Who is this lead auditor course for?
The course is relevant to auditors, consultants and professionals responsible for food safety management arrangements. You should already understand the relevant management-system requirements and basic audit principles so that you can focus on evaluating evidence and leading the audit process.
What will you learn to evaluate?
Understand how food safety hazards are controlled across processes and verified through a management system.
- Food safety hazards and the connection between prerequisite programmes and hazard controls.
- HACCP principles, communication and control of operational activities.
- Traceability, withdrawal or recall arrangements and verification of the system.
Five-day training and examination route
The published PECB agenda progresses from the management system and standard to audit preparation, on-site activities, reporting and closing. Day 5 is the certification examination. Exercises develop audit planning, evidence gathering, findings and communication skills.
Does passing the exam make you a certified Lead Auditor?
Passing the exam allows you to apply for the appropriate PECB credential. The full Lead Auditor grade also has professional experience and audit-experience requirements, together with acceptance of the Code of Ethics. A Provisional Auditor route is available where the experience requirements are not yet met.
A training completion attestation, an exam result and a professional credential are different outcomes. Your application should match your documented experience.
How does ISO 22000 relate to HACCP?
HACCP addresses the analysis and control of food safety hazards. ISO 22000 places food safety controls within a wider management system, including leadership, communication, verification and improvement. Auditing therefore examines both the hazard-control logic and its management.