BRCGS Auditor Calibration Program

BRCGS has announced a new Auditor Calibration Program designed to focus on key areas of the audit process and ensure the consistent application of audit requirements across all BRCGS Standards. The training materials will be developed based on feedback gathered through report reviews, corrective action assessments, root cause reviews, certification body feedback, and audit performance data. The calibration training will be delivered to auditors through certification body internal trainers.

Scope

The requirements of this program apply to all BRCGS-approved auditors and certification body personnel involved in the certification process for all BRCGS Standards, including:

• Auditors
• Witness Assessors
• Technical Reviewers
• Personnel involved in reviewing and approving corrective action plans and root cause analyses submitted to close non-conformances
• Personnel authorized to make certification decisions
• Personnel responsible for approving action plans submitted following a product incident

Certification bodies have the flexibility to extend this training to additional team members involved in BRCGS audit processes, either through the full program or selected training modules.

Calibration Training Structure

The calibration program will be delivered through a modular training format consisting of four modules annually. Each module is approximately two hours in duration, resulting in a total of eight hours of mandatory training per year. At the conclusion of each module, participants must complete an examination to demonstrate their understanding of the material covered. Training content will be issued annually, and participants must complete all required training within the timeframe specified by BRCGS, which is currently nine months from the date of release.

Certification Body Internal Trainers

BRCGS will provide a series of training courses throughout the year directly to certification body representatives designated as internal trainers. To successfully complete the trainer qualification process, participants must achieve a minimum score of 90% on the training assessment. This training is not an Approved Training Provider (ATP) course and is not included within the ATP portfolio. As a result, ATPs are not permitted to deliver, promote, or market this training under any circumstances. Contract auditors must receive calibration training directly through BRCGS-approved channels and not through ATP organizations. BRCGS Principal Trainers will initially deliver the program to certification body representatives, who will then cascade the training to their auditors and other relevant personnel. Following successful completion of the trainer qualification process, BRCGS Academy will issue the appropriate training materials. Certification body representatives will then be able to schedule and deliver training sessions to their auditors. Additional guidance will also be provided to support trainer implementation and administration.

Calibration Training for Auditors and Certification Body Personnel

Calibration training sessions may only be delivered by designated certification body representatives who have successfully completed the official BRCGS trainer program. BRCGS auditors and certification body personnel involved in the certification process will be able to enroll in training sessions through BRCGS Educate, following the same enrollment process used for other BRCGS training programs. The training program consists of four separate modules. Each module includes a 15-question examination, with participants required to achieve a minimum passing score of 80%. Participants are provided with three opportunities to pass each examination. If they do not achieve a passing score after three attempts, attendance at another training session will be required before additional assessment opportunities are granted. Auditors and certification body personnel may also attend sessions delivered directly by a BRCGS Principal Trainer if no internal certification body training session is available.

Important Deadline

All auditors are required to complete the initial calibration training program no later than December 31, 2026.