How can my organization become a certification body with GWO?

In order to become a GWO approved certification body, the certification body must meet the requirements outlined in the Requirements for Certification and register in WINDA.

As of April 1, 2019, it is a mandatory requirement for the certification body to document conformity with the requirements in this document for the certification body itself, and the audit team members specifically, prior to performing an audit. Pending this, the certification body will be listed on the GWO website as an approved certification body.

The certification body must be accredited by a signatory of the IAF MLA.

• The certification body must be accredited by a signatory of the IAF MLA to ISO/IEC 17021: Conformity Assessment Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems, and/or accredited by a signatory of the IAF MLA to ISO/IEC 17065: Conformity Assessment - Requirements for Bodies Certifying Products, Processes, and
  Services. The certification must be carried out in accordance with the GWO Requirements for Training and the GWO training standards. 
• In the case that the certification body is accredited to ISO/IEC 17021, it must also be accredited to ISO 9001 and/or ISO 4500.
• All accreditations must be within relevant sector codes subject to review by GWO.
• Prior to performing an audit, the certification body must register in WINDA and document conformity with the requirements in this document for the certification body itself, and the audit team members specifically. Upon WINDA approval, the certification body will be listed on the GWO website as a GWO approved certification body.
• The certification body must register each GWO Auditor in WINDA.

Criteria for audit team members certifying a Training Provider: 

• The qualifications of team members shall follow the general rules for accreditation regarding auditor qualifications and relevant sector codes.
• A fully qualified and active ISO 9001/45001 lead auditor under ISO/IEC 17021 and/or ISO/IEC 17065 must cover the audit of the Quality Management System of a training provider.
• A fully qualified and active ISO 45001 lead auditor or similar must cover the audit of a training session.

Auditors who wish to perform GWO audits must:

1) successfully complete the GWO Auditor Qualification Training (AQT), which is designed as an entry qualification course for new auditors.

2) complete a three-step qualification process, which requires that:

1. The auditor has attended as an observer a Stage 1 audit conducted by a GWO qualified auditor. As an alternative, the auditor shall be supervised by a GWO qualified auditor during the first Stage 1 audit which is led by the auditor in training
2. The auditor in training has either observed or participated (as a team member) in a Stage 2 audit led by a GWO qualified auditor. This can be either initial certification, surveillance, or extension of scope
3. The auditor in training has led a Stage 2 audit under the supervision by a GWO qualified auditor. This can be either initial certification, surveillance or extension of scope, and must be a physical audit

To document this, the certification body must use the template on the AQT certificate and send it to the GWO Secretariat via [e-mail] or the WINDA Platform.

• The auditor must have an Auditor Profile on WINDA, created by the certification body, where their qualifications and details are recorded. They will have unique WINDA ID.
• As an alternative, for new certification bodies (without GWO qualified auditors), the three-step qualification process can be achieved via joining an audit with a GWO Auditor Qualification Training (AQT) instructor. To pursue this option, please contact the GWO Secretariat via [e-mail]

The following requirements must be observed in order to maintain the GWO auditor qualification:

• Complete the GWO Auditor Development Training (ADT) within a 12-month interval since completion of the GWO Auditor Qualification Training (AQT). This requirement becomes effective April 1st2022
• Participate in at least two GWO audits within a 12-month interval (either leading the audit, being an audit team member or supervising an audit led by a new auditor)

Certificates provided to GWO from auditors that have not documented conformance will not be accepted.

In addition to its WINDA record, the certification body shall keep records of the audit team, and of the audits they have participated in for at least the validity period of the certification plus three months.

Please do not hesitate to contact [e-mail] for further information about the procedure.