Regarding ISO/IEC 17021-1 cl. 7.2.4:
The initial competence evaluation of an auditor shall include the ability to apply required knowledge and skills during audits, as determined by a competent evaluator observing the auditor conducting an audit.
A CAB states that the initial competence of the auditor concerns the first qualification including witness of the auditor regardless at which CAB this has been achieved. So for example: CAB 1 has initially witnessed and qualified the auditor. When the auditor moves to a different CAB 2, this CAB 2 can qualify the auditor without witnessing this auditor.
How shall the “initial competence” be interpreted:
Option A: The ‘initial competence’ including the mandatory on-site observation is related to the auditor itself
Option B: The ‘initial competence’ including the mandatory on-site observation is related to the CAB. So the CAB has to observe every new auditor for the CAB on-site regardless the auditor having a qualification at a different CAB.
September 2024
Answer is Option B :
The initial competence evaluation is related to the CAB.
ISO/IEC 17021 Cl. 7.2.4 also requires the CAB to provide training. In case of a change of auditor to a new CAB, this should at least be the training on the MS and the applicable documents of the CAB to be used in the audit process.
Monitoring during his first audit is required to authorize the auditor for the assigned area of competence.
It is the responsibility of the employing CAB to ensure the auditor’s competence, ability to apply required knowledge and skills during auditing, regardless of whether this auditor has been previously qualified by another CAB.
It is noted that for the initial qualification, the requirements of cl. 7.1.2 and 7.1.3 should be considered as well.