Recommended minimum requirements for initial certification

GRADE GENERAL WORK SCHEME SPECIFIC AUDITOR TRAINING AUDITING EXPERIENCE

EXPERIENCE WORK EXPERIENCE
Provisional 4 years full-time 1 year IRCA certified foundation course and IRCA-certified internal n/a
Internal Auditor auditor training course
Or
Relevant IRCA-certified auditor/lead auditor training course

Internal Auditor 4 years full-time 1 year IRCA certified foundation course and IRCA-certified internal - 5 internal audits of at least 3 hours
auditor training course - Covering all elements of the audit cycle
Or - Not including areas of business in
Relevant IRCA-certified auditor/lead auditor training course which auditor performs

Provisional 4 years full-time 2 years IRCA certified auditor/lead auditor course n/a
Auditor Or
Relevant IRCA-certified auditor/lead auditor conversion
course (if auditor/lead-auditor in another scheme)

Auditor 4 years full-time 2 years IRCA certified auditor/lead auditor course - 4 full management system audits
Or - All elements of audit cycle
Relevant IRCA-certified auditor/lead auditor conversion - 20 days, of which at least 15 onsite
course (if auditor/lead-auditor in another scheme)

Lead Auditor 4 years full-time 2 years IRCA certified auditor/lead auditor course As for Auditor, above
Or PLUS
Relevant IRCA-certified auditor/lead auditor conversion - 3 full management system audits as
course (if auditor/lead-auditor in another scheme) leader of an audit team,
- 15 days, of which at least 10 onsite
Principal Auditor 8 years FT relevant At least 6 years or more as an IRCA Lead Auditor (or acceptable alternative)
to the auditor Or
scheme Submission of evidence of three years full-time employment as a management systems auditor with an accredited
certification body
Or
Demonstrable and significant evidence of contracted third-party audits.