis as they may have moved into other areas such as senior management. When such a high level of experience in auditing has been reached, it is highly unlikely that the skill and understanding of auditing will be lost. In maintaining ability and effectiveness as an auditor it is seen as more important to keep up to date with changes in standards and technical matters as a means of applying auditing ability effectively. However, Principal Auditors are still advised to submit evidence of audits they have conducted to support their application.
The other major change is in CPD. Formerly, CPD was very input focused with no weighting, and guidance was very limited. The focus is now more on output with an increased maximum number of 20 hours unstructured CPD. Areas, types, focus and approach are now all better defined as a means to further support auditors. What knowledge and skills have been gained is deemed to be more important than how that knowledge or skills have been obtained. CPD continues to play a key role in maintaining auditor competence across both the 3rd party certification industry and industry-employing auditors at large.
