ASQ Quality Auditor Certification – A Comprehensive CQA Exam Overview
The Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) certification, provided by the American Society for Quality (ASQ), is a prestigious credential that equips professionals with the expertise to assess and improve quality management systems.
Whether you are an internal or external auditor, quality manager, or consultant, this certification confirms your ability to critically evaluate processes, ensuring that you meet regulatory standards and foster continuous improvement.
In today’s competitive landscape, having a globally recognized qualification like the CQA certification can significantly boost your career prospects. But more than just a credential, it will empower your auditing knowledge and skills, ensuring confidence and auditing success. Investing in the CQA exam is essential if you’re involved in auditing processes.
My name is Cibe Russell. I’ve been a quality auditor for more than ten years, and the path to achieving my CQA certification was rewarding. Even with many years of experience, I still learned new things while studying for the exam.
In this article, I will provide an overview of the exam, including eligibility requirements, study strategies, and exam-day tips based on my experience to help you succeed.
Eligibility Requirements
It is required to have at least three years of experience as a quality auditor (any area described in the CQA body of knowledge), depending on your level of education. See the table below for further information about on-the-job experience requirements versus education degrees.
As part of the years of experience on the job, three years in any decision-making position are required. This includes decisions related to scheduled and/or conducting audits, internal audits, external audits, or experience as a quality supervisor or manager.
When applying for the CQA exam, there is a simple questionnaire, and no evidence of such experiences or degrees is required. I believe that ASQ evaluates this based on your LinkedIn profile if you have one, but this is only my opinion.
| EDUCATION | EXPERIENCE ON-THE-JOB REQUIRED |
| High school | 8 years |
| Diploma from a technical or trade school | 7 years |
| Associate Degree | 6 years |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4 years |
| Master’s or Doctorate | 3 years |
CQA Body of Knowledge (BoK)
The BoK includes several important topics that fit into five main parts:
Part I – 28 Questions – Auditing fundamentals: Basic principles and concepts of auditing, including types of audits and roles.
Part II – 44 Questions – Audit Process: Steps involved in planning, conducting, and reporting audits.
Part III – 24 Questions – Auditor Competencies: Skills and knowledge required to be an effective auditor, including communication and ethical behavior.
Part IV – 30 Questions – Audit Program management and Business Applications: Managing an organization’s overall audit program, including audit schedules, auditor selection, and corrective actions.
Part V – 24 Questions – Quality Tools and Techniques: Understanding statistical and process improvement tools such as Pareto charts, root cause analysis, and Six Sigma methodologies.
It’s important to know that each topic has a different number of questions on the exam, as described below. Once you study and test your knowledge with some CQA questions or flashcards, it is helpful to know which topics you should focus on to go back and study more.
CQA Exam Format Overview
The CQA exam consists of 165 multiple-choice questions. Out of these, only 150 are scored as outlined above. The remaining 15 are unscored and used for testing/research purposes. You won’t know which questions are unscored, so it is essential to treat every question seriously. The questions test your understanding of the CQA Body of Knowledge (BoK).
The CQA exam is open-book, meaning you can bring reference materials into the exam. The reference materials may include books, notes, and other printed materials, but not electronic devices. However, even though you can consult materials during the exam, the questions are structured in a way that requires a deep understanding of the concepts.
The CQA exam has a total duration of a maximum of 5 hours and 30 minutes. The exam is available in computer-based (online) and paper-based formats (in-person).
During your application, you will be able to choose your preferred option and schedule it with Prometric Test Center, which is a third-party company that manages the delivery of the exam. The initial steps required for the remote exam checking do not take time away from your exam.
Registration Process
The registration process is straightforward. Just follow these simple steps:
- Create an account on the ASQ website.
- Submit your online application for the CQA exam. You must provide details about your work experience, educational background, and personal information. However, it is not required to submit work experience evidence.
- Review your application and pay the first attempt CQA exam fee of USD 533 for non-members or only USD 433 for ASQ Members. Then, wait for your application approval email.
- Schedule Your Exam: You will receive an email with a link that allows you to schedule your exam remotely or in person. Choose a date and time that works for you, ensuring you’re well-prepared before test day.
- After completing your application and scheduling, it’s time to study.
Following these steps allows you to smoothly navigate the registration process and focus on your exam preparation.
Study Strategies for Success
As you review the CQA’s Body of Knowledge, you will find that there is a lot to study for the exam. Therefore, understanding the BoK combined with an effective study plan is essential for a successful journey.
To start your studies, I highly recommend the ASQ CQA Handbook. This is the only book I had for my CQA exam study journey. It covers all exam topics, and I found it especially useful. However, some topics could be more straightforward to understand.
The most helpful suggestion I can give you is to test your knowledge as often as possible. Regardless of the material you are using to study, it’s crucial to test your knowledge with practice exams, questions, and flash cards.
As I started studying for the exam, I learned that I was studying all wrong my whole life. Simply reading, highlighting, or taking notes are not useful study methods at all, meaning that you will not effectively learn what you are studying if using this only method of study. So, make sure to test your knowledge as often as possible.
Final Thoughts
Earning your CQA certification is a valuable investment in your professional future. This credential sets you apart by demonstrating your ability to effectively lead and manage quality audits. As a recognized mark of expertise, the certification can lead to a pay rise as your employer’s value increases.
To help you take that first step, I’ve prepared 20 free CQA practice questions. These will give you a firsthand feel for the questions you’ll encounter on the exam, helping you assess where you stand and what areas may need extra focus.
Make sure to also explore the other articles on our website for guidance on confidently approaching the certification. With the right resources and preparation, you’ll be well on your way to passing the exam and advancing your auditing career.