No. Successful completion of the class is just one element of the auditor certification process managed for EICC-GeSI by IRCA. In addition to the Lead Auditor course, the IRCA certification program includes requirements for education, work experience and auditing experience. Detailed information on how to apply for certification will be posted on the IRCA website (www.irca.org) by the end of April.

The course tuition is the same for members, non-members, and 3rd party audit firms. However, if a member company hosts a class by providing the venue, meals and refreshments, they will be able to have two students attend that session at no charge.

The design of the auditor certification program was based, in part, on a detailed review of the EICC-GeSI pilot audit reports. That review found a number of skills areas in need of improvement, including: data triangulation, gathering information from workers, identifying falsification of records and documents, working coaching; etc. These gaps were found in auditors of all backgrounds, including EHS. For that reason the core Labor & Ethics Lead Auditor Course is a requirement for anyone wishing to become a certified EICC-GeSI auditor. There will be an additional online “top off” class for auditors who wish to specialize in EHS. That course will cover interpreting the Health and Safety, Environmental, and EHS Management System provisions of the EICC-GeSI audit criteria.

There is currently no discount for multiple attendees from the same company.

A requirement of the EICC-GeSI VAP program is that only EICC-GeSI certified auditors will be contracted to perform Validated Audits. This requirement will take full effect in June 2011. In the interim, audits assignments will be made preferentially to firms that can utilize auditors that have successfully completed the EICC-GeSI Labor & Ethics Lead Auditor Course.

The course is required for 3rd party auditors who wish to perform Validated Audits on behalf of EICC-GeSI. It is strongly recommended for auditors of member companies who perform EICC-GeSI audits of their own operations or those of their suppliers.

The EICC has contracted with IRCA to establish and manage the certification program for EICC-GeSI auditors. IRCA manages a variety of auditor certification programs, including quality management systems, environmental management systems, health & safety management system, social systems, and many others. All IRCA certification schemes include standard requirements for auditor training, education, work experience and auditing experience. The auditor training requirement is satisfied by attending an IRCA-approved course. The EICC-GeSI Labor & Ethics Lead Auditor Course is the IRCA-approved course for EICC-GeSI auditor certification.

The cost of participation in both the on-line and live workshop components is US$1800 for the Bangkok, Thailand, and Manila, Philippines, sessions. The cost of the Shenzhen session is US$1500.

The venue for Manila, Philippines session April 5-9 is:
The Richmonde Hotel
21 San Miguel Avenue
Ortigas Centr, Pasig City
Phone : +63 2 6387777

Deluxe Single/Twin – Php 4200 net
Superior Single/Twin – Php 3800 net

Participants can book directly with The Richmonde through the web (www.richmondehotel.com) or their reservation office. Please indicate that you are booking under the Verité Southeast Asia training to receive these group rates.

Participants are advised to look at www.asiatravel.com and look at hotels in the Ortigas area.

• EICC-GeSI Validated Audit Program (VAP): Patrick Neyts (audits@eicc.info)
• IRCA EICC-GeSI Auditor Certification Process: Vincent Desmond, IRCA Deputy Director
  T: + 44 (0) 20 7245 6722 / 6833 / 8559 (direct) E: vdesmond@thecqi.org / vdesmond@irca.org
• EICC-GeSI Lead Auditor Training Program: Lydia Long at llong@verite.org (+413.253.9227)
   

This EICC-GeSi Training program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully conduct the labor and ethics components of an EICC-GeSI Validated Audit, and to manage EHS auditors as part of an audit team.
The program comprises two components: (1) The knowledge component, delivered on-line in a self-study format and (2) the five-day in-person skills workshop.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Knowledge:

Learning Assessment. Students who successfully complete the two components of this course will have met the training requirements for certification as an EICC-GeSI Labor and Ethics Lead Auditor.
‘Successful completion’ is based on the combined score of three modes of learning assessment employed during this course:

1. Describe the potential range of Labor and Ethical issues that face organizations and auditors with a brief
2. Describe the fundamental purpose of a management system and explain the purpose, content and interrelationship of: the EICC-GeSI audit criteria; international (and any locally agreed) industry practice; the relevant legislative framework as well as the purpose and objectives of EICC-GeSI supplier audits.
3. Explain the role of an auditor to plan, conduct, report and follow up a social system audit in accordance with EICC-GeSI guidance and describe the range of advanced auditing skills and techniques needed for effective EICC-GeSI supplier auditing.
4. Plan, conduct, report and follow up EICC-GeSI supplier audits in accordance with EICC-GeSI guidance and by interpreting the Labor and Ethics and Management System requirements of the EICC-GeSI audit criteria.
5. Demonstrate ability to use advanced auditing skills, including gathering information from workers, as appropriate.
    

1. continuous assessment of content understanding during and at the conclusion of the on-line self-study component [20 % of your total score]
2. continuous assessment of learning during the live-workshop [60%]
3. a written IRCA examination paper at the conclusion of the workshop [20%]
    

Verité, is headquartered in the US with offices in China, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Verité is an international non-profit social auditing, training, and capability building organization established in 1995 with a mission to ensure that people worldwide work under safe, fair and legal conditions. Verité is recognized as a leader in the field of corporate social responsibility for its innovative approaches to solutions-driven auditing, remediation, training, and capability building. With the welfare of workers at the center of Verité’s supply chain programs, Verité has developed a global reputation for guiding the continuous improvement of working conditions around the world.

Verité is the recipient of two Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship and named a Social Capitalist Award winner by Fast Company magazine/Monitor Group, recognized as one of the top organizations able to "translate that vision into action, and meet the harsh market standards of performance and accountability." Verité works in over 70 countries to assess working conditions in multiple sectors through a network of Regional Offices, local NGO partners and experts in labor and human rights issues.