Quality Management System
One scheme per standard, and the scheme is the whole path
The three levels — requirements (RQ), auditor (AU) and lead auditor (TL) — are not three separate certifications: they are the path of a single scheme, the one belonging to this standard. What a certificate certifies is the scheme. Whoever holds only part of the path does not meet the scheme, and their certificate is suspended until they complete it; completing the missing levels restores it, and it does not require a new assessment of what was already passed.
FVR_GD-DI-01 §8.1 · Directorate determination, 2026-08-24
The three levels
- RQRequirementsInterpretation of the standard's requirementsTraining + exam, or exam only
- AUInternal auditorPlan, conduct, record and report an internal audit against the standardTraining + exam, or exam only
- TLLead auditorFurther, lead a team, decide the audit findings and answer for the conclusionMandatory training + exam
The path of the scheme
- 01How you enter§3.1
The scheme is a progressive pathway. No formal prerequisite of prior experience or training is required to enter: candidates may enter either through the training programme or by demonstrating competence through examination.
- 02How you move to the next level§3.3 · §3.4
To reach a higher level the candidate must demonstrate mastery of the competences of the preceding ones. They may demonstrate them by passing those examinations without taking their training courses.
Level 3 is the only one that requires the training course: the exam alone does not grant it.
- 03The examination§3.6 · §3.7
The candidate has two attempts and passes with a score higher than 8.0. If not passed within those two, a new examination may be taken on payment of the applicable fee.
Taking part in the training programme does not guarantee passing: certification is granted only when the candidate demonstrates the required competence through assessment.
- 04No exemption and no shortcut§3.7
FVR does not take into account, for the purposes of this scheme, assessments performed by another certification body. Whoever wants the Lead Auditor level goes through the three levels of this scheme: holding a certificate from another body neither shortens the route nor replaces any of them.
- 05Who decides the certification§8
Certification decisions are taken by the Technical Direction, based on the verified examination results and on the assessment criteria. The certification body retains full responsibility for every certification decision.
- 06What keeps the certificate valid§9 · FVR_GD-POL-08 §3
Two conditions at once, and both are met: an active subscription, and the reference version of the standard remaining in force.
The certificate carries no expiry date. When the standard is revised, FVR may require a transition assessment.
Renewal may include re-examination, or an update programme plus a bridging assessment.