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IAQG Authentication Information

Advancement grandfathering based on 9104/3:2020

This page defines third-party auditor authentication requirements based on the authentication level, according to time-limited grandfathering criteria based on 9104/3:2020. The requirements in this document apply to advancement.

In response to auditor and stakeholder feedback resulting from Resolution 176, IAQG Authentication will offer a time-limited opportunity for auditors to apply for authentication advancement using criteria derived from 9104/3:2020.

See Also: Initial Authentication Grandfathering based on 9104/3:2007 Criteria

What is “advancement”?

Section titled “What is “advancement”?”

Advancement allows auditors with an active Level 2 authentication to achieve Level 1 authentication via criteria based primarily on AQMS audit experience. This is an alternative to the work experience requirements associated with Level 1 initial authentication criteria.

Once available, eligible applicants may apply via the IAQG Training & Authentication website. A $500 USD Application Fee will apply. (Learn about the Application Process.) This advancement opportunity will be available for a limited time.

Requirements for advancement from Level 2 to Level 1 based on 9104/3:2020 Criteria

Section titled “Requirements for advancement from Level 2 to Level 1 based on 9104/3:2020 Criteria”

NOTE: This is a preview of future time-limited requirements; application availability expected in mid-November 2026.

The following table defines the requirements for applying for advancement from 9100 Level 2 to 9100 Auditor Level 1 (third-party lead auditor/audit team leader) based on 9104/3:2020 criteria:

Requirement Criteria
Audit Experience Evidence of:
- At least three years as an Level 2 Auditor (previous AA designation) conducting AQMS (9100) audits;
- A minimum of 30 on-site 3rd party AQMS (9100) audit days (excluding planning and report writing), in each of any 3 consecutive years; and
- A minimum of four 3rd party QMS (ISO 9001 or derived) audits leading a team, in a team leader role.
Work Experience Evidence not required
ASD Industry Knowledge Successfully achieve a full pass grade on the related IAQG ASD Knowledge Examination. (Temporarily paused until 2027 Authentication Year.)
Additional Requirements Disclosure of any performance issues or concerns raised in the previous 3 years.

NOTE: Auditors may never conduct third-party AQMS audits for which they are not already authenticated.

Prepare in Advance

Section titled “Prepare in Advance”

Auditors interested in this opportunity are encouraged to review the criteria carefully and begin gathering the documentation needed to demonstrate that the applicable requirements have been met.

Clarifications and FAQs

Section titled “Clarifications and FAQs”

Are there are any additional restrictions/constraints regarding the QMS and AQMS experience requirements?

Section titled “Are there are any additional restrictions/constraints regarding the QMS and AQMS experience requirements?”
  • AQMS third-party audit days must be on-site and reported audit days must exclude planning and report writing.
    • This would include Stage 2, Surveillance, Recertification, and Special Audits performed on-site. (Stage 1 audits will not be counted.)
    • These are third-party audits performed in an Audit Team Member role, aligned with existing Level 2 authentication.
    • Applicants must report sufficient audit experience in each of any 3 consecutive years to meet requirements.
    • Audit experience may be subject to additional verification in OASIS, as needed.
  • For 9100 applicants, QMS (ISO 9001 or derived) audits must be third-party audits performed leading a team in a Lead Auditor role.
    • These are QMS audits, not AQMS (9100) audits. Only Level 1 authenticated auditors may only perform AQMS audits in a lead role.

All audit experience is subject to experience verification requirements.

Beyond this, there are no additional restrictions/constraints for these Grandfathered Advancement criteria. For instance, there is no requirement that AQMS audits be “full AQMS audits” or that they must demonstrate full AQMS clause coverage in this case, as these are AQMS third-party audits performed in a Team Member Role. Applicants for these criteria will NOT be required to upload a Audit Clause Correlation Matrix.

What are the requirements for the witnessed audits (9110 only)?

Section titled “What are the requirements for the witnessed audits (9110 only)?”

One witnessed audit is required by the grandfathered Level 1 Advancement criteria for 9110. The purpose of the witnessed audits is to verify that the auditor has sufficient knowledge of aerospace requirements. This is considering both the auditor’s ASD industry specific knowledge and their ability to audit 9110 requirements appropriately.

Please review below for further important clarifications:

About the audit conducted
The auditor shall be witnessed while serving as an Audit Team Member in a 9110 third-party audit. As the auditor is not yet authenticated as a Level 1 Auditor, the auditor SHALL NOT perform in a lead role in an AQMS third-party audit. The auditor is being witnessed in their current capacity as a 9110 auditor, reflecting their current authentication.

  1. The auditor must participate for the full duration of the audit. As this will be a third-party 9110 audit performed as an audit team member, this participation could exclude any functions only performed by the Lead Auditor.
    1. If Level 2 and participating as a third-party audit team member, the auditor would be a “full participant” in the team. For example, if this were a four-day audit with a two-person audit team, the auditor would be expected to perform two audit days.
  2. The witnessed audits must also be listed in the “Audit Experience” section of the related IAQG Authentication application.

NOTE: The requirement for grandfathered advancement is for a “complete audit,” aligned to the “full duration” requirement above, but as this is necessarily in a team member role, this does not require coverage of all processes or clauses of the standard. For 9110 organizations, there is no requirement to include Clause 8.3 Design & Development.

About the witnessing auditor
The auditor witnessing the audit must meet the following criteria:

  1. They must NOT be a member of the audit team. (They are only there to witness the applicant.)
  2. They must be an actively authenticated Level 1 auditor qualified either via the 9104/3:2007 Work Experience criteria, or IAQG Authentication Level 1 criteria. This means that the witnessing auditor must NOT, themselves, have been qualified via the “9104/3:2007 Training/Witness Audits” criteria.

Required documented information
If, upon completing the witness audit, the witnessing auditor agrees to recommend the witnessed auditor for Level 1 authentication, the witnessing auditor shall provide documentation of their recommendation to the applicant, and this documentation shall be provided to IAQG Authentication as part of the submitted application. Documentation must include:

  1. The witnessing auditor’s full name
  2. The witnessing auditor’s OASIS Identification Number (OIN)
  3. The witnessing auditor’s contact information (at a minimum, email address & phone number)
  4. The start and end dates of the witnessed audit
  5. The company and location of the witnessed audit
  6. A statement attesting that, having witnessed the applicant conducted the listed AQMS audit, the witnessing auditor recommends the applicant for IAQG Level 1 Authentication for the specified standard.

IAQG Authentication reserves the right to contact the witnessing auditor as needed to verify witness audit details and results.

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