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CPD Accredited · 6 PMI PDUs · 6 SHRM PDCs

QMS Auditor / Lead Auditor: plan and run audits with confidence.

Everything an internal or external quality management system audit demands, from the opening meeting to the closed corrective action, taught in plain language by an auditor with 40 years in the field. Walk in prepared, ask the right questions, and write findings people can act on.

The full audit lifecycle, start to close Checklists, interviewing and evidence gathering Nonconformity classification and CAPA 6 PMI PDUs · 6 SHRM PDCs · CPD accredited
Enroll now, just $10 today
★★★★★4.6 rating · 350,000+ learners
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  • Six sections covering the whole audit cycle
  • 6 PMI PDUs · 6 SHRM PDCs on completion
  • CPD Group (UK) accredited · Accreditation #1016181
CPD Group (UK) Accredited
Provider #784310 · Accreditation #1016181
6 PMI PDUs
Pre-approved · PMI ATP #6034
6 SHRM PDCs
SHRM Recertification Partner
350,000+ Learners
★ 4.6 average course rating
6
Sections
40
Lectures
6
PMI PDUs
★ 4.6
Avg Rating
The audit lifecycle

Every audit runs through the same five stages

Learn the stages in order and you can audit any process, in any organisation, at any level of formality.

1
Plan

Set the purpose, scope and criteria, then build the audit programme and select the team

2
Prepare

Notify the auditee, review the documents, sort the logistics and build a checklist that works

3
Conduct

Run the opening meeting, interview, observe, gather evidence and summarise your findings

4
Report

Classify nonconformities, write a report people act on, and hold a clean closing meeting

5
Close

Drive corrective and preventive action, verify it worked, and close the audit properly

What you'll learn

Skills you use on your very next audit

Tell product, process and system audits apart, and know which one the situation calls for
Distinguish first, second and third party audits, and understand what a certification audit involves
Set audit purpose, scope and criteria precisely, so the audit answers the question it was commissioned to answer
Build an audit programme, select a competent team, and protect independence and objectivity
Prepare a checklist that guides the audit instead of turning it into a tick box exercise
Run opening and closing meetings that set the tone and leave the auditee informed, not ambushed
Interview effectively, observe the work, and gather evidence that stands up to challenge
Classify nonconformities correctly and write audit reports that drive action rather than argument
Follow up corrective and preventive action, verify effectiveness, and close the audit cleanly
Apply sampling sensibly during an audit, and understand the risks that come with it
Course curriculum

Six sections. Short lessons. Quiz after every one.

01

Auditing Basics

  • What an audit actually is, and what audit criteria and audit evidence mean
  • Product, process and system audits: three different jobs
  • First, second and third party audits, and what a certification audit involves
  • The purpose and benefits of auditing, beyond compliance
  • Who takes part in an audit, and what each participant is responsible for
  • Independence and objectivity: the foundation the whole discipline rests on
02

Audit Planning and Preparation

  • The auditing process end to end, then purpose, scope and criteria in detail
  • Building the audit programme and plan
  • Audit team selection and the competencies an auditor needs
  • Auditing strategies: how to structure your approach to the work
  • Notifying the auditee, and reviewing documents before you arrive
  • Audit logistics and building a checklist that earns its place
03

Conduct Audit

  • The opening meeting: setting expectations and tone
  • Audit interviews and data collection techniques
  • Observations and measurements on the floor
  • Reviewing documents and records during fieldwork
  • Summarising findings before you present them
  • The closing meeting, also called the exit meeting
04

Audit Report

  • What belongs in an audit report, and what does not
  • Effective audit reporting: writing findings people can act on
  • Nonconformity classification: major, minor and observations
  • Corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) in two parts
05

Follow-up and Closure

  • Verifying that corrective action was taken and actually worked
  • Closing the audit properly and keeping the record straight
06

Sampling Approaches for an Effective Audit

  • Sampling theory in plain language
  • Types of samples, and when each is appropriate
  • Acceptance sampling explained
  • Sampling risks: what you can and cannot conclude from a sample
Everything included

Resources and credentials on top of the lessons

🎬

Short, Focused Lessons

Forty lectures across six sections, most of them under ten minutes, so you can fit the course around a working week instead of blocking out a day.

📄

Complete Slide Deck PDF

The full set of course slides as a downloadable PDF, useful as a desk reference while you are actually planning or running an audit.

📝

Section Quizzes

A quiz at the end of every section so you can confirm the material landed before moving on to the next stage of the audit cycle.

🔤

Quality Acronyms Sheet

A reference list of the acronyms that turn up constantly in audit reports, standards and corrective action paperwork.

🏆

Certificate + 6 PDUs / 6 PDCs

A Quality Gurus Inc. certificate and digital badge, plus 6 pre-approved PMI PDUs and 6 SHRM PDCs on completion.

✅

CPD Group (UK) Accredited

Officially accredited by The CPD Group, UK (Provider #784310 · Accreditation #1016181), giving your learning formal, verifiable recognition.

Who it's for

Anyone who audits, or is about to be asked to

Some industry experience and a basic understanding of the processes you will audit are all you need to start.

New internal auditors

You have been nominated onto the internal audit team and your first audit is on the calendar. Start here and walk in knowing exactly what happens and when.

Experienced auditors formalising their practice

You have audited for years by instinct and precedent. This course gives you the structure, the vocabulary and the reasoning behind the habits.

Management representatives

You own the management system and host the certification body. Understanding the audit from the auditor's side changes how well those visits go.

Quality assurance and quality control managers

Audits land on your desk from every direction: internal, customer and certification. This course covers all three from one consistent framework.

Supplier and second party auditors

You audit vendors on behalf of your own organisation. The planning, evidence and reporting sections translate directly to supplier audits.

Teams preparing for ISO 9001 certification

Knowing how an audit is planned, conducted and reported is the best preparation there is for being on the receiving end of one.

Your instructor

Sandeep Kumar

Founder, Quality Gurus Inc. · ASQ Certified: CSSBB, CQE, CQA & more

Sandeep Kumar
40+ years implementing and auditing quality systems
ASQ Certified: CSSBB, CSSGB, CQE, CQA & more
350,000+ students trained globally
PMI Authorized Training Partner · ATP #6034

Sandeep is an engineer and quality management expert with more than 40 years of hands on experience implementing and auditing quality management systems. He has sat on both sides of the table many times, as auditor and as auditee, and the course is built out of what actually happens in the room.

His approach to teaching auditing: plain language, short lessons, and a clear reason behind every step, so you understand why an audit is structured the way it is rather than just following a procedure.

350K+
Total Students
★ 4.6
Avg Rating
40+
Years Experience
Student reviews

What students are saying

★★★★★

"The content is very informative, detailed, and easy to understand."

M
Mohammed Subhan
Verified student
★★★★★

"This course helped me to achieve the goal which I set out to achieve. The instructor is very clear and concise, he doesn't just know his topic he has worked in the field and has many good insights into auditing."

D
David Woods
Verified student
★★★★★

"Lots of thanks and appreciation for your tremendous efforts that you put in this course and others which I took earlier."

R
Rima Homssi
Verified student
Enroll today

Complete auditor training for $10

Use code QG80 at checkout for 80% off the regular price.

QMS Auditor / Lead Auditor Course
$10$49.99
80% off with code QG80
  • 365 days of unlimited access
  • Six sections across forty lectures
  • The full audit cycle: plan, prepare, conduct, report, close
  • Complete slide deck PDF and quality acronyms sheet
  • A quiz after every section
  • Certificate and digital badge + 6 PMI PDUs · 6 SHRM PDCs
  • CPD Group (UK) accredited · Accreditation #1016181
  • Taught in plain language, no jargon for its own sake
  • All future course updates at no extra cost
Enroll now, get instant access →
One-time payment · 365 days access · Any device, anytime
FAQ

Common questions

Is this ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) exam preparation?
No, and that distinction matters. This course teaches you how to plan and conduct quality management system audits in practice. It is not built around the ASQ CQA Body of Knowledge and is not exam preparation. If the ASQ CQA exam is your goal, our separate Certified Quality Auditor training course is the one you want. Many students take this course first to build practical grounding, then move to the CQA course for the exam.
What experience do I need before starting?
Some industry experience is preferred, along with a basic understanding of the processes you will be auditing. You do not need prior audit experience, formal quality training, or a certification. The course starts from the definition of an audit and builds up from there.
Does this cover internal audits, supplier audits, or certification audits?
All three. The course explains first, second and third party audits and what separates them, then teaches a planning, conducting and reporting framework that applies to each. Whether you are auditing your own processes, a supplier, or hosting a certification body, the same discipline applies.
Is this course specific to ISO 9001?
The course is built around quality management system auditing, with ISO 9000 definitions as the foundation, so it maps naturally onto ISO 9001 work. The auditing skills themselves, planning, interviewing, evidence gathering, nonconformity classification and follow up, transfer to any management system standard you audit against.
What are the PMI PDUs and SHRM PDCs for?
PDUs (Professional Development Units) count toward maintaining your PMI certification, such as the PMP or CAPM. PDCs (Professional Development Credits) count toward maintaining your SHRM certification, SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. Both are awarded on successful completion of the course. Quality Gurus Inc. is a PMI Authorized Training Partner (ATP #6034) and a SHRM Recertification Partner.
What is the CPD Group (UK) accreditation?
The CPD Group is one of the UK's most recognised accreditation bodies for continuing professional development. Their accreditation confirms that this course meets their standards for quality and educational value, under Provider #784310, Accreditation #1016181. The accreditation is accepted by professional bodies, employers and licensing authorities worldwide.
Can I train my whole audit team on this?
Many quality managers do exactly that, enrolling their QA and QC staff together so the internal audit team works from one shared framework and one shared vocabulary. Get in touch through qualitygurus.com if you need multiple enrolments.
How long do I have access?
365 days of unlimited access from your enrollment date, on any device, including all future updates to the course at no additional cost.

Walk into your next audit knowing exactly what you are doing.

The full audit cycle, from planning through to closure. Plain language, short lessons, recognised credentials. All for $10.

80% off, use code QG80 at checkout
365 days of unlimited access · 6 PMI PDUs · 6 SHRM PDCs · CPD Accredited · All future updates included
© Quality Gurus Inc. · qualitygurus.com · PMI Authorized Training Partner ATP #6034
PMI® is a registered trademark of the Project Management Institute. ISO® is a registered trademark of the International Organization for Standardization. ASQ® is a registered trademark of the American Society for Quality. CPD accreditation by The CPD Group (UK) · Provider #784310.

Course Curriculum

Audit with confidence

QMS Auditor / Lead Auditor: the full audit cycle.

Six sections covering auditing basics, planning and preparation, conducting the audit, reporting and nonconformity classification, corrective action follow up and closure, plus sampling. Short lessons in plain language, with the complete slide deck to keep. 6 PMI PDUs and 6 SHRM PDCs on completion.

$10 $49.99
80% off, code QG80 applied automatically at checkout
6 PMI PDUs · 6 SHRM PDCs included CPD Group (UK) Accredited · Accreditation #1016181 ★★★★★4.6 · 350,000+ learners
One-time payment · 365 days access · All future updates included

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