You passed the ISO 45001:2018 Lead Auditor course, and now the real question is how to keep the credential working for you. CQI (the Chartered Quality Institute) and IRCA (its International Register of Certificated Auditors) certify auditors on a 5-year cycle, and the cycle rewards people who keep records as they go. This guide settles what you need to do, and when.

Do you get an IRCA auditor grade automatically after the ISO 45001 course?

No. Passing the course gives you a certificate of achievement, and you then apply to CQI IRCA for a grade.

The course satisfies the training requirement, and the grade depends on your audit experience. IRCA has 5 auditor grades: Associate Auditor, Internal Auditor, Auditor, Lead Auditor and Principal Auditor. The Associate Auditor grade needs no audit experience, so it suits you if you have completed the training but have not audited yet. If you have not applied yet, our guide to applying for CQI IRCA auditor grade membership walks through the steps.

What experience does the Lead Auditor grade need?

The Lead Auditor grade needs 7 management system audits totaling 35 days, with 25 days on site. At least 3 of those audits must be led by you as audit team leader. The audits must fall within 5 years of your application and after you passed an IRCA certified training course.

How long does CQI IRCA auditor certification last?

IRCA certification lasts 5 years, and then you recertify.

The clock starts when your grade is awarded, so it helps to note the expiry in your calendar on day one. Three milestones matter, and each has its own timing.

CPD records are sent every 5 years, but they are only easy to write if you keep them every year.

What do you need to do each year to keep your IRCA grade?

You pay the annual renewal fee and keep your auditing and learning records current.

Annual subscriptions are paid every year. CQI IRCA states that members send CPD records only when they recertify, not at each annual renewal. Even so, IRCA expects your grade to reflect ongoing work, so treat these as a yearly routine:

• Pay the annual renewal fee so that your membership stays in good standing.
• Update your audit log after every audit, with the type of audit, days, on-site days and your role.
• Add each learning activity to your CPD record while it is fresh.
• Keep evidence of your work experience, such as employer letters and audit reports you are permitted to share.

CQI IRCA sets the exact annual and recertification requirements by grade. Check your grade on the CQI IRCA recertification page before you plan your yearly routine.

What counts as CPD for an ISO 45001 auditor?

CPD is any activity that maintains and improves the knowledge and skills your grade requires, and IRCA wants you to show the impact on your work.

CQI IRCA moved from an input-based approach to an output-based approach. In practice, a list of hours attended matters less than what you learned and how it changed your auditing. The framework follows Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA), the same cycle you audit against in ISO 45001.

IRCA accepts both unstructured activities, such as private study, and structured programs, such as a transition training course. For an OH&S auditor, examples include reading new legislation, reviewing a revised standard, attending a technical webinar or preparing for a new audit sector. The numbers of CPD hours are not stated on the IRCA pages we reviewed, so confirm your grade’s expectations with CQI IRCA.

How should you record a CPD activity?

A useful CPD entry has 4 parts: what you did, what you learned, how you applied it and what you will do next. That last part is your “Act” step. One or two honest sentences per part are enough, and writing them the same week is far easier than reconstructing them 4 years later. Our steps to become a certified ISO 45001 Lead Auditor guide shows where CPD fits in the wider career path.

How does IRCA recertification work?

Recertification means updating IRCA on your experience and confirming that you are still active in the auditing profession.

IRCA describes recertification as applying when your certification is about to expire or has already lapsed. Most members are approached in the final year of the 5-year period, and you then have 6 months to respond. The process runs in 5 steps:

1. Watch for the recertification request in the final year of your certification period.
2. Gather your audit details from your audit log.
3. Prepare your CPD records, showing how each activity supported your grade.
4. Document your work experience for the period.
5. Submit everything within the 6-month window, then pay the annual renewal fee once recertification is complete.

IRCA charges no fee for recertifying, but the annual renewal fee is due after it is completed.

What happens if your IRCA certification lapses?

If your certification expired less than 5 years ago, you can return with an online form; after 5 years, you start a new application.

A new application means you again show the training and audit experience for your grade, so letting a grade lapse for years is costly. If you are close to the line, contact CQI IRCA promptly rather than waiting.

Can you upgrade your IRCA grade when you recertify?

Yes, and if you upgrade at the same time as recertifying, CQI IRCA charges no fee for the upgrade.

This makes recertification a good moment to check whether your audits now meet a higher grade, for example moving toward Lead Auditor after leading your first 3 audits. Bring the evidence you already collected, and use the guide to becoming an IRCA Lead Auditor to check the experience requirements first.

Frequently asked questions

Where 3FOLD Training fits

3FOLD Training is a CQI IRCA Approved Training Partner (ATP 6039853), licensed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai. The ISO 45001 Lead Auditor course is delivered as 40 hours of Virtual Instructor Led Training (VILT), with learning management system (LMS) access for recordings and mock exams, and you can check the next available batch on the course page. We prepare you for the exam; CQI and IRCA examine and certify. For the official rules on recertification, see the CQI IRCA recertification page.