International Register of Certificated Auditors
Encyclopedia
The International Register of Certificated Auditors (IRCA) was formed in London
in 1984 as part of the British government's enterprise initiative, designed to make industry and business more competitive through the implementation of quality principles and practices. Over 30,000 auditors have been awarded professional certification
since 1984 and more than 120 countries are represented on the IRCA register.
This certification is designed for those who conduct internal audits of their organization's management system
This certification is designed for entry level/trainee auditors seeking a career in auditing and experienced auditors taking a break from auditing or moving into management
This certification is designed for audit team members
This certification is designed for audit team leaders who typically work for certification bodies or perform supplier audits for large organizations
This certification is designed for experienced auditors who operate on their own (i.e. as a team of one, performing sole audits). We designed this grade as an alternative to the lead auditor grade
These certified courses are designed for students needing a basic understanding of the requirements of a specific management systems standard. Suitable for people with little or no knowledge of the relevant standard
These certified courses are designed for students requiring the basic skills necessary to audit areas of their own organization's management systems
These certified courses are designed for students requiring all knowledge and skills necessary to interpret a management systems standard in the context of a second party supplier or third party certification audit
These certified courses are designed for experienced auditors wishing to audit in new contexts, against other management systems standards, by adding to their existing generic auditing skills and experience
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1984 as part of the British government's enterprise initiative, designed to make industry and business more competitive through the implementation of quality principles and practices. Over 30,000 auditors have been awarded professional certification
Professional certification
Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply certification or qualification, is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task...
since 1984 and more than 120 countries are represented on the IRCA register.
Mission
- Instill confidence in accredited certification world-wide by improving the performance of auditors
- Associate the IRCA name with integrity, best practice and adding value
- Promote auditing as a valued profession
- Provide an excellent administration service to all our stakeholders, which sets a benchmark for others to follow
- Improve the standard of auditors and auditor training
- Make IRCA certification available to all relevant organizations and individuals worldwide
- Promote best practice in auditing
Auditor Certification
IRCA offers five grades of certification:- Internal auditor
This certification is designed for those who conduct internal audits of their organization's management system
- Provisional auditor
This certification is designed for entry level/trainee auditors seeking a career in auditing and experienced auditors taking a break from auditing or moving into management
- Auditor
This certification is designed for audit team members
- Lead auditor
This certification is designed for audit team leaders who typically work for certification bodies or perform supplier audits for large organizations
- Principal auditor
This certification is designed for experienced auditors who operate on their own (i.e. as a team of one, performing sole audits). We designed this grade as an alternative to the lead auditor grade
Auditor Training
IRCA approved training organizations offer certified training courses based on a wide range of management systems standards and industry sectors:- Foundation courses
These certified courses are designed for students needing a basic understanding of the requirements of a specific management systems standard. Suitable for people with little or no knowledge of the relevant standard
- Internal auditor courses
These certified courses are designed for students requiring the basic skills necessary to audit areas of their own organization's management systems
- Lead auditor courses
These certified courses are designed for students requiring all knowledge and skills necessary to interpret a management systems standard in the context of a second party supplier or third party certification audit
- Conversion auditor courses
These certified courses are designed for experienced auditors wishing to audit in new contexts, against other management systems standards, by adding to their existing generic auditing skills and experience
Certification Programs
IRCA has the following personnel certification programs:- Corporate Auditor (complies with ISO 17024)
- Quality (ISO 9000ISO 9000The ISO 9000 family of standards relates to quality management systems and is designed to help organizations ensure they meet the needs of customers and other stakeholders . The standards are published by ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, and available through National...
) - TickITTickITTickIT is a quality-management certification program for software development, supported primarily by the United Kingdom and Swedish software industries through UKAS and SWEDAC respectively....
- Aerospace (AS 9100)
- Maritime Safety Management Systems
- Environmental (ISO 14001)
- Information Security (ISO 27001)
- Information Technology Service Management (ISO 20000ISO 20000ISO/IEC 20000 is the first international standard for IT service management. It was developed in 2005, by ISO/IEC JTC1 SC7 and revised in 2011. It is based on and intended to supersede the earlier BS 15000 that was developed by BSI Group....
) - Business Continuity (BS 25999BS 25999BS 25999 is BSI's standard in the field of Business Continuity Management . This standard replaces PAS 56, a Publicly Available Specification, published in 2003 on the same subject.-Structure:...
) - Occupational Health & Safety (OHSAS 18001)
- Social Systems (SA 8000)
- Sustainability Assurance Practitioner (AA 1000)