Ten Questions and Answers Every Auditor Must Read When Starting

1. What is an auditor?

Simply put, an auditor is a person who reviews and evaluates the production or management processes of an organization. Generally, there are two types: one is an internal auditor, who audits their own organization's work. Such a person only needs authorization from the organization, with no strict threshold; they should be able to create forms, write reports, and understand their organization's production processes and quality management, and can basically handle the job. The second type is an external auditor, who is responsible for auditing other organizations' work and represents certification bodies to conduct audits, known as "third-party audits." After passing, they can issue ISO certification certificates. These certificates play a key role in some international trade and bidding projects, so the role of external auditors is crucial and must remain honest and impartial.

Internal auditors are generally appointed by the organization's leadership from personnel related to quality management within the organization. They can only audit their own organization, do not need to take exams or register, and do not necessarily need certification to work (if certification is required, it can be obtained through training). External auditors, however, are subject to a national registration system. They must first take the nationwide qualification exam organized by CCAA (China Certification and Accreditation Association). After passing the exam, they must find a certification body to affiliate with and register before becoming auditors and engaging in specialized certification audit work.

2. What are the categories of auditors?

According to years of experience and level, auditors can be divided into trainee auditors (newcomers) and auditors (experienced).

According to the audit content, auditors are divided into different systems. The most common are the three entry-level systems: ISO9001 Quality Management System, ISO14001 Environmental Management System, and OHSMS 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System auditors. There are also highly sought-after special systems such as ISO 50001 Energy Management System, 50430 Construction Quality Management System, IPMS Intellectual Property Management System, ISMS Information Security Management System, ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System, IATF16949 Automotive Industry Quality Management System, etc. Other systems are not listed here one by one; detailed information can be found in the "Exam Camp" section of this public account's menu.

3. How do auditors work?

Basically, it can be summarized as traveling around + auditing + writing reports. Since auditors need to visit different company sites, business trips to various locations are inevitable. Sometimes they spend more than 20 days a month away from home, staying in hotels is normal. Writing reports is also an essential skill for auditors; the key to whether an organization can obtain certification depends on the auditor's report. Although the work is quite demanding, auditors generally receive proper care, respect, and often some extra income. Moreover, organizations applying for certification usually have certain strength and scale, so auditors can directly engage with the core frontline projects and environments, see the most confidential and cutting-edge business secrets, and discuss the latest business ideas with top company leaders. These experiences and gains are hard to get from any other job.

4. How is the income of auditors?

Auditors' income is usually calculated by multiplying the average daily wage by the number of audit days. Whether full-time or part-time, the longer the working time, the higher the income. The average daily wage for conventional single systems such as quality, environment, and occupational health and safety is 100-200 yuan per person-day, with a monthly average of about 4k-5k yuan. For the three systems, it is 400-500 yuan per person-day, with a monthly average of about 10k-15k yuan. Special systems pay much higher; for example, the 50430 construction field audit is about 700 yuan per person-day, with a monthly average up to 20k yuan. The ISMS Information Security Management System can reach an annual income of 300,000 yuan, and the 16949 automotive industry annual income is around 500,000 yuan.

5. What is the development prospect of auditors?

Auditing is a globally recognized profession. As long as there is foreign trade, auditors are needed. Moreover, this profession, like doctors and teachers, becomes more valuable with age; the more auditing experience one has, the higher the skill level and income. Currently, China has become the country issuing the most ISO system certificates worldwide. With the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security's reforms in the auditing industry this year, raising the industry threshold will also enhance the social status and value of auditor qualifications.

6. Who is suitable to be an auditor?

Industries such as industry, agriculture, manufacturing, and services all need auditors. Overall, there are no very strict industry restrictions. However, current demand mainly focuses on manufacturing, construction, and production processing industries. Therefore, if you are in science or engineering and work in production or manufacturing fields, congratulations, you are very suitable.

7. What conditions are required to become an auditor?

First is the educational requirement, followed by work experience. Applicants with a college diploma should have at least 8 years of full-time work experience and hold an intermediate (or above) technical title; applicants with a bachelor's degree or above should have at least 4 years of full-time work experience. For college diploma holders, at least 6 years of full-time professional work experience is required; for bachelor's degree or above, at least 2 years of full-time professional work experience is required. The requirements are higher for college diplomas, so it is generally recommended to upgrade to a bachelor's degree before applying. These are the most common requirements for the three systems. For special system auditors, they must have relevant majors; for example, the Food Safety Management System requires a food-related major, and the Information Security Management System requires a computer-related major. These requirements are specified in the registration criteria of each system. Interested parties can contact Principal Jiang (WeChat: GBTCCAA2020) to request the "Management System Auditor Registration Criteria."

8. How to become an auditor?

First, confirm that you meet the conditions, then check whether the system you choose requires institutional training, a national unified exam, or affiliated internship. Currently, CCAA has removed most mandatory training prerequisites for taking the exam, so you can generally register independently for the national unified exam. After passing, find an affiliated institution for internship registration. After the internship, you can become a formal auditor. Of course, some special systems do not require internships; passing the exam allows direct registration, such as service certification auditors. There are even more special systems, like the 16949 external auditor, which requires being a 9001 level auditor with three team leader experiences and 10 years of work experience in the automotive industry. Each person is allowed to take the exam only four times in a lifetime, with each exam costing 28,000 yuan. If you fail, you must retake it. Therefore, the cost of taking the 16949 exam is very high, but the corresponding income is also high, with an annual income above 500,000 yuan, so it remains very popular.

9. How is the auditor exam conducted?

Before 2018, the CCAA national registered auditor unified exam was held four times a year, once each quarter, approximately in March, June, September, and December. The exam was only written, divided into two subjects: basic knowledge and audit knowledge. The audit knowledge was tested in the morning, and basic knowledge in the afternoon. Basic knowledge mainly covered general industry knowledge related to the system, such as various data and algorithms in quality, pollutant properties and treatment methods in environment, etc. Audit knowledge mainly tested procedural content in audit work, such as audit processes and work allocation. Generally, after passing the basic knowledge, candidates could start looking for institutions to affiliate with for internship. Exam results are valid for three years; if not registered within three years after passing, the results become invalid.

Due to the pandemic in 2020, only one exam was organized in November that year, which was also the last exam before the reform. In 2021, the exam system was reformed to hold exams twice a year, approximately in May and November.

10. Is the auditor exam difficult?

Only by continuously learning can one avoid falling behind in the industry and society. If you want to acquire an additional skill and have better personal development, becoming an auditor is a good choice. Since the reform started in 2021, everyone has been feeling their way forward; the era of passing exams by just practicing questions is gone. It now requires consistent accumulation over time.