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Selecting the appropriate ISO Auditor Training Course can be difficult and confusing with apparently random choices in course titles.
People who have been browsing around for ISO auditor courses are probably already familiar with Internal Auditor and Lead Auditor courses. However, the number of people who are familiar with ISO transition courses, migration courses, conversion courses, and extension courses are probably not as many.
Table of Contents
- Transition vs Migration vs Conversion vs Refresher vs Extension Courses
- ISO Transition Courses
- ISO Migration Courses (a.k.a. Transition Training)
- ISO Conversion Courses
- ISO Refresher Courses
- ISO Extension Courses
- Conclusion
Differences Among Course Types
While there is no 'official' set of definitions, the table below gives the most frequently used definitions for these terms as they have appeared over the past 20+years. And there is a clear distinction between, for example, an ISO 9001:2015 Transition Course and an ISO 9001:2015 Conversion Course. But are you sure of what that distinction is? Let's see ...
ISO Transition Courses
What are ISO transition courses?
Transition Courses provide guidance and recommendations for the required modification for an existing management system that is compliant and certified to a current standard (say, ISO9001:2008). This is so it will comply with a new or revised standard (say ISO 9001:2015) Typical duration: 18 hours/3 days.
Who should take transition courses?
The person who will lead the Transition Project and who will require detailed step-by-step information and in-depth practical knowledge of the new/revised Standards requirements.
What are the prerequisites to taking transition courses?
To facilitate a more comprehensive learning experience, a knowledge of the current Standard to Lead Auditor or Lead Implementer level is needed.
Available ISO transition courses by standard image map. Click on any course you are interested in to see its full overview.
ISO Migration Courses (a.k.a. Transition Training)
What are migration courses?
Again a Course addressing the transition from a management system compliant with a current Standard to a new or revised one. These courses tend to be less specific than Transition Courses.
Typical duration of Migration Courses:
6 hours/1 day.
Who should take migration courses?
A Quality Manager or other person responsible for maintaining a management system and who needs sufficient knowledge to oversee the work of a consultant providing the expertise for the transition.
What are the prerequisites to taking migration courses?
To move through the training with ease, a knowledge of the current Standard to Internal Auditor level is needed, at least.
ISO Conversion Courses
What are conversion courses?
With the introduction of many revised and new ISO Management System Standards certified ISO Auditors find that their Certification is out of date. Conversion Courses bring the Auditor's knowledge of the new/revised Standard up-to-date and provide Auditor Certification to the new/revised Standard.
Typical Duration of Conversion Courses:
10 hours/1-2 days at Internal Auditor level and 20 hours/3 days at Lead Auditor Level.
Who should take conversion courses?
Auditors trained and certified to a current Standard who need to update their knowledge and certification to the new/revised Standard (e.g. you have an ISO 9001:2008 Internal Auditor certification and you want to become an ISO 9001:2015 Internal Auditor)
What are the prerequisites to taking conversion courses?
Training and certification as an Internal or Lead Auditor in the Standard being updated.
Available ISO conversion courses by standard image map. Click on any course you are interested in to see its full overview.
ISO Refresher Courses
What are refresher courses?
Our policy has been to not time-limit our Certificates. We consider the 3-year limit to certificate validity to be little more than a money-making racket. We have left it to the cycle of revisions to the Standards to prompt our Certificated Learners to take Conversion Courses; that is, to update only when necessary. This policy has worked well until now when ISO has failed to revise old Standards. We have Certified Learners who have last trained seven years ago. It’s now well gone the time when retraining is justified and so we introduce the Refresher Courses.
Typical Duration of Refresher Courses:
10 hours (or 1-2 days) at Internal Auditor level and 20 hours (or 3 days) at Lead Auditor Level.
Who should take a refresher course?
If it's been 5 years or more since you had ISO Auditor training, chances are you're 'rusty' and would benefit from a refresher course. The beauty of our e-learning based courses is that they are self-paced and you can speed through the course content (unlike conventional classroom training or those boring videos). So, if you are 'rusty' or have done little auditing lately, we very much recommend a refresher course.
What are the prerequisites to taking refresher courses?
Training and certification as an Internal or Lead Auditor in the Standard being updated.
Available ISO refresher courses by standard image map. Click on any course you are interested in to see its full overview.
ISO Extension Courses
What are extension courses?
Many auditors would like to add to the certification they’ve already got. But with conventional training, the only extension of scope options are full 2-day or 5-day courses. And who can justify that time and expense? Extension courses are an effective and time-friendly alternative.
Available ISO internal auditor courses image map. Click on any course you are interested in to see its full overview.
Typical duration of ISO Extension Courses:
10 hours/1 day at Internal Auditor level and 20 hours/3 days at Lead Auditor level.
Who should take extension courses?
Those wishing to add other ISO Standards to their existing ISO Auditor Certification (e.g. you have ISO 14001 Lead Auditor Certification and you want to add ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor Certification)
What are the prerequisites to taking extension courses?
Training and certification as an Internal or Lead Auditor in a Standard other than the one being updated.
Available ISO lead auditor courses image map. Click on any course you are interested in to see its full overview.
Conclusion
Hopefully, that clarified the Course Titles for you. If you still have a question, why don't you contact me with your query using the 'Messages' button in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen?
Alternatively, we have an ISO 14001 FAQ post where you can see answers to frequently asked questions about the standard and the training and certification associated with it.
Note: Initially published in September 2017; updated March 2022.
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