To Be or Not to Be…
an accredited EMS Auditor?
Does Accreditation Provide Value?

Gabriele Crognale

Introduction

There are times we need to reflect on where the value is in what we do, and for this issue, I use as inspiration the great playwright, William Shakespeare, who immortalized the phrase "To be or not to be" in his play, "Hamlet."

A catchy phrase that serves as an appropriate segue to serve up our findings gleaned from interviews and research into the process for accrediting EMS auditors. In the US, that distinction goes to the Registration Accreditation Board (RAB).

I was compelled to initiate my research into this subject when I discovered that RAB does not require the registrars that certify organizations seeking ISO 14001 certification to employ auditors with RAB credentials. Rather, RAB's only requirement is that registrars ensure their auditors conform to the guidance found in ISO 14010 thru 14012, soon to be ISO 19011, as called for in ISO Guide 66 and the IAF Guidance to Guide 66.

Registrars are also required to demonstrate that the auditors they choose to perform audits are competent.

Some registrars I interviewed agreed that aspect is somewhat subjective. That led me to further reflect on the current process a prospective auditor needs to go through in the US to even be considered for employment by registrars.

At present, in order for RAB to even entertain a prospective auditor's application, that person needs to take a ANSI-RAB/NAP accredited course from one of the accredited course providers found on RAB's website, and in various trade publications.

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The cost of admission is not cheap: prospective auditors, usually environmental professional, are required to pony up anywhere from $1500 to $2000 for a 36-hour course plus travel, meals and lodging expenses to take the EMS Lead Auditor course. The question then begs to be answered, what guarantee will the future EMS auditor have that he or she will be working for a registrar, or at least be picked to perform audits as a contractor?

RAB makes the point on its website that auditors can expect a fair amount of additional cash than their non-accredited auditors, but if the decision to hire or not hire a credentialed EMS auditor is solely at the discretion of a registrar, that might not always be the case.

The general consensus in my discussion with the panel I convened is that a number of aspiring EMS auditors and accredited auditors see accreditation as a means to be more marketable to registrars seeking contract or full-time auditors, but the reality of it is that it often boils down to the real-life audit skills the auditors possess, their geographical area, and which registrar has an immediate need.

Also, as we found out, some registrars do not require RAB accreditation, and rely on auditor competence as described in ISO 14012. Therefore, if in the US RAB doesn't require registrars to hire or contract out auditors with RAB-certification, where's the return on the $2000+ investment these aspiring auditors make in seeking RAB accreditation?

If competence is really the key criteria, couldn’t these prospective auditors get by on courses provided by non-RAB accredited course providers and pocket the spare cash?

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