ARCS

Registration and certification of assessors is available, without restriction, to all applicants who satisfy the stated requirements.

There are three assessor grades:

• Assessor
• Lead Assessor
• Principal Assessor

The Scheme allows for both the registration and certification of assessors. The Scheme allows for both the registration of assessors (assessor grade) and the certification of assessors (all grades)

Accompanying registration or certification, the relevant Process Assessment Models for which the assessor has received certificates of training will be listed.

Registered Assessor

This is the entry registration grade, for the candidate who has successfully completed the required training and passed the relevant tests for the Foundation, Process Assessment Model and Assessor training courses, and who meets the requisite requirements for education and work experience for the assessor grade. The assessor is available to participate as an assessor as part of an assessment team.

Certified Assessor

This is the entry certification grade, for the candidate who has successfully completed the required training and passed the relevant tests for the Foundation, Process Assessment Model and Assessor training courses, who has performed and passed a practical assessment evaluation and the requisite examination, and who meets the requisite requirements for education, work experience and assessment experience for the assessor grade. The assessor is available to participate as an assessor as part of an assessment team or as a lead assessor (under the direction of a certified lead assessor for third party assessments)

Certified Lead Assessor

This is the certification grade, for the candidate who has successfully completed the required training and passed the relevant tests for the Foundation, Process Assessment Model and Assessor training courses, who has performed and passed a practical assessment evaluation and the requisite examination, and who has meets the requisite requirements for education, work experience and assessment experience for the lead assessor grade. The assessor is available to participate as a lead assessor of an assessment team.

Certified Principal Assessor

This is the certification grade for certified lead assessors who wish to have their extensive assessment experience recognised or who wish to lead 3rd party assessments and issue certificates of conformity. For assessors in the safety or regulatory domain the prospective candidate will be subject to a witnessed evaluation by another certified principal assessor in the safety or regulatory domain unless the assessor has significant practical experience in that domain.

Education, Training, Work and Assessment Experience

Applicants must satisfactorily comply with the minimum requirements for education, training, work experience and assessor experience for the relevant grade of certification. The reachable grade of certification depends on assessment experience.

Education

Applicants must have completed their secondary education, have a degree or equivalent professional qualification.

Training

Applicants must have successfully completed (with any test, examination or evaluation) the approved assessor training course(s) relevant for the assessor grade within the 3 years prior to application for registration or certification.

The Assessor training comprises three training courses (elements):

• Foundation (based on the ISO/IEC 330xx family of standards)
• Process Assessment Model (based on an ISO/IEC 33004 conformant process assessment model)
• Assessor (based on the ISO/IEC 33002 requirements for performing an assessment or a documented assessment process conformant with the requirements of ISO/IEC 33002)

Assessor training also includes a practical assessment performance and evaluation which can be met either by an instructor led case study assessment or by performance of a live assessment (minimum 12 hours) supervised by a lead assessor.

Work Experience

Work experience depends on the level of education and on the grade applied for.

Assessment Experience

Assessment experience depends upon the grade applied for. Applicants for the grade of Registered Assessor need no prior assessment experience. Applicants for the grade of Certified Assessor, Lead Assessor or Principal Assessor grade must meet certain criteria for assessment experience that includes:

Assessment experience must be gained in the three years prior to application.

Maximum number of assessment hours per assessment claimable for planning and reporting per assessment as percentage of time spent for these activities is 20%, ignoring grade of assessor.

Route to Becoming an Assessor

Refer to the Assessor Registration and Certification Guide

Fees

Refer to the Fee Schedule