This blog will provide you with information on everything you need to know about ISO certification for individuals. ISO certification for individuals is a great way to demonstrate ISO awareness to employees at all levels. ISO certification for individuals is also a great ISO training methodology to prepare employees of an ISO-certified organization to apply ISO standards in their day-to-day work. ISO certification for individuals can be a helpful ISO tool to recognize the ISO training investment you have made in your employees and demonstrate ISO commitment across your organization.
Can an Individual get ISO Certification for a Specific ISO Standard?
The simple answer to this question is no. A person cannot be granted certification for a particular standard such as ISO 9001. Rather, the certification is granted to a firm or organization by a certification body. ISO certification for individuals can be issued upon successful completion of training courses, such as ISO 9001 lead auditor training.
ISO Certification vs. ISO Training Certification
The terms ISO certification and ISO training certification are often used interchangeably; however, the two terms are quite different from each other. ISO certification refers to organizations being awarded certification by a certification body based on meeting requirements for an ISO standard, such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001. The certification bodies require these organizations to prove they have a proper ISO quality management system in place by reviewing the necessary documentation and conducting internal and external audits. Upon successful completion of these extensive audits, the certification body will issue ISO certification.
ISO training certifications, on the other hand, refer to ISO certification for individuals issued to candidates who attend courses for ISO lead auditor, lead implementer, internal quality auditor, and awareness training programs. These training programs are designed to enable participants to get familiarized with ISO standards in order to help their organizations implement these ISO standards.
ISO Certification for Individuals: Training Programs
ISO training programs aim to increase ISO awareness and improve ISO knowledge among individuals who work within an organization. ISO certification for individuals will enable them to take part in the ISO certification process for their organizations and support their ISO certification applications throughout the audit cycle. ISO certification for individuals is provided by third-party certification bodies. The following are some of the training programs offered by certification bodies to provide ISO certification for individuals:
Types of ISO Certification for Individuals
ISO Lead Auditor Training: This type of ISO certification for individuals aims to enable candidates to conduct third-party audits to help an organization achieve ISO certification. ISO lead auditor training helps candidates understand audit methodologies through practical exercises and become competent in managing an audit program, audit team, customer relations, and conflict resolution. This form of ISO certification for individuals is recommended for:
- Auditors who want to conduct and lead third-party external audits of Quality Management Systems (QMS)
- Managers and consultants who want to learn the auditing process for a Quality Management System
- Individuals who are in charge of ensuring that the QMS is implemented.
- Technical experts preparing for a QMS audit
- Quality Management Expert Advisors
ISO Lead Implementer Training: Participants in the Lead Implementer training course will get the expertise needed to assist a business in efficiently planning, deploying, administering, monitoring, and maintaining a quality management system as per ISO standard requirements. This form of ISO certification for individuals enables candidates to develop and maintain ISO quality management system documentation, tools, and procedures. It also enables them to lead a team of ISO consultants and ISO auditors. This type of ISO certification for individuals is applicable for:
- Expert advisors striving to master the implementation of a QMS
- Project managers and consultants participating in and concerned with the deployment of a QMS
- Individuals in charge of ensuring that an organization’s quality management needs are met.
- Implementation team members for a QMS
Internal Auditor Training: ISO internal quality auditors are responsible for reviewing the organization’s ISO management system in compliance with ISO standard requirements. This type of ISO certification for individuals provides candidates with practical skills they can use to conduct ISO audits for their own organization. ISO certification for individuals who have completed ISO internal quality auditor training will be able to understand ISO standard requirements thoroughly, conduct risk-based internal audits, track audit results, identify ISO process improvement opportunities, and conduct corrective actions. This type of ISO certification for individuals is recommended for:
- Executives and managers within an organization
- Representatives from management
- Consultants in Quality Management Systems
- Those who want to take higher-level courses, such as Lead Auditor courses.
ISO Foundation & Awareness Training: ISO awareness training aims to increase ISO knowledge and commitment within the organization by promoting a better understanding of ISO standards and their benefits. This program is designed to improve ISO quality, environmental health and safety, and customers satisfaction levels in organizations where ISO standard implementation is required. ISO certification for individuals who have completed ISO awareness training will be able to improve customer satisfaction levels through ISO standard implementation, identify ISO process improvement opportunities, and apply ISO standards in their day-to-day work. This type of ISO certification for individuals is recommended for:
- All employees of an organization that is implementing ISO standards
- Representatives from management
- Internal auditors of QMS
- QMS Consultants who are already on the job
An ISO certification for individuals is issued upon successful completion of any ISO training program.
Benefits of ISO Certification for Individuals
The ISO certification for individuals enables companies to implement ISO standards at all levels of their organization. ISO certification for individuals will enable organizations to improve ISO quality, environmental health and safety, and customer satisfaction levels. Candidates who complete ISO training programs also gain the following benefits:
- Full Training Coverage: ISO training programs help candidates understand ISO International Standards and ISO implementation best practices.
- Practical Knowledge: ISO certification for individuals will help candidates learn from ISO experts and gain practical knowledge they can apply at their own workplaces.
- Real-world Experience: ISO training programs provide a real-world environment where candidates can develop ISO implementation skills through case studies, joint discussions, role plays, etc. ISO training programs also help candidates apply ISO standards in their day-to-day work.
- Certification Benefits: ISO certification for individuals is recognized worldwide and will provide employees with the authority to implement ISO standards at their workplaces. It demonstrates an individual’s ISO awareness level, ISO knowledge, ISO commitment, ISO implementation expertise, and ISO leadership skills.
As clarified earlier, ISO certification and ISO training are two different processes. Organizations that wish to get ISO certified should consider attending ISO training courses prior to applying for ISO certification in order to obtain sufficient knowledge and expertise about the ISO management systems. ISO training courses should be taken into consideration as part of an ISO awareness strategy implemented by organizations to meet ISO requirements.
The Bottom Line: ISO certification for individuals should be considered only when you want to further your technical skills or when you want to support your organization in its ISO certification journey. In short, ISO certification for individuals is valuable to both you and your organization. ISO certification for individuals can help you grow your ISO knowledge and apply your ISO expertise at your organization. It will also provide organizations with ISO awareness, ISO implementation skills, and ISO leadership abilities.
Please contact us for more information on ISO certification for individuals or visit our ISO certification for individuals frequently asked questions page!
