Certified courses FAQs

As an Approved Training Partner (ATP), many of our courses are certified by external professional bodies. These include our CQI and IRCA certified Lead Auditor and Internal Auditor training courses, our IEMA certified environmental management systems (EMS) and sustainability training , our IOSH approved Introduction to ISO 45001, and our Royal Statistical Society (RSS) certified Lean and Six Sigma events.

Our certified courses can act as a pathway to certification with a professional body, for example our CQI and IRCA Lead Auditor training courses satisfy the training requirements for IRCA registration, whilst our CQI and IRCA Auditor Conversion courses allow existing lead auditors to achieve IRCA certification in a further discipline within 3 days.

We offer a range of lead auditor, internal auditor and auditor conversion courses which are certified by the CQI and IRCA. All delegates receive a certificate upon successful completion.

We offer the following CQI and IRCA certified training courses:

ISO 9001 quality management systems:

• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor
• ISO 9001 Internal Auditor
• ISO 9001:2015 Transition Auditor

ISO 14001 environmental management systems:

• ISO 14001 Lead Auditor
• ISO 14001 Auditor Conversion

ISO 45001 occupational health and safety management systems:

• ISO 45001 Lead Auditor
• ISO 45001 Auditor Migration
• ISO 45001 Auditor Conversion

IATF 16949:2016 automotive industry QMS:

• IATF 16949:2016 Lead Auditor
• IATF 16949:2016 Internal Auditor

ISO 17025 quality management systems for laboratories:

• ISO 17025 Lead Auditor

ISO 27001 information security management systems:

• ISO 27001 Lead Auditor
• ISO 27001 Auditor Conversion

Bywater's CQI and IRCA Approved Training Partner (ATP) ID is: 6023909

Visit the CQI and IRCA website for all the information on how to join and grades of membership.

We offer IEMA certified and IEMA approved training courses focussing on environmental management systems and environmental sustainability. Many IEMA certified courses lead to Associate Membership of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).

All of our IEMA courses can be viewed on our dedicated IEMA training page.

The IEMA Certified training courses are:

• ISO 14001 Lead Auditor
• Internal Environmental Management System (EMS) Auditor
• IEMA Environmental Sustainability Skills for the Workforce
• IEMA Environmental Sustainability Skills for Managers
• IEMA Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management

The IEMA Approved training courses are:

• ISO 14001 Internal Auditor
• Introduction to ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems

Upon completing a CQI and IRCA certified training course with Bywater, you will receive a certificate and be able to add the course to your CV and LinkedIn profile. This will show your employer and future employers that you have the skills and experience to audit a management system.

Some delegates register with IRCA (International Register of Certificated Auditors) after completing the course. The IRCA grade you can obtain depends on your training course and career experience. Our Lead Auditor training courses satisfy the learning requirements for becoming an IRCA Lead Auditor.

Becoming an IRCA certified auditor is beneficial. You can appear on the online register for auditors, gain access to IRCA's eLibrary, and network with other professionals in your field. Further details of IRCA benefits can be found here.

Visit the IEMA website for all the information on how to join and grades of membership.

Bywater is an Approved Training Partner (ATP) for the quality management professional institution, CQI and IRCA. That means we have to adhere to strict guidelines about the way we work, how we deliver training, and the certified courses that we offer.

Not only does an ATP have to pass an initial approval process, but they are then audited every two years to ensure they are both meeting requirements for delivery and continually striving to improve in every area.

This continual monitoring ensures that the CQI and IRCA is satisfied that we are delivering the highest level of learning and service to our customers.

As an individual you can become certified through your organisation if it is certified by the Royal Statistical Society (RSS), or directly through the RSS. This is available to delegates that successfully complete either a Six Sigma Green Belt or Six Sigma Black Belt training course. The process will involve submitting a portfolio of evidence demonstrating successful practice. Delegates will also have to attend a half-day assessment centre at RSS in London. For groups this can be arranged on site. Bywater does offer a bespoke training package to guide delegates through this process with one-to-one tutoring from Lean and Six Sigma experts.

A business can be become certified through the RSS 18404 scheme. This will be an assessment of the system the organisation has in place for managing the competence of its key personnel under the standard.  A full description of the process can be found here.

Training providers who wish to certify their training courses with the relevant professional institution must comply with strict requirements.

As an example, the CQI and IRCA first assesses the training provider for suitability as an Approved Training Partner. Auditor courses that are then submitted for certification are thoroughly scrutinised for content, delivery, administration, and the provider’s efforts to continually improve their offering.

The institution audits the provider every two years, and requires that the provider also carries out internal audits on a regular basis.

Yes, ELCAS has awarded Bywater with Approved Learning Provider status in the Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) scheme.

The scheme provides financial support to members of the armed forces and those who have left the service within the past five years.

ELCAS has approved all of our CQI and IRCA certified Lead Auditor training courses and Auditor Conversion training courses, as well as a number of IEMA courses and certified lean six sigma events.

To learn more about ELCAS and discover whether you qualify for funding, click on the link to see our full list of ELCAS approved training courses.

Bywater’s Learning provider ID is 11235

Yes, Bywater has been a CTP Preferred Supplier since June 2021. The Career Transition Partnership (CTP) provides resettlement services for Service Leavers, including those leaving the army, RAF and Royal Navy.

Individual Resettlement Training Cost (IRTC) grants can be used for training with CTP Preferred Suppliers such as Bywater.

Yes, Bywater courses count towards your continuing professional development (CPD) if they maintain and develop the knowledge and skills you need to perform your role.

All delegates are awarded with a certificate of attendance displaying the number of CPD hours completed.